Greenbrier Valley EDC hosts annual dinner, presents first ever ‘Impact Award’

By Dakota Baker, RealWV

On Thursday, the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine was excited to host the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation’s annual dinner at their student center.

The Greenbrier Valley EDC’s mission is to strategically facilitate economic growth and higher wages through collaborative partnerships, while preserving the natural beauty and quality of life in the Greenbrier Valley Region.

The evening was all about celebrating the people who’ve helped boost economic growth in the Greenbrier Valley. As the crowd settled in, Matt Ford took the stage—rocking his mountaineer cap—and gave a big shoutout to the sponsors who helped make the night happen. He then shared a few heartfelt words with the audience:

“It’s great to get together. If you work in economic development, you know that economic development is tough. It’s hard work and takes a long time. But I wanna give you one reminder that at the end of the day, we are all on the same team.”

After dinner, Director Ruthana Beezley expressed her gratitude to Cedar Hill Creations for catering the event, the sponsors, and the Greenbrier Valley EDC board of directors. Later in the evening, Ruthana echoed that spirit of community and long-term commitment, saying, “The best return on investment for economic development is investing in the businesses that are here and already investing in our community and our people.”

A new highlight at this year’s dinner was the introduction of the Greenbrier Valley Impact Awards—created to recognize achievement, investment, innovation, and the ongoing efforts that make the Greenbrier Valley a great place to live, work, and do business. The first honor of the night, the Greenbrier Valley Collaborative Impact Award, was presented to Samantha Smith in recognition of her continued dedication and the vital role she and her region play in supporting the EDC’s mission. Next up was the Greenbrier Valley Economic Impact Award, which honors a region’s contributions through investment, employment, and innovation. This year’s award went to Collins Aerospace for its ongoing commitment to the community, demonstrated through meaningful employment opportunities and support for education.