GREENBRIER COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – The Greenbrier County Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, September 23.
After the pledge, prelude and regular business of the council meeting, Kara Dense was on hand to speak about the Greenbrier County CVB. She started out by saying that they were the official destination marketing organization for Greenbrier County. “It’s something we love and take very seriously,“ Dense said.
A big thanks was given to the Commission‘s own Tammy Tincher, who is the representative on the board from the Commission. Thanks were also given to several other people. Mike Dodson, who is the vice president and is with Brier Property, Deliah Dixon is the Director of Operations and pays the bill,s keeps everything in line. Others were mentioned as well for their invaluable contributions.
Dense mentioned that last year, the new name of Experience Greenbrier Valley was established because Greenbrier County Convention and Visitors Bureau was a mouthful. “We feel Experience Greenbrier Valley tells a bit more about what we do.“
She went on to explain that they are funded by the bet tax and are 25 years old with 20 board members. Dense said that people are going online to talk about how “Amazing we are.” She explained that the CVB is up for reaccreditation and that a lot of things go into that. Their mission is to impact the area’s economy as the premium tourism destination.
In 2023, over $399.4 million in direct spending from tourism impacted the area, 2908 direct jobs and $41.73 million in taxes. That’s $2,834 to keep services going that people aren’t paying for because of tourism. Dense explained that they reach people in the dreaming/planning stage and that all marketing is digital. She explained that the visitors’ guide looks like a magazine, and they’ve been successful in once again getting Lewisburg named best small town food scene, which extends into White Sulphur Springs.
Next up was Daniel Hall from Mountain Valley Pipeline. Hall is also a County Commissioner from Raleigh County. He explained that the Pipeline has been quite successful with the company already looking to expand by way of increasing Compression in a project called MVP Boost. Hall said Greenbrier County Homeland Security director Don Havens had applied for a $3,500 public safety grant. Hall was there to present the grant check to Havens.
A representative for Greenbrier County Corrections was on hand with a grant application proposal to the Burke Foundation. The proposal is for a three-day event to be held with the Greenbrier County WVSOM and the Greenbrier County Health Department. There would be testing for things such as HIV and STDs, vaccines available such as flu and pneumonia, and checks available for things like blood pressure and sugar levels. People who use day reports will feel more comfortable and less self-conscious, the representative explained.
The grant would also be asking for 30 bus passes for Mountain Transit and a contract therapist due to the increasing number of people served. A contract therapist is desperately needed to help with home confinement and several departments within the judicial system. This would be a three-day-a-week position. The grant can be for up to $250,000.Commissioner Tincher said, “We need to see a final draft. This is pending approval of the final draft. Send a copy to Kelly.”
Office equipment and furniture are being donated to the Monroe County Commission. Commissioner Richie Holliday read a resolution authorizing the donation and wishing Monroe County the best.
Glenn Angstadt, who is the former chief information officer for Chester, PA, and a retired 911 consultant currently with Greenbrier County, read a proclamation declaring September Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
