Entrepreneurship Week ~ February 20th - February 27th.  During this week long celebration we acknowledged the contributions of Women Business Owners and Friends of Business to the local economy. Through celebrating and honoring these women, THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS & TRAINING CENTER's goal was to make people more aware of how important women are to the economy of West Virginia. Women are starting businesses at twice the rate of men and staying in business longer.

THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS & TRAINING CENTER recognized Women Business Owners and Friends of Business not only for their contributions to the community but for their innovation and creation of jobs. This was also an opportunity to educate young women about the power of entrepreneurship and what entrepreneurship is all about.  Recognition ceremonies took place in each of the following counties: Fayette, Greenbrier, McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers, Webster and Wyoming.

	Fayette County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Sharon Cruikshank		Woman Owned Business Cynthia Dragan
	Greenbrier County  2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Marlene Pierson-Jolliffe, CFE		Woman Owned Business Barbara Hinkle
	McDowell County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Mayor Martha Moore		Woman Owned Business Markella Gianato
	Mercer County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Debbie Maynard (pictured with Lisa Huff, Chairman of the Board, Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce)		Woman Owned Business Gray Peretti (pictured with Tara Elder, Women's Business & Training Center Director)
	Monroe County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Helen Graves		Woman Owned Business Lindy McConnell, MPT
	Nicholas County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Mary Igo		Woman Owned Business Teresa E. Clevenger
	Pocahontas County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Coby Brown		Woman Owned Business Alex Bennett
	Raleigh County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Deborah L. Sizemore (pictured with Tara Elder, Women's Business & Training Center Director)		Woman Owned Business Pat Reed
	Summers County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Mayor Cleo Mathews		Woman Owned Business Wendy Campbell
	Webster County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Evon Snyder		Woman Owned Business Louise Hamrick
	Wyoming County 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards
Friend of Business Phyllis Lusk-Banther		Woman Owned Business Devonna Miller-West