Governor Patrick Morrisey signed Senate Bill 878 into law on Tuesday, creating the West Virginia Office of Entrepreneurship under the leadership of Secretary of State Kris Warner.
“Today is a giant leap forward for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in West Virginia,” Warner said after the signing at the State Capitol in Charleston.
The legislation makes West Virginia the first state in the nation to establish an Office of Entrepreneurship that operates under the direct responsibility of a statewide elected official. Eight other states have similar offices that fall under an agency or authority. The law goes into effect on July 1.
The WV Office of Entrepreneurship will help guide entrepreneurs through the earliest stages of starting a business. Proposed to the Legislature by Warner, the initiative has been discussed in recent years between the Secretary of State’s Office and leaders with the WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem including the Benedum Foundation, the WV Small Business Development Center, WVU, Marshall, the University of Charleston and the national Right to Start organization.
“I want to thank the West Virginia legislature and Governor Morrisey for their confidence and support. Now, the Secretary of State’s Office of Entrepreneurship is the tip of the spear for helping stakeholders navigate red tape to create a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive and grow,” Warner said.
The office will serve as a statewide entrepreneurship ombudsman to help founders navigate state agencies and processes. It will coordinate prompt referrals to the appropriate agencies or partners, identify systemic barriers in business formation processes and work collaboratively with other agencies to solve administrative and policy issues that hinder economic growth — all without duplicating the responsibilities or services of other state agencies.
Warner said he is looking forward to attending the 2026 Entrepreneurship Conference during Bridging Innovation Week held this year in Morgantown from April 27 to May 1. The conference will be held on April 28 and is hosted by the WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem.
“I want to extend a personal invitation to legislators and to the Governor to join me in Morgantown for this year’s Entrepreneur’s Conference,” Warner said. “We will recognize the passage of this historic legislation, share our progress with getting the office up and running, and celebrate entrepreneurship in West Virginia.”
For more information on the conference, visit the WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem website.
