Rural Entrepreneurship: A Conversation with Practitioners of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

October 18-19, 2016 

You are cordially invited to attend a forum to be held October 18-19 to discuss the challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs and the resource providers who serve them. With support from the U.S. Treasury Department’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) program, this event is aimed at practitioners in rural areas throughout the region, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.  

Participants will hear how the SSBCI program works in each of the six targeted states, and learn how practitioners interact--not only with each other, but also within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.  

Working group breakout sessions will identify top opportunities and challenges in the areas of Finance, Policy, Support, Culture, Human Capital, and Markets.  Bring your best practices to share with the group, and be a part of developing strategies for advancing rural entrepreneurship. 

The event will begin at 11:30 am on Tuesday, October 18 and conclude at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, October 19.  It will be held at the Robert H. Mollohan Research Center, 1000 Galliher Drive, Fairmont, WV 26554.

Dress is business casual.