In the picturesque town of Hinton, W.Va., nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, lies a beloved local treasure – Grandma’s House.

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development WV State Director Ryan Thorn will join leaders of the NRGRDA and WV Hive to celebrate the award of federal funds to support the location of a new food incubation hub in Fayette County.

The West Virginia Hive is offering 10 discounted CO.STARTERS Core extensive business training sessions between September 12 and November 14.

Paws N Pals Doggy Daycare and Boarding is holding an open house and one-year anniversary celebration from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, August 15, at its new location – 611 South Oakwood Avenue in Beckley, W.Va.

Adam Ashley, a recent graduate of the University of Virginia (UVA) with a degree in Government and American Politics, has been spending his summer internship researching key policy and project priorities of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and West Virginia Hive.

Beckley has recently garnered national attention, being cited by MarketBeat.com as one of the top 100 U.S. cities for business startups due to its robust support environment.

The West Virginia Hive is teaming up with Ascend WV Greenbrier Valley to host its next Coffee Talks networking session.

The West Virginia Hive is conducting a community conversation on inclusive capital access from 1-2:30 p.m. June 25, at The Loft, 1123 Mercer Street in Princeton, W.Va. The event is free to those who register.

The West Virginia Hive Network is hosting its 2nd Annual Network and Resource Fair, set for Thursday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historic Black Knight Conference Center, 2400 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, W.Va.

The West Virginia Hive Network is hosting its next “Coffee Talks” networking session in partnership with the West Virginia Community Development Hub (The Hub) from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 14, at Richwood City Hall, 6 White Avenue in Richwood. W.Va.

Judy Moore, Deputy Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and Executive Director of the WV Hive, was named a 2024 “Sharp Shooter” in the annual recognition by the West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine.

Natasha Zoe of Jarhead Farms in Monroe County is on to something special – she is managing a profitable farm and delivering fresh fruits to people who live in food deserts. Her business pitch is being heard and winning awards.

The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and West Virginia Hive announced Leah Hurley as its new Grants Compliance Coordinator.

In the latest legislative session, despite the introduction of 13 childcare bills, none passed. This stark statistic speaks volumes about our priorities—or lack thereof—when it comes to the backbone of our workforce and economic development: childcare.

Jina Belcher, Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), is slated to address stakeholders and citizens attending the 6 to 7:30 p.m. April 30 “A State Without Child Care” Town Hall Series at Lively Family Amphitheater on Main Street in Oak Hill, W.Va.

Community entrepreneurs and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) students presented their business ideas last night before an expert panel of judges and a live audience at the Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition on the WVU Tech campus.

West Virginia Hive is hosting its next “Coffee Talks” networking session from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 30 at Wild Roots Coffeehouse, 860 Mercer Street in Princeton.

Leaders of the West Virginia Hive and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab announced today the entrepreneurs who will be presenting their business strategies at the April 23, 2024 Pitch Southern West Virginia business idea competition on the campus of WVU Tech.

James Tuckwiller and Frank Ford, co-owners of Mountain Steer Meat Company, pitched Wednesday evening in the inaugural Hayhurst Invitational statewide business competition at the Bridging Innovation Week event in Huntington. Their expansion plan was rewarded with a second-place award of $50,000.

The West Virginia Hive is hosting a community conversation on inclusive capital access from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, at The Loft, 1123 Mercer Street in Princeton, W.Va. The event is free to those who register.

Mountain Steer Meat Company will be vying for $100,000 in capital and recognition when its co-owners, James Tuckwiller and Frank Ford, compete from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at the inaugural Hayhurst Invitational statewide business pitch competition at the Bridging Innovation Week event in Huntington.

The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the West Virginia Community Development Hub (The Hub), in support of their HubCAP program, is offering free in-person and virtual CO.STARTERS “Get Started” training sessions throughout southern West Virginia between April 8 and July 11.

