After taking time off due to COVID, FCIDC hosted its Annual Reception on November 10, 2022 in the Bliss Room at the St. Albans Museum.
During the evening, FCIDC and the Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board were proud to announce the winners of several awards.
Each year, the recipient of the Rick Manahan Civic Involvement Award is selected by the Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board. Handy Cars has been in business for 70 years and has included three generations of family leadership. The business was chosen for its collaboration with area schools to provide technical education to students through internships, co-ops and scholarships. Cold Hollow Career Center director Nate Demar said the tech center’s automotive technology program is one of its most popular, thanks in part to the school’s partnership with local businesses like Handy Cars.
Corey Jankowski, a senior in Northwest Career and Technical Center’s automotive program, is currently an intern in Handy Toyota’s main office and financial services department. He told the audience the staff is patient, makes him feel welcome and has inspired him to pursue a career at a dealership after graduation.
The annual FCIDC Business Award was presented to one of the first technology companies in Franklin County: Med Associates, Inc.
Founded 50 years ago and now located in the Georgia Industrial Park, the business is a leading manufacturer, software developer and supplier of products for behavioral psychology, pharmacology, neuroscience and related fields of research.
Smith said Med Associates was selected for its community involvement, community contributions, job retention and creation, employee development and capital investment.
“The company’s community involvement activities, I will not be able to cover all of them due to the length of the list,” Smith said.
For example, Med Associates has raised thousands of dollars for the UVM Children’s Hospital and participated in Green Up Day and cigarette butt clean up. The business helped raise funds to build the Hard’ack disc golf course and playgrounds at the Collins Perley Sports Complex, Fairfield Center School and the Fairfield Community Center.
Named after the former FCIDC board chair who passed away in 2016, the William (Bill) Cioffi Award was awarded to Jim Cameron, a longtime Franklin County developer.
Smith said the intent of the award is to recognize an individual who has made big contributions to the community and is a model for service in Franklin County.
The owner of Green Dolphin, LLC, Cameron has had a hand in many of Franklin County’s development projects, including the construction of the Greg Brown Lodge in St. Albans, the transformation of the St. Albans House and the restorations of the Quincy House and Fairfield Meeting House.
Most recently, Cameron was pivotal in the restoration of the Perley Block, a longtime vacant building in downtown Enosburg Falls that will now serve as home to the Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union and include two storefronts and eight apartments.
FCIDC says, “Thank you” the award winner for all they do and a big “Thank you” to everyone who joined us to make this year’s event so successful.
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