The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office reports that it has registered 1,306 new businesses during the month of February.
According to Secretary Mac Warner, Summers County grew at a rate of 2.56% in February with the addition of 16 new businesses.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 13,384 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from March 1, 2020, to February 28, 2021. During that time, the Warner’s office claimed “Summers County led all 55 counties with a 16.55% growth for the year.
Hinton is the hub of Summers County, and its mayor, Jack Scott, said it was great news and that he hoped the city could build upon that.
Scott noted that most new businesses struggle in their first year, but he acknowledged a pleasing success story with one retail outlet, BOHO, which is celebrating its second full year in business.
“Love Boho. I’m tickled the business is entering year three and that the business is doing well,” said Scott.
Other new small businesses have opened in Hinton the past year or so from restaurants and catering to locally-owned outdoor sports and a convenience store serving the needs of gardeners, farm animals and pet cats and dogs.
Scott said, “I am trying to create an opportunity for more small businesses to come, and things are looking up.”
He noted that many of the new businesses are being opened by young people, commenting, “Yes, young entrepreneurs are what we need and it’s encouraging.”
Scott said to expect more good news from Hinton in the very near future.
Nearby counties are also reportedly seeing “notable growth” according to the secretary of state’s Business and Licensing Division during the month of February.
Neighboring Monroe County saw 10 new business registrations last month. Among the other nearby counties mentioned in the recent report from Warner’s office, business licensing has risen in Wyoming, Calhoun, Monroe and Pocahontas counties.