Time is running out to reserve your place at the West Virginia Hive’s culture of service and hospitality training workshop, scheduled for March 25-26 at the Tamarack Conference Center.

The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and its entrepreneurial arm – the West Virginia Hive – are major sponsors of the Woman of the Year reception and Women’s Expo being held March 21-23 at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.

The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab, will host their next Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition on April 23, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the WVU Tech campus in Beckley, W.Va. The deadline for entrepreneurs to apply is March 23

In December 2020, Congress designated the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve as the nation’s newest national park. It was cause for considerable celebration and remains one of our most valuable assets in our region.

The West Virginia Hive, the entrepreneurship program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), announced today a regional initiative to improve customer service among frontline businesses, which will kick off March 25-26 with a customized and personalized training workshop at the Tamarack Conference Center.

West Virginia Hive’s first “Coffee Talks” networking session of the new year will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 15, at Fruits of Labor Pizzeria & Coffee Shop, 313 Neville Street in Beckley.

Mountaineer Media is excited to welcome Jina Belcher, Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), as the second panelist for the 2024 Almost Heaven Classic (AHC) networking event in Fayette County, West Virginia.

Botany Tropicals in Hinton – a West Virginia Hive Network client and one of its small business award winners — is hosting a celebration marking its second anniversary and the grand opening of Murel’s Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, January 14, at 321 3rd Avenue.

The West Virginia Hive Network is offering a more extensive 10-session CO.STARTERS program offering advanced insights for those interested in starting or expanding an existing business.

West Virginia Hive client – Across the Board Game Café — is inviting the community to an 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, December 29, grand opening at 698 East Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Owner Jade Hanna will lead a ribbon cutting at noon.

Taylor Parent has joined the West Virginia Hive Network as a regional business advisor, assisting entrepreneurs and business leaders in the organization’s 13-county region.

The West Virginia Hive Network presented 10 awards to entrepreneurs and partners at its annual Open House and Awards Ceremony today at the Historic Black Knight Country Club.

West Virginia Hive client, Sage & Lila Company, LLC, is inviting the community to a noon Saturday, December 16, grand opening and ribbon cutting at its new retail space at 124 Main Street in Oak Hill, W.Va.

The West Virginia Hive Network is hosting its annual Open House and Awards Ceremony from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, December 15 at the Historic Black Knight Country Club, 2400 South Kanawha Street, in Beckley. The event is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.

The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) invites the community to attend its inaugural Showcase and Soiree at 5 p.m. Friday, December 15, in the Main Dining Hall at JW Marriott Jr. Leadership Center at Summit Bechtel Reserve, 2550 Jack Furst Drive in Glen Jean.

The partners in the evolving recovery to work program – Communities of Healing – are holding their Winter Gathering Monday, December 4, 2023, at Fruits of Labor, 313 Neville Street, Beckley, W.Va.

Matthew Moore, owner of Regions, LLC, earned third place in the recent Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition with his plan for a cloud-based kitchen and mobile unit to deliver fresh regional menu items to local residents. His business pitch resonated with the judges and live audience and yielded him an award valued at $1,250.

Those interested in starting or expanding an existing business are invited to attend a two-day intensive CO.STARTERS Bootcamp conducted by the West Virginia Hive Network from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day on December 11-12 at the Innovation Building, 282 Minnesota Avenue in Beckley.

The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and West Virginia Hive are holding an inaugural “Regional Showcase and Soiree” at 5 p.m. Friday, December 15, 2023, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. The public is invited to register to attend the event.

West Virginia Hive client — Botany Tropicals — is hosting a grand opening and ribbon cutting at noon Thursday, November 16 to celebrate its second retail location at 749 Mercer Street in Princeton. Its initial store is located in Hinton.

The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) is hosting its New River Gorge Economic Outlook Summit November 16 at the Black Knight Conference Center in Beckley from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Peter S. Corum, owner of SEE Appalachia, LLC, earned second place in the recent Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition with his multi-faceted concept of developing much-needed affordable housing in Kimball.

