pivoting ‹‹ BUSINESSES & ORGANIZATIONS
coordinating the offering of third-party professional services; and providing eCommerce transition design services. In these ways, Woodlands has supported and impacted approximately 45 COVID- affected area small businesses. Woodlands also partnered with a local development authority and CVB to create the Tucker County “Support our Shops”(SOS) campaign, a website meant to drive business to open businesses and web sales platforms by listing business hours, available services, and online shopping links. The most unique service Woodlands is offering entrepreneurs is funding third- party web designers to work directly with existing business owners to deploy tailored e-commerce solutions and get them back in business. Existing technical assistance funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission, U.S. Economic Development Administration, and Benedum Foundation are being utilized through Woodlands’ Mon Forest Business Initiative, in partnership with Natural Capital Investment Fund. “Ten years ago, we secured the loan to open our coffee shop, and it also happened to be the first loan Woodlands ever made,” said Cade Archuleta, owner of TipTop in Thomas. “Knowing how slow business had gotten recently, they connected me with an extremely talented local designer who is helping us build a website so we can offer our wine and beer clubs, online food orders, and merchandise, etc. I couldn’t think of better people to work with in these uncertain times.” These websites are giving restaurants the ability to receive online orders and keep menus updated. Retail shops can offer their goods and services for sale while their shops remain shuttered. The sites will also help diversify these businesses when the economy reopens. Business Advisor Marti Neustadt noted, “It’s so inspiring to see entrepreneurs doing what they do best. Even though their business models had to change very abruptly, they are showing that they are resilient and nimble, capable of pivoting to meet demand.” To date, Woodlands has contracted web designers to build 14 eCommerce solutions for local businesses in the Mon Forest region, several of which are already live. With significant amounts of staff time, thoughtful use of existing resources, and trust built in communities from years of dedicated work, Woodlands has been able to impact the lives of many business owners in West Virginia in an unprecedented time.
founded in 2012 by its partner, Woodlands Development Group. It provides loans, business development services, and finance packaging for small businesses and real estate projects that are otherwise “unbankable.” Woodlands has provided loans to more than 85 new and expanding businesses, lending over $2.6 million and leveraging an additional $6 million from other lenders, resulting in the direct support of 140 jobs. Woodlands efforts have also led to redevelopment of over 85,000 square feet of downtown housing and commercial space, most of which was formerly vacant. As brick-and-mortar businesses closed, Woodlands committed to providing meaningful, relevant services to small businesses, focusing staff time and resources on those most affected by COVID. Those services include: deferring existing Woodlands’ loan payments; directly assisting with SBA Economic Injury Disaster loan, PPP, and other applications; helping self- employed individuals file for unemployment benefits; continuing business advising and
EMILY WILSON - HAUGER W DAV I S , TUCKER COUNT Y Bank on It A Tucker County lender branches out to help. inmid-march, a staggering number of small businesses in West Virginia were forced to close their doors to the public as the COVID-19 crisis reached the state’s communities. Since then, Woodlands Community Lenders’ staff have worked diligently to listen to business owners and figure out ways to better serve small COVID- affected businesses in the Monongahela Forest Region. “We knew we had to switch from a ‘business development’ mindset to ‘business retention’ mode,” commented Business Advisor Heather Hanna. Woodlands is a certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)
newsouthmedia.com 13
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker