Build Where You Stand: Entrepreneurship and the Future of West Virginia
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Posted in The Entrepreneurial Spirit: From Bold Ideas to Lasting Growth
Build Where You Stand: Entrepreneurship and the Future of West Virginia

In West Virginia, small businesses are not a segment of our economy—they are the economy.

Across our communities, the overwhelming majority of businesses are small, locally owned, and deeply rooted. They employ our neighbors. They serve our towns. They shape the places we live.

If we want to grow our economy, strengthen our communities, and create lasting opportunities, we must grow our entrepreneurs.

I have been fortunate to be a successful entrepreneur, economic development professional, and small business owner in our state. I have built businesses here. I have seen others do the same. The lesson I learned is simple. The opportunity is real. It requires action.

Entrepreneurship is Not Optional

We cannot wait for growth to arrive from somewhere else. We have to build it.

Entrepreneurship is a primary driver of economic strength in West Virginia. It creates jobs. It fills gaps. It responds quickly to change. It builds resilience in our local economies.

Entrepreneurship starts with people who have a clear idea and the willingness to act on it. There has to be a drive and a willingness to take a risk. Not every idea works, but the individuals who step forward, build, and adapt are the ones who move communities forward.

Follow the Opportunity

One of the most overlooked opportunities in our state is sitting in plain sight.

When large companies invest in West Virginia, they create more than jobs inside their facilities. They create entire ecosystems of need around them. Every major investment generates demand for services, suppliers, and supports businesses.

Look upstream and downstream. What do these companies need? Who can provide it?

These opportunities include logistics, maintenance, and manufacturing support. They include housing, childcare, food service, and recreation. Each of these needs is an opening for an idea, an opportunity for an entrepreneur.

We have seen this with global companies operating in our state. Their presence creates real, immediate opportunity for small businesses that are willing to step in. The question is not whether opportunity exists. The question is: Who is prepared to act, and what support is available to help them succeed?

Build Communities People Choose

Entrepreneurship is not only about products and services. It is about place.

If we want people to stay, return, and invest their time and talent here, we have to build communities that support a high quality of life—that includes education, housing, access to childcare, outdoor recreation, infrastructure, and vibrant local businesses.

These are not secondary concerns. They are economic drivers.

People make decisions about where to live based on the full picture. Entrepreneurs play a direct role in shaping that picture. Every new business that improves daily life strengthens the community and makes it more competitive.

We should be asking ourselves a simple question: What can I build that makes this a better place to live?

The Resources are Here

West Virginia has built a strong and growing support system for entrepreneurs.

This entrepreneurial ecosystem includes organizations that provide guidance, capital, technical assistance, and connections. There are universities, community colleges, and innovation centers that help develop ideas and talent. There are funding sources at the state, federal, and private levels.

The foundation is in place. It is growing and maturing every day.

The challenge is not the absence of resources—it is awareness, connection, and use. Entrepreneurs need to know where to go. Leaders need to make those connections easier. We have to remove friction and make it simpler to take the next step.

What Leaders Must Do Now

This is where leadership matters.

If we want to grow entrepreneurship in West Virginia, we have to be intentional. We have to create an environment where people are encouraged to build, supported when they take risks, and connected to the resources they need to succeed.

That means communicating clearly about opportunities. It means collaborating across organizations and regions. It means cooperating instead of competing when it comes to supporting entrepreneurs.

We also need to expand access to capital. Venture funding, seed funding, and flexible financing are critical to helping ideas move from concept to reality. Without that, too many good ideas never get off the ground.

Most importantly, we need to give entrepreneurs room to work. A true sandbox. A place where they can test ideas, learn, and grow without unnecessary barriers.

The opportunity in front of us is significant. The resources are here.

The path is clear. Now is the time to act.

We should not wait for perfect conditions. We should not assume someone else will do it. The next generation of West Virginia businesses will be built by people who decide to step forward and build where they stand. It will be built by those who take advantage of the support systems already in place to help them thrive here in Almost Heaven.

They will succeed when leaders across this state choose to support them, invest in them, and work together to create the conditions for growth.

resources

Revolving Load Funds

Mike Graney is the former acting secretary of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development. Prior to this role, he served as the executive director of the West Virginia Development Office, working to increase prosperity and quality of life in West Virginia by helping businesses locate to a new site, expand existing facilities, export goods, and provide training to employees.

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