and created 161.5 new jobs in its 12-county service area . Primary services include one-onone business advising and technical assistance support .
New River Gorge Regional Development Authority
The Country Roads Angel Network ( CRAN ) is supported by the NRGRDA and administered through the Hive . CRAN recruits qualified investors to evaluate , invest in and mentor startup businesses , attracting economic diversity across West Virginia . Serving all 55 counties , CRAN offers emerging businesses early-stage , seed funding to bring their creations to market .
The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority ’ s ( NRGRDA ) mission is to initiate , facilitate and support the economic and community development efforts within the counties of Fayette , Nicholas , Raleigh and Summers . As the largest economic development authority in West Virginia , NRGRDA stimulates the regional economy through business expansion and retention efforts , including an extensive portfolio of financial services , management of sites for new companies locating
to our region and serving as a point of access for local service providers that offer a variety of technical assistance for business owners .
The West Virginia Hive is the entrepreneurship program of the NRGRDA , developed to support entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources necessary to help make their businesses more successful . The Hive has served 366 businesses , helped launch 49 businesses
( 304 ) 254-8115 info @ nrgrda . org 200 Main Street
Beckley , WV 25801
Connecting Innovation and Entrepreneurship
“ Innovators are found in businesses ; in state , federal and local governments ; in universities and high schools ; in garages ; not-for-profit organizations ; and other unlikely places .”
– Terry Cyfers , Assistant Director of Innovation , University of Charleston
While the University of Charleston ( UC ) has had a long-standing culture of innovation , today it not only offers a wide variety of business majors , including entrepreneurship , but through the Wehrle Innovation Center , it provides a range of support options for students to start and / or build on their dreams . UC students are encouraged to make a difference in the world , and many have through starting businesses , creating products and developing new processes to solve world challenges .
The university is also home to InnovationWV , the West Virginia chapter of the International Association of Innovation Professionals , connecting innovators with resources — including over 3,000 members in 100 + countries — to help get new ideas off the ground . InnovationWV provides important support for entrepreneurs and innovators who create ideas , businesses and innovative concepts to make West Virginia — and the world — better , one innovation or new business at a time .
Learn more about the University of Charleston at www . ucwv . edu .
Terry Cyfers terrycyfers @ ucwv . edu www . ucwv . edu / innovation
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