Leaders of Bluebirding, a West Virginia Hive outdoor industry client and new private land leasing technology company, announced the launch of their innovative mobile application designed to empower private landowners to monetize their properties for outdoor recreation.

In the world of entrepreneurship, it’s often said that “two heads are better than one.” This age-old adage underscores a fundamental truth: Success in business rarely happens in isolation.

Leaders of the West Virginia Hive and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab announced today the entrepreneurs who will be presenting their business strategies at the October 12, 2023 Southern West Virginia Business Idea Pitch Competition on the campus of WVU Tech.

Beckley, W.Va. (Sept. 15, 2023) – Leaders of the West Virginia Hive and West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab announced today a new sponsor and the extension of the last call deadline for entries to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, in the upcoming Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition, to be held on October 12, on the WVU Tech campus in Beckley, W.Va.

The West Virginia Hive, the entrepreneurial arm of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), secured a $99,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program that will finance phase one renovations to 111 Main Street in Beckley for additional business incubation and retail space

White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. (Sept. 14, 2023) – West Virginia Hive client – For the Love Of Golf — located at 718 Main Street East, Suite A, White Sulphur Springs, announced it is holding a grand opening from 2-6 p.m. Monday, September 18.

Tammy Jordan, owner of Fruits of Labor, a social enterprise that serves as a model for the recovery to work program Communities of Healing, is set to share her insights this week at the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) annual conference, entitled Appalachia Rises, in Ashland, Ky.

The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) offered its congratulations on the appointment of NRGRDA Board Member Gregory A. Duckworth, to the West Virginia First Foundation, the private foundation created to distribute the state’s more than one billion dollars in opioid settlement funds.

The basement of the Fruits of Labor building at 313 Neville Street in Beckley is now featuring a new wood-stone Pizzeria, Ice Cream and Coffee Shop.

Hannah Morgan has joined the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and will be leading the Business Capacity Services (BCS) team of the West Virginia Hive.

West Virginia Hive is hosting a “Coffee Talks” networking session from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, at The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs. The public is encouraged to attend this free event.

The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab, will host their next Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition on October 12, 2023, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the WVU Tech campus in Beckley, W.Va.

Mountain Steer Meat Company has received its Federal Grant of Inspection and is now eligible for beef grading by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The West Virginia Hive is hosting a Network and Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historic Black Knight Country Club, 2400 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, on Wednesday, June 28.

West Virginia Hive is hosting a “Coffee Talks” networking session from 10:30 a.m. to noon Friday, June 23, at a Pavilion on Baker’s Island in Webster Springs. The public is encouraged to attend.

Jeff Webb, owner of Trails Edge Cycles, invites the public to an 11:30 a.m. June 22 grand opening and ribbon cutting of new space at 1302 South Eisenhower Drive in Beckley. Refreshments will be served and a taco bar will be available.

Mark and Morgan Brooks, owners of Brooks Sports Nutrition and Apparel, are hosting a 10 a.m. June 19 grand opening and ribbon cutting at 52 Water Street, Logan.

Trey Swartz, silversmith and owner of Southern Pillar Jeweler, will host a June 8 grand opening and ribbon cutting at his new workspace studio at The Great Googly Moogly, 107 Keller Avenue, Fayetteville.

Candice Meade, owner of Posh Manna Cake Art & Bakery in Shady Spring and a client of the West Virginia Hive, is participating in the May 31-June 1 Investor Convening being held by Opportunity Appalachia, an Appalachian Regional Commission funded project led by Appalachian Community Capital.

The NRGRDA/WV Hive Grants Compliance Coordinator will be responsible for grant compliance across the organization.

The WV Hive Regional Business Advisor will provide in-depth business advising to entrepreneurs and small businesses across multiple industry sectors, with an affinity for those with hospitality and food industry service needs.

