About

Spearheaded by Secretary of State Kris Warner, the WV Office of Entrepreneurship (WVOE) began operations on July 1, 2026, following the passage of Senate Bill 878 during the 2026 Regular Legislature Session.

The WVOE is the nation's first state-level entrepreneurship office to operate under the direct oversight of a statewide elected official.

Under the direction of the Coordinator, the WVOE builds upon established partnerships between the Secretary of State's Office and key stakeholders across the state's entrepreneurial ecosystem, including:

• WV Small Business Development Center
• WV Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
• WV Grant Resource Centers
• U.S. Small Business Administration
• Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation
• WV agencies including the Dept. of Commerce, Div. of Economic Development, and the Economic Development Authority
• WV colleges and universities
• National Right to Start organization

Mission

The WVOE exists to serve as the State's ombudsman by filling the gap between government requirements and services, and the private sector needs of entrepreneurs and small businesses. To accomplish this goal, the Legislature tasked the WVOE with the following:

• Efficiently connect entrepreneurs and small businesses with the right resources and agencies;
• Assist with navigating government requirements;
• Provide prompt responses to inquiries, and make timely referrals to state agencies and partner organizations;
• Collaborate with partners to recommend or create solutions for efficient service delivery, failing businesses, unnecessary red tape, and bureaucracy;
• Identify systemic barriers within business formation and regulatory processes;
• Collaborate with agencies to implement solutions without duplicating existing services; and
• Operate in cooperation with other agencies without duplicating existing services and efforts.

Leadership

Coordinator Lesli Taylor comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. Starting with her first childhood job in her family's local hardware store, she brings nearly a decade of experience in research, economic and community development, quality improvement, program evaluation, and organizational strategy from the public and private sectors to the WVOE.

Taylor works out of the State Capitol office and One Stop Business Center in Charleston.

Entrepreneurship Portal