WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., March 4, 2016 — West Liberty University’s Center for Entrepreneurship received $15,000 in grants recently from the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley (CFOV).
The money will fund workshops, and continue the annual pitch contests for new businesses.
“We are grateful to the Community Foundation for their faith in our program. West Liberty’s pitch contests have provided real assistance to business start-ups in the region. We began the pitch contests in 2013 and we want to continue to make the community stronger by assisting entrepreneurs in their efforts,” said WLU Director of Entrepreneurship Dr. Carrie White.
“Economic Development is one of the Community Foundation’s priority funding areas and the board is very interested in supporting entrepreneurship within the region. This project exemplifies that kind of spirit and we are pleased to be able to award this grant,” said Susie Nelson, executive director of the CFOV.
“We are looking forward to another great event and chance to help start-ups present their ideas, get some great feedback and potentially win money to assist them in their endeavor,” said White.
Some of the successful businesses that have come out of previous WLU pitch contests include Vishesh Maskey with Spatial Decision Support System, Mason Dixon BBQ Co., founded by WLU alumni Patrick Fisher, Happy Goat Yoga, owned by WLU alumna Lindsay Schooler and Mmm … Popcorn, owned by Wheeling resident and WLU alumnus Dave McFarland.
WLU holds two pitch contests per year. The seventh pitch contest will be held on April 28 at the Sleep Inn in Moundsville. Interested entrepreneurs can contact White for details at cwhite@westliberty.edu or call 304-336-8159.
The College of Business offers students undergraduate degrees in Accounting, Computer Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, Finance, General Business, Health Care Management, Management, Marketing, Sport Management and Tourism and Event Management. Most recently it added an online MBA to its programs. For complete information, please visit westliberty.edu/westbusiness.