NRGRDA Names Bowles Rice, LLP and Huntington National Bank 2024 Partners of the Year at December 6 NRGRDA Showcase and Soiree

Summersville, W.Va. (December 12, 2024) – Jina Belcher, Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), named Bowles Rice, LLP and Huntington National Bank, as recipients of its 2024 Partner of the Year award. The announcement was made at the Friday, December 6, Showcase and Soiree at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center.

Belcher said, “Our two awardees earned recognition following their innovative financing solutions that facilitated the most recent expansion of Klöckner Pentaplast in Beaver. It is a global leader in recycled content products and high-barrier protective packaging. “The collaboration and visioning that supported NRGRDA in a complex and non-traditional financing solution was certainly the first of its kind for the organization and we could not have arrived at this solution without Huntington Bank and Bowles Rice.”

“Huntington Bank is honored to be recognized by Jina Belcher and the NRGRDA,” said Chad Prather, Huntington regional president for West Virginia. “The Klockner transaction was a collaborative effort between the NRGRDA, our transaction partners, Philip Angelo with Huntington Capital Markets, and Aaron Sporck, part of the local Huntington team. It is truly a testament to all involved that we were able to get this complex financing across the finish line. Good-paying jobs are vital to a community’s sustainability and growth, and it is extremely fulfilling to have been part of the team delivering this opportunity for the region.”

Corey Bonasso with Bowles Rice said, “Bowles Rice is truly honored to be a Partner of the Year with New River Gorge Regional Development Authority. The Authority’s mission is meaningful and vital, and the impact that their work is having is nothing short of admirable. I have been very fortunate to be a part of that work and to see the benefits it is bringing to underserved regions of our great state. My colleagues and I have very much enjoyed working with the Authority through this year, and we look forward to many more years of partnership.”

Klöckner Pentaplast established its facility in Raleigh County in 2000. On Nov. 16, 2020, company officials joined with West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, state economic development leaders, the Raleigh County Commission and NRGRDA officials to announce an expansion of the Beaver operations and hiring of 21 additional employees.

Belcher said the facility underwent a multi-million-dollar production expansion, adding thermoforming capabilities to further grow its sustainable food tray offer for the North American market and creating a significant number of new jobs.

In addition to the awardees, Dr. Bonny Copenhaver, President of New River Community and Technical College, offered keynote remarks during the dinner. Sponsors of the annual event included: The Thrasher Group as Showcase Sponsor as well as collaborator sponsors EL Robinson Engineering, Bowles Rice, United Bank, Greenbrier Environmental Group, and Huntington Bank.

About New River Gorge Regional Development Authority: The New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s (NRGRDA) mission is to initiate, facilitate and support the economic and community development efforts within the counties of Fayette, Nicholas, Raleigh, and Summers. More can be found at https://nrgrda.org/

The West Virginia Hive – NRGRDA’s entrepreneurial arm – offers professional technical assistance for new and existing business owners throughout a 13-county region of southern West Virginia. Learn more at wvhive.com