A U G U S T--2 0 2 1
EDA boosts efforts to strengthen supply chain, connect businesses
---On-going efforts by RCBI to strengthen the local manufacturing supply chain received a boost this month from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).
---RCBI is a project partner of Advantage Valley’s Expanding Markets Initiative, which was awarded $1.33 million by the EDA to connect businesses in the Huntington-Charleston metro region to new markets, improve state supply chains and link businesses to state and federal resources. As part of this effort, RCBI and Advantage Valley will expand their successful series of Supply Chain Expos, which have connected 523 state small businesses to supplier opportunities with major manufacturers in several key economic sectors.
---“As the pandemic has demonstrated, strengthening the local supply chain is more critical than ever,” said
Derek Scarbro, RCBI deputy director and director of business development. “Our Supply Chain Expos have generated multiple contracts between small businesses and large manufacturers, shortening the supply chain, reducing lead times – and in many instances lowering costs – while increasing in-state economic activity.”
Aviation Maintenance Technology
Program lands jet engine donation
---The soon-to-launch Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program, a Marshall University/Mountwest Community & Technical College joint venture, got a literal turbo boost in August with the donation of four jet engines by an Indiana-based aviation company.
---Sage-Popovich of Valparaiso, Indiana, a global aviation consulting and asset management provider, donated the Lycoming ALF-502 engines to the AMT Program, which is administered by Marshall’s Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI). The donation is valued at more than $700,000, according to Jim Smith, interim director of the AMT Program. The engines will be important tools in teaching students to repair and maintain a variety of engines and other aircraft components.
---“Industry support of aviation education is crucial,” Smith said. “The management team at Sage-Popovich
understands the importance of educating the next generation of aircraft maintenance technicians, and its donation will help ensure that we have the resources at our disposal as we prepare well-rounded, highly-skilled aviation technicians."
S U C C E S S--S T O R Y
Brothers launch successful firearm
business with RCBI assistance
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---Brothers Ethan and Jonathan Collins have been interested in weaponry since they were very young. One might say obsessed, according to Ethan. As children growing up in Calhoun County, they even fashioned toy guns from items such as gate hinges and rebar they found around the farm.
---As adults, the two decided to parlay their interest and knowledge of firearms into a family business called PAR Tech. It helped that both brothers earned mechanical engineering degrees from Marshall University, and thus understood physics and mechanical processes and were able to use their computer-aided-design skills to develop 3D-renderings of their ideas.
---To move their innovations from concepts to market, the brothers turned to RCBI for manufacturing assistance.
---They applied for and were granted early-stage funding assistance by RCBI to create and refine prototypes of their original innovation, a muzzle device to improve the performance of firearms by reducing horizontal and vertical recoil. 
Create Buckhannon captures statewide Vanguard Ag award
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---Create Buckhannon is the winner of the 2021 West Virginia Vanguard Agriculture Competition, a statewide contest sponsored by RCBI to honor innovation and ingenuity in agriculture.
---The Vanguard award recognizes a West Virginia entrepreneur or organization whose idea has the greatest potential to solve logistical challenges in the local food supply chain. Katie Loudin wrote the application on behalf of Create Buckhannon, which captured the top prize for its technology-based solution to match the supply of locally-grown produce to consumer demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.
---Loudin said the Buckhannon-Upshur Farmers Market struggles to balance supply and demand because consumers do not know what food will be available each week and participating farmers do not know how many customers to expect. In addition, the Covid pandemic
has increased consumer expectations for curbside pickup, and many people no longer carry cash. Loudin said she hopes Create Buckhannon’s innovative approach will begin to fix some of these challenges.
Webinar to focus on transforming
state makers into manufacturers
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---RCBI is teaming up with Advantage Valley to offer a free From Maker to Manufacturer workshop Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. for those interested in starting or expanding a manufacturing business.
---The workshop, part of Advantage Valley’s FASTER WV program, will explain how to move a product from idea to prototype to production and what resources are available to assist throughout the process.
---“One of the challenges in small-scale manufacturing is taking that first step,” said Terrell Ellis, executive director of Advantage Valley. “RCBI and FASTER WV have tremendous resources that can make that first step less scary. There are folks ready and willing to help you build a prototype of your product and assess the costs of scaling up, as well as talk through your business concept, its strengths and weaknesses. These resources are designed to make it easier to successfully start and run your own business.”
---The FASTER WV program provides free business
coaching and mentoring; entrepreneurship courses to teach basic business skills; and access to a revolving loan fund for businesses that struggle to obtain bank financing. The program is designed to help people start or grow businesses in Boone, Braxton, Cabell, Clay, Kanawha, Lincoln, Putnam and Wayne counties.
---For more information or to register for the Sept. 2 webinar, visit https://advantagevalley.com/faster-wv-initiative or call Advantage Valley at 304.352.1165.
Virtual trade mission to connect
businesses to export opportunities

---The West Virginia Department of Economic Development invites state businesses to participate in a virtual trade mission to the Middle East and North Africa the week of Oct. 10.
---Business representatives will have the opportunity to explore exporting opportunities and schedule B2B appointments with potential partners in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates).
---While the event is open to representatives of all industry sectors, the best prospects are for West Virginia businesses that specialize in Oil and Gas Equipment, Safety and Security, Environmental Technologies, Design and Construction, Aerospace and Defense, and
Agricultural sectors.
---The participation fee is $250 per company. For more information and to register for the virtual trade mission, contact Enybe Diaz, manager of International Trade, at enybe.diaz@wv.gov.
U P C O M I N G-- E V E N T S

Sept. 2: From Maker to Manufacturer workshop sponsored by Advantage Valley & RCBI, online, 6 pm.
Sept. 8: Additive Manufacturing – Mission Ready, webinar, 1-2 pm. More information
Sept. 13-15: National Small Business Week Virtual Summit hosted by the SBA, online, 11 am-6 pm daily.
Sept. 20-22: WV Economic Development Council Annual Fall Conference, virtual, noon daily. More information
Oct. 6: Appalachia Envisioned conference, sponsored by ARC and the Commonwealth of Va., virtual, 8 am-1:30 pm.
Oct. 10-13: Virtual Trade Mission, MIddle East & North Africa by WV Department of Economic Development.
Oct. 26: Northcentral WV Business Summit, Mollohan Research Center, Fairmont, 8 am-3 pm. More information