By JOHN McVEY
The Journal
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — About 100 residents and dignitaries joined West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner for the grand opening of the Eastern Panhandle Business Hub on the first floor of the Caperton Train Station in Martinsburg.
“The Eastern Panhandle is the economic engine of West Virginia, and we want to facilitate that development, recognize it, and help continue that growth,” Warner said. “The Eastern Panhandle is the envy of the state and the quad-state region.”
The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for the new office in Suite 100, 229 E. Martin St.
This is the second business hub Warner has opened. The first was in Clarksburg. He also opened a One-Stop Business Center in Charleston, which includes services provided by the state department, state tax department, division of labor and WorkForce West Virginia.
The secretary of state is the chief elections officer of the state and the department is responsible for registering businesses and charities.
At the Eastern Panhandle Business Hub, entrepreneurs and business owners now have access to the same services available in Charleston, including help with business creation, filing annual reports, notary public services, and assistance for charities, nonprofits and veteran-owned businesses, according the opening’s announcement.
Also, candidates for office can file certificates of announcements at the office.
“It took the hard work of many people to make this happen,” Warner said. “As I look out on this crowd, I see civic society — a group of people dedicated to family and community.”
Business and licensing specialists Tony Gress and Lexi Brown will be staffing the office, and Darrell Shull, Eastern Panhandle field service representative for the state department, also will be working out the office.
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