The Center for Economic Options (CEO) is a community development organization in West Virginia that works with entrepreneurs and innovators who share a commitment to development that is socially, economically and environmentally sustainable*. We also work to make sure that people understand why local, sustainable businesses matter.
CEO has a long history of supporting people's initiatives to create sustainable jobs for themselves and others and contribute to their local economies, the environment, and community wealth through business ownership.
*Sustainable - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs._____________________________________________________________
Join the Center for Economic Options (CEO) for a free seminar on how to make social media work for your business on Thursday March 28, 2013 at the South Branch Inn at Moorefield, in Moorefield, WV. The seminar is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) and is for small business owners and farmers in Hardy, Grant, Mineral, and Hampshire counties.
The seminar is supported by a grant from the Foundation for Rural Service and is also sponsored by Hardy Telecommunications, The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation.
“There are many ways for small business owners and farmers to expand their marketing using social media, but it is hard sometimes to decide when and how to take advantage of these tools,” said Pam Curry, executive director of CEO. “We want people to know how to market and grow their businesses using these free resources.”
The seminar will cover the basics of setting up Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube accounts in the morning with the afternoon focused on how to connect and use these tools effectively and efficiently. CEO’s own web resources, the Green Business Accelerator will also be featured. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets, but having one is not required. Pre-registration for the event is strongly encouraged since space is limited to 20 participants. Lunch will be provided.
Senator Rockefeller introduced CEO'sShades of Green program at the Shades of Green Conference
Our economic issues in Appalachia are compounded by the nation's inequitable balance of wealth. Just how inequitable? You won't believe what you see in this video - but it is the grim reality.
CEO focuses on Kanawha County for Farm2School Americorp Vista initiative
Our initative focuses on establishing connections between schools in Kanawha County and local farmers who are interested in building a steady and dependable market for food products.
CEO is working with the Department of Education, particularly the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables program, and with colleagues and community members who want to support healthy foods for school food programs, access to fresh local food, and business and economic development for farm enterprises in our community. Along the way, we are promoting the the taste and health benefits of fresh, healthy food in schools.
CEO co-hosts West Virginia's first Farm to School Conference
The West Virginia Farm to School Conference demonstrated a strong and growing interest in bringing local food to students -- and revealed ways to make projects even more successful.
The conference, held in Morgantown Sept. 27-28, drew a total of 92 attendees, from school food service directors to farmers, and others involved in strengthening farm-to-school efforts. (MORE).
CEO's Green Business, Green Jobs Accelerator is specifically designed to help entrepreneurs start and expand sustainable businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the health and wealth of their communities. Check it out!
The Triple Bottom Line Tool helps optimize investments for economic, environmental, and social impact – what's referred to as the triple bottom line or TBL. Investors, economic development professionals, and decision-makers can use the TBL Tool to:
Design economic development investments for maximum returns.
Consider an economic development investment's impact on various factors.
Compare or communicate impacts of investment.
Appalachia Transition Video
Appalachian Transition explores the emergent work by non-profit organizations and funders to advance a just and sustainable economic transition in the Central Appalachian region.(MORE)
This video, produced by our colleagues WVFFC and the Collaborative for the 21st Century Appalachia, does a great job helping to make the case for the economic potential of local food.
