By Jody Murphy
As the Mountain State continues to work toward replacing coal with a variety of flourishing industries, members of the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council (MOVRC) are working to generate and renew business and entrepreneurial interests in their region.
This focus led to the creation of the Launchpad initiative, a new business and entrepreneur pitch contest open to the eight-county region represented by the MOVRC.
Jill Parsons, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley, described Launchpad as a “Shark Tank”-type pitch contest.
Selected applicants will pitch their idea or business to a panel of judges and a live audience. Judges engage in a question and answer session with contestants before voting. The judges’ votes—along with audience votes—will determine the winner, who will receive a $5,000 grand prize.
The regional council was approached with the Launchpad idea several months ago as an effort to stimulate and attract business growth in Pleasants County and the region. The MOVRC is a regional agency comprised of elected officials and economic development professionals who work on regional concerns that affect communities in Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties.
The council has received support from Parsons, as well as Rickie Yeager, development director for the City of Parkersburg; Steve Parks, director of the Ritchie County Economic Development Authority, and Mike Fleak, community president of Huntington Bank.
Launchpad officials scoured the region for contestants speaking to rotary clubs and city councils and going to businesses to talk about the project. Applications for the project were accepted through August 15.
The committee also went to work securing funds for the $5,000 prize, which was donated by the MOVRC, Ross Foundation, Vision Shared and Huntington Bank. The Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley and the Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce also pledged a total of $1,000 for the Launchpad.
The Launchpad MOVRC contest will be held September 28 at the Parkersburg Arts Center from 6-8 p.m.
Carol Jackson, director of the MOVRC, believes Launchpad will create interest and economic opportunity for the region. “This is an exciting endeavor that can benefit our area on a number of levels,” she says. “We can foster entrepreneurship, create a work force, fill vacant space and possibly nurture additional development.”
According to Parks, this idea can bring business opportunities and be just as beneficial to Harrisville, Sistersville, Spencer and Elizabeth as Parkersburg and Vienna.
Launchpad can create excitement for the region as an entrepreneur-friendly area. The hope is that business and community leaders will be intrigued and excited by the idea of new businesses and startups pitching their ideas for economic development.
About the Author
Jody Murphy is the director of the Pleasants Area Chamber of Commerce, special projects coordinator for the Pleasants County Economic Development Authority and director of the Pleasants County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Murphy, his wife, Veronica and their family live in Parkersburg. A self-proclaimed expert on all-things West Virginia—he’s been to all 55 counties—Murphy is passionate about the state, its people and its growth.
