CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 2023 Minority Business Expo is coming to Charleston Thursday.
Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs Executive Director Jill Upson said the expo will include breakout sessions that will provide tips for acquiring grants and other investments and another that delves into the idea of identifying as a minority-, veteran-, or woman-owned business.
“This is a question that I get all the time. They are looking for grants or some sort of investor or some way to get funding to either start a business or expand a business without expanding their debt,” Upson said Wednesday on Panhandle Live on the Panhandle News Network.
Upson said hundreds have signed up to take part in the event, meaning there will be opportunities to talk to other business owners:
“We’ve got 250 people registered for this–so there will be a lot of networking opportunities,” Upson said. “People can talk about these issues.”
Upson said they hope to answer the question does it help or hurt to be identified as a minority-owned business.
Upson said she’s encouraged because entrepreneurship is on the increase in the Mountain State:
“I think right now, if you’re looking at the post-pandemic economy, I think a lot of people have shifted away from the 9 to 5 jobs and are really looking for other outlets and other ways to earn an income creatively,” Upson said.
There are opportunities in West Virginia for women and minorities when it comes to entrepreneurship.
The Minority Business Expo is set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
Upson said another Minority Business Expo is planned for the Eastern Panhandle next spring. That expo is set for April in Ranson.
The program for Thursday’s event can be found here.