For your networking needs within the Mountain State, here’s a quick list of great resources for your business to take advantage of – at no cost to you!
“There’s no ‘I’ in team,” “Teamwork makes the dream work,” “United we stand, divided we fall,” – you get the picture. Teamwork is the name of the game in the business world, so it’s paramount to begin networking and making those essential connections ASAP. In this list, we break down five free online resources your WV business can be using right now to build connections and achieve your goals:
West Virginia BusinessLink is a free online resource whose mission is to “help small businesses thrive.” Their homepage offers guides for startup, growth, and funding, and they extend personalized assistance in a variety of topics from community events, legal issues, marketing, and even networking. Interested businesses can reach out to West Virginia BusinessLink through their online portal by filling out some basic info about their enterprise and allowing for a detailed assessment by an associate to begin their custom consulting.
Of course, Vertx Partners is at the forefront of connecting WV businesses, big and small, with one another and the federal government. Vertx Partners serves as a hub for a wide array of disparate entities sharing a common goal: the national defense industry. It’s the only company in the state of West Virginia connecting businesses with federal U.S. Air Force contracts. Vertx is here to point you in the right direction for your contracting needs, whether that involves getting started, education efforts, or extensive networking with other business insiders
West Virginia Small Business Development Center
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center says it all in the name: they’re dedicated to developing small businesses right here in the Mountain State! Like the rest of the resources here, it’s completely free. Do you need assistance calculating your initial marketing plan, startup costs, or management structure? The West Virginia Small Business Development Center specializes in small business startups, so first-time business owners will find an array of helpful guides to peruse and help grow their fledgling business.
U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration was started in 1953 and remains to this day the “only cabinet-level federal agency fully dedicated to small business.” Operating at such a high level in government enables the Small Business Administration to have a wide reach over its potential clients by assisting with counseling, securing seed funding, and growing beyond. The West Virginia District Office is located right in the heart of West Virginia in Clarksburg, offering regional clients a chance to meet with a representative in person.
AFWERX is a multi-pronged approach to national defense innovation headed by the Air Force. Their organization is split into three distinct approaches – AFVentures, Spark, and Prime – which focus on small business technological innovation, operational application, and adoption acceleration respectively. Interested parties can easily fill out a form on the site and inquire AFWERX for more information regarding their programs.
Helping businesses helps everyone else in return – that’s why there are so many free resources out there at your disposal. Business owners (especially small business owners) know how important it is to spend wisely and maximize what’s available to them, so we hope that this primer into the world of free WV business networking will get you thinking about the connections you make.
If your business has a connection to West Virginia and you need help navigating the world of government contracting, reach out to us here at Vertx. We’re here to help – at no charge to you.
Become an Innovator With Us
Tell us about yourself, answer a few questions, and hit submit. It’s as easy as that to get started. Did we mention our services are completely free?