Each fall, the community and members of the Greater Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce come together to recognize individuals and businesses  at the chamber’s awards banquet.

Although several awards are presented during the event, the evening is about shining a light on those individuals and businesses who work vigorously to enhance our communities throughout Lawrence County.

Several were honored this year including The Flower Shop in Chesapeake as Small Business of the Year, which has served the Chesapeake area and their community since 1986. The Business of the Year award went to Emerson Liebert Corporation in Ironton, which employs nearly 400 employees.

Entrepreneur of the Year was presented to WesBanco of Ironton for its installment of a New Tax Credit Program that helps businesses that want to open in Lawrence County. Additionally, WesBanco has provided loans totaling more than $60 million throughout the county that has helped create more than 2,000 jobs over the past 12 years.

Donna Bowling, wife of the late Lawrence County Common Pleas Court Judge D. Scott Bowling, accepted the George Patterson Community Servant Award on behalf of her husband.

Many of the individuals and businesses that serve our communities may not seek attention, but it is important that we always recognize those who work hard each year to make Lawrence County a better place for all of us.