TBAI – The Women’ Business Center – Mission WV
Team Up to promote Economic Development with New Entrepreneurs

New entrepreneurs, business owners, and future microbusiness developers from McDowell and Mercer counties recently attended a free e-Commerce training session at the TBAI Computer Lab located at the Ashland Company Store in Ashland WV. 
On Friday, October 12th, Travel Beautiful Appalachia, Inc, The Women’s Business Center in Beckley WV, and Mission WV joined forces to train 15 participants on how to use the internet to expand their businesses. Learning to use the Internet as a marketing research tool, developing an internet presence, and reaching target audiences were just some of the skills that were obtained during the training that was facilitated by Steve Graham of Mission WV and Tara Elder and Angie Lilly of The Women’s Business Center in Beckley WV.
In addition to the internet knowledge and the exploration of possibilities for their business, each participant received a free desk-top computer upon completion of the training session. “Watching the participants’ excitement on the receipt of their computers and hearing them chat with one another concerning the knowledge they discovered during the e-Commerce training is what development, capacity building, and collaboration is all about”, stated TBAI Director, Debbie Bailey. Scott Bennett, TBAI Business Development Intern said, “Those computers can certainly open new doors for all the businesspersons who attended the training. This event underscores what can be achieved when community organizations work together.”
Pictured during the training session and receiving their desk top computers are participants Marielle Jesse, Kristie Shrewsbury, Lisa Hagar, Dolly (Wolfe) Comer, Priscilla Spurlin, Rhonda Coleman, Virginia Brown, Melissa Wellman, Mike Mullins, Evan Bailey, Geneva Steele, Mary Ann Drake, Dolly Epperson, Eithel Hall, and Omey Payne.
Plans are in the making for another e-Commerce training session, in addition to Website, Ebay, and Publisher trainings that will soon take place at the TBAI Computer Lab. If you are interested in participating in one or all of these classes, please contact Travel Beautiful Appalachia, Inc at 862-4800 and ask for Debbie Bailey or Scott Bennett.