Contact: Jack Bailey
(304) 766-4109
jbaile19@wvstateu.edu
 

 
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia State University’s Economic Development Center (EDC) has received a $10,000 grant from State Farm to support small businesses and entrepreneurs. The funding will be awarded to select participants of Opening Soon, Inc., a signature program of the EDC that provides technical assistance in branding, logo development, website development and accounting.

The endowment will empower entrepreneurs and enhance their brand identities, online presence and financial management capabilities, ultimately contributing to the success and growth of their ventures. The first round of funds will be awarded to program participants in 2024, with a second round disbursed by year’s end.

One recipient of the State Farm grant is Shamika Robinson, founder and owner of LUV Enterprises LLC, a private car rental company. The grant funds will enable the small business to obtain more automation for their website, making it easier for renters to complete all necessary tasks online, including payments, driver verification, rental agreement and credit card authorization.

Jabbar Thomas, the owner of Hot Hand Hoops, is another recipient of the State Farm grant. With this funding, Thomas plans to establish and maintain the Hot Hand Hoops Assistance Program, which is dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth and teaching them vital life skills. The grant funds will play an instrumental role in creating program materials, developing mentor training programs and organizing workshops and events. The Hot Hand Hoops Assistance Program will empower young individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in life and achieve their goals.

State Farm is committed to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs through this grant program and looks forward to seeing program participants’ continued success and growth.

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West Virginia State University is a public, land grant, historically black university, which has evolved into a fully accessible, racially integrated, and multi‐generational institution, located in Institute, W.Va. As a “living laboratory of human relations,” the university is a community of students, staff, and faculty committed to academic growth, service and preservation of the racial and cultural diversity of the institution. Its mission is to meet the higher education and economic development needs of the state and region through innovative teaching and applied research.
 
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