Greenbrier Commission approves ‘Host City’ agreement with FIFA
By Matthew Young, RealWV
CORRECTION: We incorrectly reported the date of the next meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission. The article has been updated to reflect the correct date of Dec. 30.
LEWISBURG, W.Va. – The Greenbrier County Commission, on Tuesday, approved a resolution designating the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC) as the “Lead Economic Development Corporation for Greenbrier County.”
On-hand to discuss the resolution was Ruthanna Beezley, GVEDC executive director, who said, “Today is the day that I come and formally thank the commissioners for your support the whole year long, and ask you to formalize that in a resolution.”
“That resolution we’ll present to the state, which will match the county’s allocation of funds – at least part of it – for a grant for our ongoing operations,” Beezley added. “Your support today allows us to double your funds.”
Next before the commission was consideration of the voluntary dismissal, with prejudice, of all claims made against Express Scripts in conjunction with the opioid-lawsuit settlement, save for the claim of “public nuisance.”
“This is a recommendation of our attorneys that are handling this case before the judge (Wheeling Judge John Preston Bailey),” Commission President Lowell Rose noted.
Commissioners approved the voluntary dismissal without further discussion.
Consideration of a change order related to phase 3 of the Meadow River Trail project was then tabled, before commissioners moved to the approval of a second resolution, that being for the reallocation of existing ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds. As discussed in the previous two meetings of the County Commission, remaining ARPA funding will be transferred from the Health Department project, making them available for use on the Day Report Center roof replacement project and courthouse window replacement project.
Commissioners then recessed into executive session to discuss the day’s final item of business – the possibility of joining FIFA 26, The Greenbrier Resort, and the West Virginia Dept. of Tourism in a “Team Base Camp Host City” agreement – with counsel. Upon their return, commissioners approved a motion to enter into the agreement, providing that Greenbrier County is not the only party joining, and that the county’s requests are met “within reason.”
Under the agreement, during the 2026 FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) tournament, scheduled between June and July, one participation team will stay and practice at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs. Commissioners anticipate their stay resulting in an approximatley $3 million economic boost for Greenbrier County.
“I think this is going to be a great thing for our county, and our local businesses,” Commissioner Richie Holliday said. “When you have this many people coming into our county for such a long time, they’re going to be spending money on local places and traveling in our area.”
The next meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission is scheduled for Tuesday, December 30, at 10 a.m.
