Charleston, WV. March 4, 2025 – Advantage Valley, Inc. a regional economic development organization serving nine counties that comprise the Charleston-Huntington WV Metro Region, will host a free, two-hour Business Certification luncheon on Thursday, March 13, 2025 at the Charleston Area Alliance, located at 1116 Smith Street in Charleston, WV.
This event marks the launch of “Opportunity Unlock,” a new certification program designed to help women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses access new market opportunities, including corporate and government contracts. As part of the program, each participant will receive one-on-one coaching with a certification expert to navigate the process and unlock new business potential. Certification can open doors to exclusive contract opportunities, supplier diversity programs, and new customers.
“We know the certification process can be time-consuming, costly, and complex to understand, so Advantage Valley is simplifying it,” said Terrell Ellis, Advantage Valley’s CEO. “If you are a woman, a person of color, or a veteran business owner looking to expand your customer base, come to this event to learn about the various types of certifications and how your business might benefit.”
The Lunch & Learn is the first in a series of events introducing the program, featuring Samantha (Sammi) Williams, owner of 628 Digital Design, a certified minority, Black, and woman-owned small business specializing in business certifications. 628 Digital Design is also a certified B Corp. Williams will provide a comprehensive overview of certification types, benefits, and the application process.
Each program participant will benefit from up to 10 hours of one-on-one coaching sessions to understand which certification is right for your business. During that time, Ms. Williams will not only take companies through the certification process but also help them fully leverage new designation for business growth.
“My goal is to help businesses learn how to use certifications to market their businesses to Federal and corporate organizations,” Said Sammi Williams, President & CEO of 628 Digital Design, also a certified disadvantaged and minority woman enterprise. “Corporations and the federal government buy everything, and you’re invited to learn how your business can become a government and corporate contractor. If you own a small, woman, minority, or veteran business, I invite you to join us and learn how certifications can help grow your business!”
This program is funded in part by a recently awarded $1.6 million Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) POWER grant to support Advantage Valley’s Expanding Markets program. This three-year project in partnership with local, state, and federal partners, is designed to diversify and create resilience in the manufacturing and business services sectors by driving growth, increasing market potential, and strengthening regional supply chains.
Contact Advantage Valley at (304) 352-1165 for more information. Register for Advantage Valley’s Lunch & Learn here:
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