Photo/GAGE VOTA Fabio’s Pizza co-owner Mary Ann Cracolici poses with the restaurant’s award of appreciation of community to construction workers and contractors given by Project BEST.

WHEELING — Project BEST hosted its Holiday Happy Hour and Awards ceremony Thursday evening at Wheeling Island Hotel-Racetrack-Casino to honor area businesses and entities who hire local contractors and local labor.

Executive director and emcee of the ceremony Nathan Butts said it’s important to highlight those who keep the money within the community.

“The whole premise of Project BEST is outreach to recognize union craftsmen and union contractors. And this event is to thank those partners for using local people, the people that go to schools here, that pay taxes here, and we just wanted to thank them,” Butts said. “Last year we just had a happy hour for networking purposes, but this year we tried to ramp it up a little bit, and we’re going to be handing out awards to folks that have utilized our contractors for certain projects and then for also just recurring projects over the years, maintenance, repairs, and things like that.”

Project BEST co-chair Justin Klempa said Thursday evening’s event was a smashing success. More than 200 people were in attendance with roughly 100 local businesses and entities being represented.

“What we want to do is try to get people in the room who are the decision makers in the valley, so they can learn more and support our contractors and realize why utilizing a union contractor is more beneficial than a non-union contractor,” Butts said.

Twenty-four area businesses and entities were recognized and given an award of appreciation of community to construction workers and contractors.

Fabio’s Pizza, Form Energy, Guntry, Marshall County Commission, Steubenville City Schools, TCL Specialties LLC, The Bridge Tavern, Trinity Health System, Unified Bank, Waterfront Hall, AEP Mitchell Power Plant, Bethany College, Buckeye Local School District, Cardinal Operating Company, the City of Wheeling, Mountaineer Casino and Resort, Ohio County Commission, Ohio Hills Health Centers, Regional Economic Development Partnership, Rolling Hills Local School District, WesBanco, West Virginia Northern Community College, Wheeling Island Hotel-Racetrack-Casino, and WVU Medicine were all honored at the ceremony.

Fabio’s Pizza was celebrated for the construction of its new Wheeling location.

“I love keeping all of our tradesmen local and using local labor,” co-owner Mary Ann Cracolici said. “I wouldn’t change anything, I’m very appreciative.”

She added that since moving from St. Clairsville to Wheeling the business has seen a big uptick in customers.

“Most days are double of what we would do in the past. So it’s honestly the only thing we regret is not doing it sooner,” Cracolici said. “I just want to thank all of our customers that have followed us, even though it might be a further drive for them and they may not get to enjoy other things in the mall, but we really appreciate you.”

Trinity Health System was celebrated for using a local union contractor for the construction of its new Neighborhood Hospital in St. Clairsville.

President and CEO of Twin City Medical Center Dwayne Richardson said since the announcement of the Neighborhood Hospital, Trinity Hospital made it a priority to work with local labor and contractors.

“From the beginning of our project, we stated that we were committed to using local talent and services right here in the Ohio Valley,” Richardson said.

“Not only were we committed, our partners actually stepped up to the task and we actually built a brand new neighborhood hospital in 18 months, and that was phenomenal.”

He added that he’s proud to be partnered with a lot of the local union contractors and laborers not just through the initial construction project, but continuing to take care of the facility.

WVU Medicine was recognized for the longstanding commitment to working with local union contractors and laborers. WVU Medicine associate vice president of foundations and community relations Jessica Moore said that WVU Medicine utilized local union contractors and laborers for work on WVU Medicine Wheeling, Reynolds Memorial and Barnesville hospitals.

“WVU Medicine really cares about this community, and we’re very supportive of local folks and local businesses in this community,” Moore said. “We’re really honored to be recognized tonight for the work that we’ve done through the organizations that work with Project BEST.”