November 17, 2022
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently awarded a $65,000 grant to Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation (LKADC) to fund its economic and community development project. LKADC was one of 11 organizations to benefit from the Rural Business Development Grant Program. The funds will be used to create a business enhancement/incubator project, the “BEI Zone,” that will be a focal point for entrepreneurial activity to accelerate the growth of existing small businesses by providing resources, networks and support required to raise capital and promote business growth. Activities such as small business summitsand workshops will be held in both counties throughout the year that will provide business support, collaboration and connections to resources that are not readily available to small business owners. It will foster services designed to embrace the diversity of the region.
The BEI Zone will have space in the Calhoun Community Center in Grantsville for small business use, including use of equipment, access to reliable Broadband, faxing, copy and printing capabilities, and other supportservices. According to Executive Director Shelia Burch, the BEI Zone Project is designed to provide support for the entrepreneur community that struggles to find resources needed to establish and maintain a healthy, growing business climate. Ms. Burch emphasized that “small businesses play a major role in every rural community. The more a small business thrives, the more the community thrives. Many folks don’t realize how dependent communities are on their small local shops until they are gone. Our goal is to provide the resources and support needed to increase small local business development and keep those shops growing and going for generations to come.”
For more information, contact LKADC at 304-483-4679.
