The National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) announced that the West Virginia Secretary of State Office’s Business Industry Growth (BIG) Map is a finalist for the 2016 NASS IDEAS Award, which recognizes innovation, dedication, excellence and achievement in state member programming, as well as significant contributions to NASS.
Launched in 2014, the office’s BIG Map compiles business filing and formation data in an easy-to-use and understand format. Users can compare business filing data from all of West Virginia’s counties over any date range. This allows a prospective entrepreneur to research a particular region to decide where to open their business.
The BIG Map also includes data such as how many new businesses have filed with the Secretary of State’s Office, how many have been closed down and the total number of businesses filed. All of the data can be broken down by county and by city, allowing the comparison of parts of a county or regions of the state.
“Since its launch, we’ve been very proud of the BIG Map platform and the data it provides West Virginians,” said Secretary Tennant. “Entrepreneurs are able to compare data from across the state and communities are able to see their percentage of business growth from month to month. This is an example of good government and transparency, and we’re honored to be included in the list of finalists for NASS’s prestigious award.”
The BIG Map was developed in-house by Secretary of State information technology staff. To access the interactive BIG Map, go to http://apps.sos.wv.gov/business/BIG/.
Other award finalists include the Secretary of State offices in Colorado, Montana and Nevada.
Finalists for the NASS IDEAS Award are selected following a review and ranking vote by a designated group of peers. State submissions are judged according to their history, significance and effects/results.
A representative from the West Virginia office will showcase the BIG Map during a special shared practices panel at the NASS summer conference, which will take place from July 14 to July 17.
NASS members will vote to select the national honoree from among the finalists, and the recipient office will be presented with the NASS IDEAS Award during the summer event.