CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia woman who owns a learning center for children with autism has been selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration small business person of the year.
Jill Scarbro-McLaury is the first person in West Virginia to receive the award, Gov. Jim Justice’s office said.
“Her dedication to a wonderful cause and her skills as a small business owner are an inspiration to us all, and I could not be more proud to congratulate her as West Virginia’s first-ever winner of this national award,” Justice said in a statement.
The West Virginia Small Business Development Center submitted Scarbro-McLaury’s nomination for the award.
Scarbro-McLaury, who is also an educator, owns Bright Futures Learning Services in Winfield.
“This award validates that taking care of people is always the right thing to do,” she said.
Scarbro-McLaury was named the 2022 West Virginia Small Business Person of the Year in April. She also earned the SBA’s West Virginia Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year award in 2019.