Nonprofit working with W.Va. colleges to promote green businesses

HUNTINGTON -- The nonprofit Center for Economic Options is partnering with Marshall University and seven other colleges and universities across the state to research how West Virginia can become a hub for environmentally sustainable businesses. Marshall will even offer a course in the fall focusing on green business ventures in the state.

West Virginia is in an excellent position to capitalize on the increasing demand for firms that supply more earth-friendly products and services, and those that try to decrease their own ecological footprint, said center Director Pam Curry.

"This is the emerging area for enterprise development," she said in a press release. "The opportunity for innovation and entrepreneurial development in the green sector is definitely worth exploring."

The Center for Economic Options is developing a green business network to connect people engaged in green enterprise. The network is intended to help identify and bring resources, training and other forms of support to eco-conscious firms, and to help business owners start, operate and expand their operations more quickly.

Currently Marshall University, Glenville State College, Fairmont State University, University of Charleston, West Virginia University, WVU Institute of Technology, Concord University and Mountain State University are forming student teams to investigate different aspects of a green business network. Some are investigating specific industry sectors while others focus on marketing trends, economic research and strategies for retooling the state's existing manufacturing infrastructure to support emerging green technologies.

The strategy is to connect young people and others to "the importance of environmental sustainability and the potential for green enterprise development to become an increasingly viable economic driver," Curry said.

Marshall University has projects under development in its business and science colleges. One involves students investigating the use and economic profitability of growing blueberries and other healthy crops on abandoned coal mine lands in southern West Virginia. The team is also working with a graduate student who is investigating state-level policies that may be limiting green business development.

In the fall, Marshall will work in collaboration with the center to offer an interdisciplinary course called "Technology and Innovation: Creating Green Business Ventures in Appalachia." It will cover, among other topics: entrepreneurship; intellectual property, patents and licensing strategies; evaluating new technology and market opportunities; modeling finance and investment strategies; rapid prototyping and testing; and sustainable business planning.

For more information, contact the Center for Economic Options at (304) 345-1298 or e-mail info@economicoptions.org.