Hinton Outfitters, a souvenir and gift shop is having its grand opening from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 12, at its new storefront operation in Hinton at 221 Temple Street, Suite 1.

Indie Sparrow Boutique has announced a 1 p.m. Friday, May 12, ribbon cutting to launch its grand reopening of the business, which is returning to its original Beckley location — 610 North Eisenhower Drive — after seven years in Beaver.

Seed Sower, Inc. has announced a noon May 10 ribbon cutting to launch the opening of an office for The Well, southern West Virginia’s Recovery Community Organization (RCO), on the third floor of the Fruits of Labor Café building, 313 Neville Street in Beckley.

The Raleigh County Memorial Airport, with guidance from the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and Region 1 Planning and Development Council has accepted a $7,729,959.00 bid from A.L.L. Construction, Inc., of Mount Storm, W.Va., to conduct site development for the new 105-acre industrial project at the Raleigh County Memorial Airport

West Virginia Hive, a program of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), will continue its county-by-county “Coffee Talks” sessions with an event in Fayette County at Smithers Wellness Place from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on May 5, 2023.

Beckley resident Amy Showalter has joined the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) as a Project Manager with the WV Hive.

A new pet daycare and boarding business – Paws N Pals Doggy Daycare and Boarding – is holding a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, April 27, at 16933 Robert C. Byrd Drive in Beckley. Owned by Corey Lacy, the small business is a client of the West Virginia Hive.

Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN) will host its bi-annual in person member meeting and investment review starting at 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 17, at Oglebay Lodge in Wheeling.

West Virginia Hive client — Botany Tropicals — is hosting a grand opening at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15, to celebrate the addition of Camp Botany to its retail store at 321 Third Avenue in Hinton.

The West Virginia Hive recently added Katie Loudin of the West Virginia Community Development Hub and Jen Wood of West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) to its board of directors. The WV Community Development Hub concurrently added Judy Moore, executive director of the WV Hive and deputy director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, to its governing body.

Six regional entrepreneurs and two teams of West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) students shared and enthusiastically promoted their business ideas March 30 with a panel of judges and a live audience at the Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition on the WVU Tech campus.

The West Virginia Hive – entrepreneurial arm of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority — is supporting four new small businesses located on Prince Street in Beckley as they celebrate their grand openings on the afternoon of Friday, March 31.

Less than one year after launching his business, Cox Telecom is employing 16 full-time employees and creating a local and regional based operation to deploy a turnkey operation of wireless services to all cellular carriers (AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, DiSH).

Morgantown surgical device company Endolumik, Inc., closed a $1.5 million investment to commercialize their patented near infrared (NIR) surgical device — Gastric Calibration Tube, thanks in part to a new investment from the Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN).

The West Virginia Coffee Talks and New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) Summers County Business Owners Meeting will both be held at the Hinton Technology Building on March 3.

Communities of Healing (COH), the growing recovery to work initiative in southern West Virginia, is seeking statewide applicants for a new Investment Lab business development program that will be unveiled March 20 at the next Gathering.

West Virginia Hive partner, Seed Sower, Inc., is creating southern West Virginia’s Recovery Community Organization (RCO) and holding the first of three community listening sessions at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 7 on the third floor of the Fruits of Labor Café, 313 Neville Street. Snacks and beverages will be available.

The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab, will host a new Pitch Southern West Virginia business idea competition round on March 30 on the WVU Tech campus.

The Tamarack Foundation for the Arts (TFA) is extending the deadline for applicants of the TFA ‘Arts Business Accelerator’ program, a six-month training program set to kick off with a two-day bootcamp at the Beckley Arts Center next month.

Mountain Steer Meat Company has invited the community to attend a grand opening and ribbon cutting January 25 at its retail shop at 169 Pocahontas Trail, White Sulphur Springs.

The West Virginia Hive named top performing Hive client Falcon Mine Service in Midway as its 2022 Small Business of the Year

The West Virginia Hive has selected Dr. Marcus Thomas, owner of Fat Bottom Coolers, as its 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year.

