In Hardy County, Career and Technical Education is doing more than preparing students for careers—it is helping them create them.
The LaunchPad, Hardy County Schools’ innovative micro-business complex located adjacent to Moorefield High School, is redefining what work-based learning looks like in rural West Virginia. Built through partnerships with the West Virginia Department of Education’s EPIC Grant and numerous local businesses and organizations, The LaunchPad serves as a student-managed entrepreneurial campus where students operate real businesses, serve real customers, and solve real community needs. The complex brings together agriculture, business, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and other Career Technical Education (CTE) programs from Moorefield High School, East Hardy High School, and Moorefield Middle School under one collaborative marketplace.
The opportunity doesn’t end when school dismisses for the summer.
This summer, the vision is coming to life with Brooklyn Saville, a Moorefield High School hospitality student entrepreneur who is using The LaunchPad Café to launch her own business “Brooklyn & Co”. Rather than waiting until graduation to pursue her dream, Brooklyn is gaining invaluable experience now—developing products, building a customer base, learning inventory management, marketing her brand, and operating in a professional environment while dramatically reducing the financial risks that often prevent young entrepreneurs from getting started. Brooklyn & Co is currently serving handcrafted coffee, specialty drinks, and freshly made heritage treats. Menu and hours are posted on Facebook @Brooklyn&Co for walk-ins or order online via Cash App: $brooklyncollc
“The LaunchPad was intentionally designed to remove many of the barriers that prevent young entrepreneurs from turning an idea into a business,” said Jessica Markwood, Director of Career and Technical Education for Hardy County Schools. “Students don’t have to invest thousands of dollars in commercial equipment, facilities, or overhead before they know if their business can succeed. Instead, they can test products, build a customer base, learn from mistakes, and develop confidence in a real marketplace with guidance from educators and community mentors. We’re maximizing the value of this public investment while creating an entrepreneurial ecosystem that supports students, strengthens our workforce, and contributes to the long-term economic vitality of Hardy County.”
The LaunchPad facilities are available for use during special events, evenings, weekends, and summer months through Board policy—much like the school gyms and auditoriums have long served community organizations. This model transforms public educational facilities into year-round economic development assets while maintaining our primary educational mission.
For students like Brooklyn, the benefits are significant. Traditional startups often require substantial capital investments in equipment, facilities, utilities, and marketing before serving their first customer. By utilizing The LaunchPad’s professionally equipped facilities, students can test business concepts, build clientele, and refine operations without assuming overwhelming startup debt or financial risk. This approach allows young entrepreneurs to focus on innovation, customer service, and sustainable growth rather than simply surviving the high costs of opening a business.
The need for this type of entrepreneurial support is especially important in West Virginia. According to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, the state is home to more than 111,000 small businesses, representing over 98% of all businesses in West Virginia and employing nearly half of the state’s workforce. Small businesses remain the backbone of West Virginia’s economy, making entrepreneurship education and support systems essential investments in the state’s future.
Research consistently demonstrates that high-quality work-based learning experiences improve career readiness, strengthen technical and professional skills, and increase students’ confidence as they transition into careers or postsecondary education. Entrepreneurship experiences that allow students to plan, operate, and manage authentic businesses provide meaningful opportunities to develop leadership, financial literacy, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills while building valuable relationships with mentors, employers, and community partners.
“Education should inspire students to see opportunity where others see obstacles,” said Dr. Sheena Van Meter, Superintendent of Hardy County Schools. “The LaunchPad exemplifies what public education can accomplish when schools, businesses, and community partners work together toward a common vision. Our students are not waiting until after graduation to become innovators, business owners, and community leaders—they are doing it now. Brooklyn’s journey is a perfect example of how authentic work-based learning empowers students to build careers right here in West Virginia while creating a stronger future for our local communities. We are incredibly proud to provide a place where students can launch their dreams with the support of their schools and neighbors.”
The LaunchPad represents a new model for rural education—one where schools become catalysts for economic development, workforce preparation, and entrepreneurship. Students are not simply practicing business concepts; they are actively contributing to the local economy while building careers that may one day create jobs for others in Hardy County.
As Brooklyn serves her first customers this summer, she also serves as an example of what is possible when education, community partnerships, and entrepreneurship intersect. Every cup of coffee represents more than a sale—it represents confidence, experience, reduced barriers to business ownership, and the beginning of a career built right here at home. Town of Moorefield Mayor Scott Fawley reflected after visiting Brooklyn’s pop-up café, “I was truly impressed by Brooklyn’s passion, professionalism, and attention to details. It’s inspiring to see a young person demonstrate such a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence. She represents the bright future of our community, and I encourage everyone to stop by, support her business, and enjoy one of her delicious beverages.”
By investing in student entrepreneurs today, Hardy County Schools is helping ensure that tomorrow’s business owners, innovators, and community leaders don’t have to leave rural West Virginia to find opportunity—they can create it here.
