BEDA Workshop Equips Businesses to Strengthen and Streamline Supply Chains

Bluefield, WV – The Bluefield West Virginia Economic Development Authority (BEDA) hosted a workshop on April 7th, 2026, "Unlock Savings: What's Hiding in Your Supply Chain" for local and regional businesses. Participants gathered to learn how their supply chain decisions can lead to impactful cost savings that can easily go unnoticed. The workshop was part of a series being provided by BEDA through their Empower to Grow Bluefield BUILD Program (E2G).

Cheryl Carrico presenting at the event

Cheryl Carrico, Owner of E4S, LLC and BEDA's Empower to Grow Program Manager, kicked off the event with a presentation on what your total supply chain really includes, how everyday decisions impact your costs, and helpful information, including an overview of SIPOC (Supply, Input, Process, Output, Customer), a high-level process mapping tool used to identify and visualize the key elements of a workflow from start to finish. Sam Wolford, BEDA's Executive Director, followed Cheryl with a real-life example of how an unnamed local business faced a significant challenge and worked to overcome it through their supply chain process and structure.

We were excited to have the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Jim Spencer and members from SBA’s Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia District Offices, participated in the event. They provided helpful information, a live demonstration on the SBA Make Onshoring Great Again Portal, and highlight the programs and services offered by the SBA. District Office team members informed participants on SBA’s programs and services including government contracting, business development, resource partners, and SBA’s loan-guarantee programs. For more information on SBA’s programs and services visit www.sba.gov.

The Made in America Onshoring Portal builds on the SBA’s ongoing commitment to revitalizing American industry. Alan Davis, CEO of CONNEX Marketplace, provided an overview of the portal’s CONNEX features available to help small businesses connect with suppliers and provide products and services into U.S. manufacturers, suppliers, and producers. He also led a live demonstration of the platform, highlighting how businesses can register for free, build a profile, and begin utilizing its tools. A premium version is also available, offering access to expanded features and deeper insights. To learn more about the portal, visit: www.sba.gov/priorities/american-manufacturers/make-onshoring-great-again-portal.

Participants listening to the SBA presentation

Following Alan, Christian Yates, BEDA Administrative Support Tech, gave a presentation on IBISWorld, a research tool that provides detailed industry reports, market trends, and business data to help organizations make informed strategic decisions. As part of the program, BEDA can generate these reports for participating businesses at no cost to help them ensure they are aware of their market trends and supply chain opportunities.

E2G | Bluefield BUILD Program Details and How You Can Get Involved

BEDA was recently awarded a grant through the SBA's Empower to Grow program. The grant enabled BEDA to create Bluefield BUILD, a new regional initiative focused on strengthening local businesses, creating jobs, and improving U.S. supply chain resilience. The program targets the West Virginia counties of McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, and Wyoming, and the Virginia counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Grayson, Russel, Smyth, Tazewell, and Washington. BEDA launched the program with a series of regional roundtable discussions, engaging small businesses to better understand shared manufacturing challenges and broader operational needs. Building on this feedback, BEDA has since hosted targeted workshops on topics such as government contracting and supply chain optimization, with additional sessions on the horizon. Participating businesses may also be eligible for free, customized technical assistance, specialized training opportunities, and other supportive resources through the program.

If your business is located within one of our target communities and you’re interested in getting involved, reach out to our team. You can also monitor our workshops page moving forward to learn about upcoming events.