Calhoun is 56 out of 56 in Business Ranking for New Business in WV

Business Statistics by County listed on the Secretary of State’s website found Calhoun in the most dismal of spots, the very last; with two new businesses opening and one business closing. While the website does not list the business, Stinson Grocery announced on Social Media yesterday that they would unfortunately be closing their doors.

As someone who has failed as well as survived being a business owner in Calhoun, Ridgeview News knows first hand the struggles with living in such an economically depressed area. It’s hard to cast the blame on anyone when everyone is struggling. The businesses struggle because the residents struggle. Statistics may look like numbers on a piece of paper but they are families, and we (collectively) need to do more in Calhoun to insure our businesses have the opportunity to survive and our people have the opportunity to have their needs met.

When a local business like the Stinson Grocery closes their doors that means that perhaps those on the West Fork who did shop there will now spend more money on gas to travel further when something is needed on the spur of the moment. But it is far more than that. Small businesses shape the identity of the area. Being a substantial presence within the local community can shape the character of the people as well, directly influencing tourism as well as connecting with everyday individuals passing through. Not only are local businesses important for creating a culture for the community, but they also build connections and relationships with the people. Owners welcome friendly unfamiliar faces and are delighted when they see familiar and returning customers. There’s a small-town feeling that arises when anyone walks into a local business — the staff is polite, the owner is present and friendly, we know far more about each other than we probably should in an area where the population is 6,000 (more or less).

And while some would call that knowledge un-necessary gossip, it can also lead to the saving grace of a person’s life when someone doesn’t stop by and a business owner or other resident is concerned about their safety or well being. They notice things. It is then we are grateful that people know who we are and a little more about our lives than most.

Both the opening and the closings are a reflection of Calhoun County’s present economic state. We had two new businesses open in July, that is a reason to celebrate. We had one business close, that is a reason to mourn. The question now is, what will next month look like and what can we do as citizens and government do to change the forecast?

1. Business owners and leaders can and should be attending and participating in local County Commission and City Council meetings.
2. Businesses should make use of every form of media to connect with their community: Print and web based news (shameless self promotion), social media, business signage, sporting events and school activities.
3. Local Government should be inviting business involvement.
4. Group meetings such as the Bootstraps Organization should be attended and used as a resource to promote and grow community.

In its most simplistic form, business growth means community growth and that benefits every single person living in the area. What we should never lose sight of is the fact that community is a connection with families, just like the one’s that we come home to and would defend with our very lives. Although we can’t save every business that chooses to close its doors, we can do our part to be a positive impact in Calhoun County.

Below are the rankings statewide business rankings:

Rankings based on number of new businesses*

Ranking	County	Start of Period Businesses	New Businesses	Closed Businesses	Total Businesses	Growth
1	OUT OF STATE	47438	347	91	47693	0.73% Growth
2	KANAWHA	12496	157	40	12612	1.26% Growth
3	BERKELEY	7269	131	21	7379	1.80% Growth
4	MONONGALIA	8478	126	12	8592	1.49% Growth
5	CABELL	5440	67	17	5490	1.23% Growth
6	RALEIGH	4419	61	7	4473	1.38% Growth
7	PUTNAM	3475	56	6	3525	1.61% Growth
8	WOOD	4212	55	11	4256	1.31% Growth
9	HARRISON	4232	51	7	4276	1.21% Growth
10	JEFFERSON	4221	46	6	4261	1.09% Growth
11	GREENBRIER	2665	45	3	2707	1.69% Growth
12	MARION	3020	42	7	3055	1.39% Growth
13	MERCER	2760	40	13	2787	1.45% Growth
14	FAYETTE	2041	36	4	2072	1.76% Growth
15	LOGAN	1199	25	2	1222	2.09% Growth
16	OHIO	3053	23	12	3064	0.75% Growth
17	PRESTON	1982	22	5	1999	1.11% Growth
18	RANDOLPH	1605	22	3	1625	1.37% Growth
19	HAMPSHIRE	1345	22	5	1362	1.64% Growth
20	MORGAN	1093	19	6	1106	1.74% Growth
21	HANCOCK	1278	18	4	1292	1.41% Growth
22	UPSHUR	1392	18	4	1406	1.29% Growth
23	MARSHALL	1060	17	3	1074	1.60% Growth
24	BROOKE	932	17	1	948	1.82% Growth
25	NICHOLAS	1412	16	5	1423	1.13% Growth
26	TUCKER	665	16	5	676	2.41% Growth
27	WAYNE	1108	15	2	1121	1.35% Growth
28	POCAHONTAS	956	15	2	969	1.57% Growth
29	HARDY	932	15	0	947	1.61% Growth
30	JACKSON	1387	15	11	1391	1.08% Growth
31	MASON	868	12	3	877	1.38% Growth
32	SUMMERS	675	12	0	687	1.78% Growth
33	TAYLOR	703	11	2	712	1.56% Growth
34	RITCHIE	511	10	0	521	1.96% Growth
35	LINCOLN	433	10	0	443	2.31% Growth
36	MINGO	961	10	0	971	1.04% Growth
37	MCDOWELL	608	9	1	616	1.48% Growth
38	GILMER	326	9	0	335	2.76% Growth
39	BOONE	634	8	2	640	1.26% Growth
40	BARBOUR	697	8	2	703	1.15% Growth
41	MINERAL	1201	8	2	1207	0.67% Growth
42	MONROE	651	8	2	657	1.23% Growth
43	PENDLETON	593	7	0	600	1.18% Growth
44	WETZEL	594	7	2	599	1.18% Growth
45	WYOMING	686	7	1	692	1.02% Growth
46	WEBSTER	287	6	3	290	2.09% Growth
47	TYLER	330	6	0	336	1.82% Growth
48	BRAXTON	582	6	0	588	1.03% Growth
49	LEWIS	959	5	4	960	0.52% Growth
50	CLAY	251	4	0	255	1.59% Growth
51	DODDRIDGE	265	4	2	267	1.51% Growth
52	GRANT	640	4	1	643	0.62% Growth
53	ROANE	650	3	0	653	0.46% Growth
54	PLEASANTS	288	2	2	288	0.69% Growth
55	WIRT	198	2	0	200	1.01% Growth
56	CALHOUN	232	2	1	233	0.86% Growth