SBA 8(a) program producing results in West Virginia

8/12/2011

Azimuth, a Fairmont, West Virginia-based manufacturing company, has grown by leaps and bounds in the past few years thanks partly to assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The corporation was founded by service disabled veteran Craig Hartzell and, according to Clarksburg-based WBOY-12 news, started as a two-person operation. Since then, Hartzell's company has expanded to more than 100 employees in development and support offices in Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virgina. Because of its growth and job creation, Azimuth was given the 2010 West Virginia Small Business of the Year award.

SBA Administrator Karen G. Mills visited Azimuth on July 14 to recognize Harzell's success. He opened the business through the SBA's 8(a) federal contracting program, which aims to help disadvantaged entrepreneurs and small businesses through resources, training, mentoring and commercial loan backing. In addition, the program connects qualified companies with federal contracting agencies.

Small businesses employ more than half of U.S. private sector employees, and in rural states like West Virginia, the number is often higher. The growth of small businesses is seen by government agencies and industry experts as key to the rebound of the American economy, and the expansion of companies like Azimuth is a good sign of a turnaround.