Many Greenbrier, Pocahontas businesses eligible for benefits

Many businesses in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties may be eligible for benefits as a result of their locations in federally designated "Historically Underutilized Business Zones" or "HUBZones."

The Robert C. Byrd Institute is joining the U.S. Small Business Administration and Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation March 26 in presenting a free workshop on the matter from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the White Sulphur Springs Civic Center.

HUBZone-certified small businesses qualify for the program’s set-aside contracts and receive a 10 percent price-evaluation preference when competing for open contracts.

Certification provides small businesses advantages when bidding on federal government contracts.

The workshop will cover how to apply the requirements of the program to help small businesses receive their fair share of federal contracting opportunities.

The morning session will include an overview of HUBZones: what they are, where they are and how to become certified. The afternoon session will focus on where to contracting opportunities and how to navigate the application process.

George Murray, the administration's deputy district director in West Virginia, will lead the workshop.

Murray has been educating small business owners and operators about government contracting opportunities for more than a decade.

Within the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation’s service area, all of Pocahontas County and large portions of Greenbrier County are designated HUBZones.

While West Virginia historically has had one of the lowest rates of zone participation, certifications have increased significantly in the past two years, according to Murray.

The Robert C. Byrd Institute has worked with administration staff and other partners to promote participation through a series of statewide workshops and social media campaigns.

Because lunch will be provided, registration is required by March 22 at 3 p.m. Register at www.rcbi.org/. For more information, contact RCBI’s Bill Woodrum at 304.781.1670 or bwoodrum@rcbi.org.