The West Virginia Hive has selected Botany Tropicals, co-owned by Jordan Casey and Steven Jones, as its 2022 Small Business Startup of the Year.

Deiandra Blair of Blair’s Sweet Treats and More in Bluewell was presented the 2022 West Virginia Hive Social Enterprise of the Year award at a recent ceremony in Beckley.

The West Virginia Hive is working in partnership with the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts (TFA) to support their TFA ‘Arts Business Accelerator’, a six-month training program set to kick off with a two-day bootcamp to be held at the Beckley Arts Center in February 2023.

Beth Epperson is joining the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) as Contracts and Procurement Specialist for its West Virginia Hive entrepreneurial arm. She will also be responsible for the administration of the NRGRDA’s loan portfolio.

The West Virginia Hive will honor top performing Hive clients and supporters as part of its annual open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, December 2 at its offices at 205 South Kanawha Street in Beckley.

Members of the media are invited to join the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA) and WVU College of Business and Economics to discuss the forecasted economic climate in the New River Gorge Region and hear from economic development professionals and NRGRDA partners regarding the forward-moving work in the New River Gorge Region.

Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN) will host its annual meeting starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center at the West Virginia High Technology Park in Fairmont. Highlights include a keynote address by Brandon Dennison, CEO of Coalfield Development Corporation and architect of the Appalachian Climate Technology (ACT) Now Coalition, as well as three investment opportunity pitches from West Virginia entrepreneurs.

A new Mister Bee potato chip bag design celebrating the New River Gorge Region was unveiled before a crowd of attendees at today’s Bridge Day, reflecting a collaboration between the snack company, New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s business and entrepreneurship support program, the WV Hive.

The New River Gorge region, national park and preserve, and southern West Virginia are being featured on a new five-ounce chip bag that will be unveiled Saturday by West Virginia’s only potato chip manufacturer — Mister Bee Potato Chips based in Parkersburg.

The West Virginia Hive is hosting a “Coffee Talks” networking session at 8:30 a.m. Friday, September 30, at Seneca Health Services in Summersville. The event is being sponsored by United Bank.

After several impressive presentations, three Southern West Virginia entrepreneurs offered winning pitches of their business plans for start-up or expansion and were rewarded with cash prizes and the knowledge their ideas may be worthy to implement.

West Virginia Hive receives $2.4 million for entrepreneurship support in the Community and Business Resilience Project to help communities, small businesses, and entrepreneurs get ready for new green jobs.

Community and Business Resilience Project is part of $62.8 million ACT Now Coalition grant awarded in national challenge to create new economic revitalization in climate resilience & green technology.

Organizers of the Pitch Southern West Virginia Business Idea Competition, to be held from 6-8 p.m. September 13 on the campus of West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech), announced the six best pitch ideas chosen to present and invited attendees to vote for their favorites.

Country Roads Angel Network (“CRAN”) announced its investment of $80,000 in Parthian Battery Solutions (“Parthian”) of Morgantown today.

Marlinton businesses welcomed staff members from the WV Hive Network, a small business incubator and accelerator headquartered in Beckley, WV on July 14th as a part of their ‘Community Days’ initiative.

By Peyton Ballard – Richwood businesses welcomed staff members from the WV Hive Network, a small business incubator and accelerator headquartered in Beckley, W.Va, on July 14th as a part of the Hive’s ‘Community Days’ initiative.

The West Virginia Hive, in partnership with the West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech) Launch Lab, will host a Pitch Southern West Virginia business idea competition on September 13, 2022, from 6-8 p.m. at the WVU Tech campus in Beckley, W.Va..

Southern West Virginia native Peyton Ballard has been named Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives at the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), effective July 1.

Moore was named Deputy Director of Operations of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), effective July 1, adding to her roles overseeing the West Virginia Hive and Country Roads Angel Network (CRAN).