3/29/2011
PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin will deliver the keynote address at an economic development workshop in Parkersburg. The session takes place on Friday, April 1, at The Blennerhasset in Parkersburg.
“As I have said previously, I believe it is government’s job to create a positive environment to attract new businesses to our state and encourage existing business to grow,” said Gov. Tomblin. “West Virginia has made tremendous strides in this effort by putting our financial house in order. Our citizens want good paying jobs. It is my hope that this workshop will provide our business leaders with the tools needed to expand operations and continue to offer those sought after employment opportunities.”
There is no charge to attend the workshops organized by the West Virginia Development Office. Lunch will be provided but seating is limited. Participants are strongly encouraged to register by March 30. Electronic registration will be accepted at
www.wvdo.org/ParkersburgRegistration. For more information, contact Amanda McNealy at 304-957-2003 or
Amanda.m.mcnealy@wv.gov.
“The governor has encouraged us to get the message out to our communities about the programs and resources available to them to generate economic activity,” said Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette. “We want to listen to what our business leaders have to say about how we can work together to achieve our shared goals even more effectively.”
The West Virginia Development Office (WVDO) workshop session opens at 11 a.m. with registration. Workshops, which will run concurrently, are:
Business Recruitment, Retention and Expansion, led by Business & Industrial Development and the International Division. The session includes an overview of current programs, update on activities and participation in a roundtable discussion.
Growing Your Entrepreneurial and Small Business Community, led by Small Business Development Center. The session delves into small business coaching tools and services for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Topics include access to capital and increased job creation.
Incentives & Tools for Investment and Job Creation, led by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority and Business & Industrial Development. The panel will talk about current state financial programs, available incentives and tools to finance projects. The roundtable discussion will focus on how to work together to finance projects and create jobs.
Community Matters, led by Community Development Division. The session takes a practical look at community development issues such as infrastructure investment, economic revitalization and sustainability. The workshop will highlight resources such as Small Cities Block Grants, Appalachian Regional Commission, Main Street West Virginia, Neighborhood Investment Program and more.
Contact Information
Jacqueline Proctor or Catherine Zacchi
304-558-2000 or 304-957-9340