First High Tech Expo comes to the Capitol - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

First High Tech Expo comes to the WV Capitol

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The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation and its Affiliate Services Program brought the state's first "High Tech Expo" to the Capitol for lawmakers to learn about the services and programs available along the Interstate 79 corridor.

"Our goal for this High Tech Expo is to introduce our legislators to the many businesses who have become a successful part of the state's economy," WVHTCF President Jim Estep said in a news release. "And at the same time, explain how some of our critical business and economic development services are in need of support."

Those programs include: the Affiliate Services Program, with more than 125 companies participating and was initiated to provide work force development, networking and employee benefits that are not easily accessible by start-up or small businesses that want to grow; the INNOVA Commercialization Group, which manages a growing seed stage capital investment fund and is designed to provide business support services; the Foundation Innovator, which is a combination of low-cost, state-of-the-art office incubator space and business support services.

The group claims the demand for business development assistance has grown at an exponential rate, and a waiting list of small businesses in need of the services provided by their programs – either the space offered in the Foundation Innovator, or seed investment from INNOVA or value-added services from the Affiliate Service Program.