HONAKER, VA – MAY 26, 2021 — Community involvement has always been important to Jessica Whitt, of Honaker, who opened her own business, Whitt Insurance Agency, LLC in Honaker in July 2020.
Whitt Insurance Agency, LLC is a recent recipient of a $9,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) seed capital grant.
The company provides insurance coverage for auto, home, condo, townhouse, mobile homes, boats, motorcycles, ATVs, rentals and more to those in need of insurance. Life insurance, health insurance, commercial business and workers compensation insurance are also offered under the Farmers Insurance umbrella.
Bristol West and Kraft Like are two other insurance options available for certain types of insurance, Whitt said.
“Whitt Insurance Agency, LLC had a good business plan to grow their new business in Honaker,” said VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher. “The business projects two full-time employees and one part-time employee.”
Whitt said her approach to insurance is to try to make the process of obtaining the right kind of insurance to meet individual needs less daunting and easy to navigate.
“We try to make the insurance process easy and personalized so that you can rest well knowing you are covered,” Whitt said.
Born and raised in Virginia, with more than seven years of industry experience, Whitt said she has built her agency with a clear focus on addressing client insurance needs.
“We value our clients and treat them how we would expect to be treated,” Whitt said. “Honesty and integrity are key to us and we guide our clients through the insurance process to ensure they are properly educated on coverage options available to them.”
Whitt said the VCEDA seed capital grant was valuable to her new business, adding she has used it for marketing and office supplies, including computers for staff members.
“It has really helped my new business to get off the ground,” Whitt said.
Whitt Insurance Agency, LLC is located on 444 South Railroad Avenue in Honaker and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours appointments are also available. More information may be found on the business website at https://www.farmersagent.com/jwhitt, on its Facebook page, or by calling (276) 991-6106.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.