×

Little guys need help, too

If you manage a big business, chances are state officials will pay close attention when you tell them what it will take to convince you to bring new jobs to West Virginia. You can expect direct financial help, perhaps through a tax increment financing district. You can count on local and state governments finding ways to help you with a site, including road access to it. Throughout the process, you can rely on being catered to by economic development agencies.

But what if you are small, perhaps just starting in business? You’re on your own, for the most part.

Efforts are being made to help small businesses. Secretary of State Mac Warner has important initiatives to make it easier for them to navigate interactions with government. The Department of Commerce has programs to assist them.

House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw was asked about his priorities for the legislative session that begins in January.

Spurring entrepreneurial growth is critical, Hanshaw answered. “We spend an awful lot of time here and do an awful lot of work to recruit external companies to West Virginia. We don’t do enough to make it easy for people to start and grow something here,” he told Metro News.

Luring a big corporation bringing hundreds of jobs is appealing, of course. But the state’s economy runs on small businesses. Eighty-seven percent of our companies have 20 or fewer employees.

“We are one of the lowest states for entrepreneurial activity in the nation,” Hanshaw said. “That’s got to stop.”

Doing more too encourage business creation and expansion of small enterprises should be a priority for both the legislative and executive branches of state government.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today