Small Business Week Awards Held in Fairmont

FAIRMONT, W.Va (WDTV) -This week is National Small Business Week, and this afternoon in Fairmont, the Small Business Administration hosted an event to honor its award winners from across the state.

One hundred fifty people attended the small business administration luncheon in Fairmont on Wednesday. Officials with the SBA say small businesses are the lifeblood of America.

“It’s amazing how much small businesses impact the economy; they say they’re the backbone, and they really are. Over 33 million small businesses nationwide, they employ over half the employees, and they’re really a part of small communities as well,” said John F. Fleming, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Businesses Administration.

The people who received awards today won them based on the criteria of Growth in business, number of employees, and giving back to the community. For one Morgantown entrepreneur, winning was priceless.

“It gives my employees recognition that they are actually on the right track. That we are on the right track. It kind of validates us that we are moving in the direction,” said James Merill, Owner of Hasten Services, LLC, Vet-owned Small Business of the Year recipient.

According to West Virginia Economic Development, our state is home to over 111,000 small businesses; award recipients say there are many ways to open your own.

“I do think anybody that is interested in pursuing a small business recognizes that there are a lot of resources in the community available to them. The SBA has been a fabulous supporter of our company. There also SBDC, score chapters,” said Lisa Fritsch, Agile5 Technologies Inc. Fairmont, Small Business Person of the Year winner.

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