Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority

What Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority does

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA), doing business as MyBluefield, is a public municipal economic development authority established by the City of Bluefield, West Virginia. Originally founded in 2015 and formally constituted as an Economic Development Authority in 2019, BEDA operates from a Small Business Success Center at 500 Bland Street with a staff of 4-5. The organization pursues a three-pronged mission: supporting existing businesses through a Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program, cultivating entrepreneurship and innovation, and attracting new industries in the "TEAM" sectors (Technology, Energy, Advanced Manufacturing). Service delivery is structured around a portfolio of free programs including workshops, the MOBI online Entrepreneur's Bootcamp, a Food Truck Incubator Program spanning 10 West Virginia counties, a USDA-funded Website Development Program for local businesses, a Facade Improvement Program offering 50% matching grants up to $15,000, and a Technical Assistance Program providing up to $500 in professional services funding for newer businesses. The annual JC Robinson Entrepreneur-to-Entrepreneur (E2E) event serves as the flagship networking occasion for regional entrepreneurs.

BEDA is funded primarily through federal and state grants rather than commercial revenue. Documented grant sources include USDA Rural Business Development ($50,000 for the Website Development Program), U.S. EPA funding ($452,292 for downtown abatement), Appalachian Regional Commission POWER funding (Food Truck Incubator), and additional partnerships with the SBA, WV SBDC, First Microloan of West Virginia, and the Regional Contracting Assistance Center. Under prior Executive Director Jim Spencer (who departed in May 2025 to lead the SBA Mid-Atlantic Regional Office), BEDA secured over $14 million in cumulative grant funding for regional projects. The current Executive Director, Sam Wolford, assumed the role on May 5, 2025, bringing more than 30 years of economic and workforce development experience from GENEDGE Alliance and prior service to Tazewell County, Virginia. BEDA serves roughly 80+ small businesses in the City of Bluefield and surrounding Appalachian region with all core programs provided free of charge; the organization has no software product offering and operates as a non-commercial public entity rather than a revenue-generating enterprise.

Name

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority

Legal name

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority

Website

https://mybluefield.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA) is a public municipal economic development authority supporting 80+ small businesses and entrepreneurs in the City of Bluefield and a 10-county Appalachian region through free programs in business retention, entrepreneurship cultivation, and TEAM sector industry attraction, funded primarily by federal and state grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

All Other Business Support Services (561499), Business Support Services (5614), Business Service Centers (56143)

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741), Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPADACAC

National Development Banks & State Development Finance Institutions (DFIs)

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Financial Institutions & Development Banks

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Small business support
• Entrepreneurship programs
• Business retention services
• Community development

Headquarters

HQ city

Bluefield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary funding source through federal and state grants (USDA, EPA, ARC) to support economic development programs and business assistance initiatives
2. Technical Assistance Programs: Free and subsidized business development services including workshops, training, and one-on-one counseling for local entrepreneurs and businesses

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA) is a public economic development entity that delivers free business support services to entrepreneurs and existing businesses in the Bluefield, WV region. Its core offerings include Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) support, Entrepreneurship and Innovation programming, and TEAM sector (Technology, Energy, Advanced Manufacturing) industry attraction, supplemented by grants, technical assistance, workshops, and a website development program funded through federal and state grants.

