Center For Economic Options
welcome

Made Right Here Summit on Small Scale Manufacturing in West Virginia.

June, 20-21, 2004:

Sponsored by:

 

Over 150 small scale manufacturing firms, as well as representatives of nonprofit, governmental and private sectors participated and explored opportunities for this important segment of our economy throughout the two-day event held at Embassy Suites.

The Summit opened with a Sunday evening reception featuring a sampling of West Virginia specialty food and beverages supplied through CEO’s Showcase West Virginia store.

Senator Rockefeller presented Made Right Here awards (custom made by John DesMeules, owner of Glass Dimensions) to six exemplary small scale manufacturing businesses in West Virginia. These businesses, selected from nearly 30 nominees, were:

Bailes Glass and Granite,Kanawha County;

Evan Scent, Fayette County;

Hard Rock Candles, Cabell County;

Innovative Technologies Group, Wood County;

Gauley Mountain Moulding, Inc. Nicholas County; and

Hinkle’s Dying Art Glasswork, Upshur County.

Also nominated were: H & H Pallets, 4 Leg Gourmet, Defluris Chocolate, B Machine, Green Creek Woodshop, Holl’s Chocolate, Marble King, Sunny Hollow Foods, Destiny Images, Terradon Communication Group, Fisher Ridge Vineyard, Captive Elegance, Mastertone Dulcimers, Adventures in Elegance, Dark Hollow Foods, Glass Dimensions, and Blue Smoke Salsa.

 

 

 

  

On Monday, June 21 the Summit opened with presentations by Senator Jay Rockefeller, Caroline Carpenter, Program Director, W.K.Kellogg Foundation, and Pam Curry, Executive Director of the Center for Economic Options. A day-long series of interactive panel discussions, with audience participation, followed. Gat Caperton, owner of Tom Seely Furniture in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, provided the insightful luncheon keynote presentation entitled: Make the Connection: Personalized Marketing Works.

 

 

In preparation for the Summit, the Center for Economic Options collaborated with Dr. Michael Hicks, PH.D. Center for Business and Economic Research, Marshall University, to conduct groundbreaking research on small scale manufacturing in West Virginia. This report – The Importance of Small Manufacturing Firms: A Policy Review – was cited throughout the Summit and was included in the participant handbook.

 

Issues brought forth throughout the Summit included:

• Workers compensation

• Access to markets

• Tort reform

• Health insurance

• Knowledge of and linkage to services

• Need for creativity in our economic future

• Help for people who are thinking of starting a business

 

 

As a direct outcome of the Summit, Senator Rockefeller and the Center for Economic Options plan to work collaboratively on setting up a small business advisory committee to help provide direction and insights on related policies and regulations.

 

 Some comments from attendees…

 

“I enjoyed the panel forum where the audience gets to participate! Thanks for caring about small businesses in West Virginia!”

 

“…very useful, lots of tools for small business to utilize. Very informative panels.”

 

“Great job. Well put together. Informative and relevant.”

 

“..the quality of speakers was phenomenal. I was impressed with everything about the event and especially liked the panel format.”

 

Many thanks to the financial sponsors:

• Bank One West Virginia

• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

• Robert C. Byrd Institute for Advanced Flexible Manufacturing

• BB&T

• Spilman, Thomas, and Battle, PLLC

• West Virginia Chamber of Commerce