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Secretary of State’s Office to Celebrate National Small Business Week May 5-11

Charleston, W.Va. — There are more than 117,000 for profit, non-profit and charitable entities formally registered to do business in West Virginia. More than 90 percent of those entities are considered to be small businesses.

All entities doing business in West Virginia are required to register with the Business & Licensing Division in the Secretary of State’s Office. Each year, those entities are required to file an annual report with the Secretary of State in order to remain in good standing with the state.

May 5-11 is National Small Business Week in the United States. For more than 50 years, the country and West Virginia have celebrated National Small Business Week. The WV Secretary of State’s Office is leading an effort again this year to help recognize the importance of the state’s small businesses and the entrepreneurs who lead those businesses.

In an effort to constantly improve the services being provided by the Secretary of State’s Business & Licensing Division and the WV One Stop Business Center, Secretary Warner will use National Small Business Week to kick-off of a “New Business Customer Survey.” This 2-minute online survey seeks advice from the owners of new businesses. The survey asks new business owners to rate the services provided to them in order for the Secretary of State’s Office to provide the best customer experience possible.

Secretary of State Mac Warner is pleased to announce the following events and activities for this year’s observance:

Thursday, May 2

Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce Annual Business After Hours Trade Show 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Big Sandy Superstore Conference Center

Sunday, May 5

Statewide Op-Ed in West Virginia Newspapers

“It Has Never Been Easier to Open a New Business in WV”

Monday, May 6

Open House 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Martinsburg Business Hub Regional Office 229 East Martin Street in Martinsburg, WV

Tuesday, May 7

Workshop Presenter – WV One Stop Business Center Eastern Panhandle Minority Business Expo 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ranson Civic Center in Ranson, WV Hosted by the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs

Wednesday, May 8

Keynote Speaker & Award Presenter SBA Annual Awards Luncheon 12:00 p.m. WV High Tech Consortium in Fairmont, WV

Thursday, May 9

WV One Stop Business Center Release of the WVSOS Customer Service Survey A 2-Minute Online Survey for New Business Owners

Friday, May 10

National Twitter Chat with the US Small Business Administration WV One Stop Business Center “How to Start & Grow Your Business” Starts at 12:00 p.m. @SBAgov