Product overview

Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA) is a multi-program economic development organization offering a portfolio of business support services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include: Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program, Entrepreneurship and Innovation support, and TEAM sector development (Technology, Energy, Advanced Manufacturing). BEDA provides financial assistance through the Facade Program (up to $15,000 matching funds) and Technical Assistance Program (up to $500 for newer businesses). The Website Development Program, funded by a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, creates or updates websites for local businesses. Additional programs include the Entrepreneur's Bootcamp (free online business education), Food Truck Incubator Program, JC Robinson Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur annual event, and various workshops covering business planning, marketing, financial management, and government contracting. BEDA does not offer a software product but rather economic development services, training programs, and financial assistance to support local businesses in the Bluefield, WV region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Retention and Expansion Program (BR&E) Supports existing businesses and industries by helping them diversify and grow through ongoing business support services. Targeted at local businesses seeking to grow, diversify, and expand operations in the Bluefield region.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program Cultivates entrepreneurship and innovation through workshops, training, and bootcamp programs for aspiring and existing business owners in the Bluefield region.
• TEAM Sector Development (Technology, Energy, Advanced Manufacturing) Attracts new industries in Technology, Energy, and Advanced Manufacturing sectors to the Bluefield region. Focuses on economic revitalization, job creation, and diversification of local economy.
• Entrepreneur's Bootcamp (MOBI) Free, self-paced, 100% online business bootcamp offering education for anyone looking to start, manage, or grow a business. Available in partnership with Santa Clara University.
• Facade Program City-wide program providing 50% matched funding up to $15,000 for commercial/industrial building exterior improvements including facade renovations, lighting, signage, windows, doors, awnings, painting, and entryways.
• Technical Assistance Program (TAP) Provides up to $500 in financial assistance for businesses started on or after January 1, 2021, for professional services including legal, IT, marketing, accounting, or related services.
• Food Truck Incubator Program Region-wide program supporting food truck and trailer entrepreneurs through training, resources, and collaborative partnerships across 10 West Virginia counties: Fayette, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Webster, and Wyoming.
• Website Development Program Program funded by USDA Rural Business Development Grant providing businesses with new e-commerce or static/informational websites, along with training and technical assistance for website management and digital presence.
• Workshops and Training Regular workshops covering topics including business planning, financial statements, digital marketing, government contracting, social media marketing, and business operations. Delivered through the Small Business Success Center and partnerships with WV SBDC.
• Small Business Success Center (SBSC) Resource hub providing support services for small businesses including technical assistance, funding opportunities, and business development resources. Located at 500 Bland Street Third Floor, Bluefield, WV.
• Commercialization Station Program supporting startup commercialization and business development initiatives in the Bluefield region.
• JC Robinson Entrepreneur to Entrepreneur Event (E2E) Annual networking and learning event connecting entrepreneurs, renamed to honor JC Robinson's legacy, featuring workshops and peer-to-peer business education for regional entrepreneurs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80+ small businesses supported in the region
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for workshop delivery, business coaching, and certification programs for entrepreneurs in the Bluefield region.
• First Microloan of West VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing financial literacy workshops and microloan access for small businesses, with Carol Jackson serving as Southern Region Loan Officer.
• Regional Contracting Assistance Center (RCAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Procurement Technical Assistance Center to help West Virginia businesses learn about and access federal government contracting opportunities.
• Santa Clara UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established to offer free online access to entrepreneurial education through Santa Clara University's programs.
• OnPath GraphicsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLocal Bluefield business owned by Ebony Murrell that designed the BEDA MyBluefield website.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal partner providing resources and support for small business development, including Mid-Atlantic Regional Office serving West Virginia.
• GENEDGE AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerManufacturing Extension Partner for Commonwealth of Virginia; new Executive Director Sam Wolford previously served as Southwest Virginia Region Client Growth and Development Manager.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Development Council (NDC): National nonprofit providing economic development financing, training, and capacity-building to local communities and EDOs. Operates in the same channel — providing capital access and program support to entities like BEDA.
• Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): Federal economic development entity promoting business and community development across the Tennessee Valley. Comparable regional development authority model, though at much larger scale, providing infrastructure, grants, and program funding analogous to BEDA's mandate.
• Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC): Federal-state partnership that funds BEDA's Food Truck Incubator Program via the POWER Grant. Operates at a multi-state regional level across Appalachia, providing development finance and program funding to entities like BEDA — the upstream counterpart in the same development ecosystem.
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP): State-level economic development authority for Virginia operating business attraction, retention, and expansion programs. Comparable function to BEDA but at state scale and budget, serving as a peer in mission and structure.

Emerging players

• PA Downtown Center: Pennsylvania-based downtown revitalization organization referenced in BEDA's site footer. Comparable community-led downtown revitalization, facade programs, and small business support focus aligned with BEDA's BR&E and Facade Program offerings.

Regional players

• Huntington Area Development Corporation (HADCO): Regional economic development organization serving the Huntington, WV area with business retention, recruitment, and small business support programs. Operates in the same West Virginia state context as BEDA with a comparable portfolio.
• Morgantown Area Partnership: Regional economic development organization serving north-central West Virginia with business development, retention, and attraction programming. Same public-private partnership structure and small-business service focus as BEDA.

Direct peers

• West Virginia Small Business Development Center (WV SBDC): Core strategic partner of BEDA delivering workshops and business coaching across West Virginia. Both organizations serve overlapping SMB and entrepreneur audiences with similar technical assistance and training programming, making WV SBDC the most directly comparable peer.
• GENEDGE Alliance: Virginia Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) where BEDA's new Executive Director Sam Wolford previously served. Provides similar small business and manufacturing growth services across SW Virginia, directly mirroring BEDA's TEAM-sector approach.
• Regional Contracting Assistance Center (RCAC) WV: Procurement Technical Assistance Center partner of BEDA helping West Virginia businesses access federal contracting. Provides overlapping training and one-on-one counseling to a similar regional SMB audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@bluefieldwveconomicdevelop4205
• Facebookfacebook.com/mybluefieldwv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mybluefieldwv
• Instagraminstagram.com/mybluefieldwv
• Xx.com/mybluefieldwv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority