CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office opened its new One Stop Business Center Tuesday, which the office said will provide business owners with immediate access to four state agencies to handle related needs.
The center is located at 1615 East Washington Street in downtown Charleston, and is the result of collaboration between the Secretary of State’s office, the state Tax Department, the Division of Labor and Workforce West Virginia.
“You might come over to the Secretary of State’s office here at the Capitol. You would have to run downtown to the Tax Department, come back to Building 3 at the Capitol Complex. You’re bouncing back and forth,” Secretary of State Mac Warner said on MetroNews “Talkline.” “We want businesses not to be held up by government bureaucracy, so this is eliminating that government bureaucracy and getting businesses started.”
Warner said the Legislature approached him about starting a facility with this purpose, adding lawmakers had considered the proposal for around 15 years.
“When I took office a year ago, I didn’t know any better,” he said. “I gave it the direction of my staff, and when you have good staff around you and just turn them loose, they can accomplish some fantastic things.”
The office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.