897Statewide Participants40Represented Counties129Businesses with $1 Million+ in Annual Sales17%Increase in E-Commerce
Small businesses in West Virginia face many challenges that may keep them from operating successfully or efficiently, especially during a global pandemic. The purpose of this research is to identify opportunities for business growth as identified by small business owners within the state. The survey was designed to determine current issues and trends which may help identify opportunities for continued training and funding opportunities while identifying hardships encountered during the time of COVID-19.
Respondents by County (n=897)
View the 2022 Statewide Data View the 2022 Southern West Virginia SnapshotSurvey Overview
Through the West Virginia State Chamber of Commerce and our state’s regional Chambers of Commerce, the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, the West Virginia Economic Development Council and local EDA offices, West Virginia business leaders were invited to participate in the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia’s third business survey entitled Current Issues for Small Business Leaders. The survey was approved by the Marshall University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Replies to the survey were anonymous and participation was completely voluntary. The survey will be conducted annually with increased participation and scope expected as the state’s needs, opportunities, and challenges change.
The study was conducted through the Alliance for the Development of Southern West Virginia in collaboration with:
- Bluefield State College
- BridgeValley Community & Technical College
- Concord University
- Marshall University
- Mountwest Community & Technical College
- New River Community Community & Technical College
- Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College
- University of Charleston
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
- West Virginia State University
- West Virginia University Institute of Technology
A special thanks to the following organizations for participating in our working group:
- West Virginia Department of Commerce
- West Virginia Small Business Development Center
- Beckley-Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
- Charleston Area Alliance
- Fayette County Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce
- Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Logan County Chamber of Commerce
- Mingo County EDA
- Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
- Wyoming County EDA
And, to the many other organizational leaders across West Virginia who helped to distribute the survey throughout their networks.
