Faster WV logo

Advantage Valley is Fertile Soil for Growth-Minded Entrepreneurs

Advantage Valley has always been a great place to start or grow a small business, and our team provides a wealth of resources to small business owners and entrepreneurs alike. Our FASTER WV (the acronym stands for Fostering Advantages for Start-Ups & Entrepreneurial Resurgence in WV) initiative is here to identify, encourage, and support businesses like yours through one-on-one business coaching, a series of information-packed workshops, basic business entrepreneurship courses, technical assistance, mini-grants, and loans from a revolving loan fund.

Let us help you as you navigate the challenges of starting or scaling a small business in Advantage Valley.

Through its FASTER WV Initiative, Advantage Valley and its partners (Unlimited Future, Inc., and the Wyoming County Economic Development Authority) are building a stronger culture of entrepreneurship in the region, which is comprised of Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam, Mason and Wayne Counties.

Participants will work one-on-one with a FASTER WV business coach, take an entrepreneurship training class, and consider tapping into a Revolving Loan Fund to start or grow a business in the region.

How to Get Started!

Contact a FASTER WV Coach Today: 

Advantage Valley

Bryan Shaw

Director of Entrepreneurial Development

Kanawha, Putnam, Lincoln, Boone, Braxton and Clay Counties

(304) 352-1165
Send Bryan an Email!

Unlimited Future

Jules Bills

FASTER WV Business Coach

Cabell, Jackson, Mason, and Wayne Counties

(304) 697-3007
Send Jules an Email!

What’s Next?

Take a Basic Business Entrepreneurship Class

2023 BUSINESS BASICS

Entrepreneurship Classes

 

Upcoming classes:  

Monday, November 27, 6-8 pm (in person only)

Contact Jules Bills at UFI to enroll in a class

Email Jules Bills or click HERE for the intake form.

 

 

2024 KAUFFMAN FAST TRAC

Entrepreneurship Classes

 

Upcoming classes:  

Thursday, January 25, 5:30 pm (in person only) 

Contact Bryan Shaw at Advantage Valley to enroll in a class

Email Bryan Shaw or click HERE to enroll.

 

 

 

Sector Specific Resources for Business Owners

Click on your industry for more information!

Childcare

Construction Trades

Food and Beverage

Healthcare

River & Outdoor Recreation

Small Manufacturing

Archive of Recorded FASTER WV Webinars

Watch Now!

FASTER WV Webinar

Steps to Scaling Your Food and Beverage Business

May 13, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

Entrepreneurship Opportunities in Advantage Valley

July 22, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

How to Start a Small Manufacturing Business

September 2, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

How to Start a Construction Business

November 11, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

How to Start a Child Care Business

December 9, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

Help Starting or Expanding Your Business

November 17, 2020

FASTER WV Webinar

Start a Child Care Business

December 9, 2020

FASTER WV Webinar

Start a Construction Company

January 7, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

Start a Health Care or Wellness Business

February 11, 2021

FASTER WV Webinar

River & Outdoor Recreation Business Opportunities

March 25, 2021

FASTER WV Kickoff Webinar

April 15, 2020

FASTER WV Webinar

Cottage Food Sales

June 10, 2020

FASTER WV Webinar

River & Outdoor Recreation

July 29, 2020

FASTER WV Webinar

Mastering the Basics of Hosting AirBNB

August 19, 2020

FASTER WV Webinar

Maker to Manufacturer

November 5, 2020

Sign Up to Receive our Advantage Valley Newsletter!