Economic development is a shared effort, and our community is stronger because of the dedication of local businesses, educators, healthcare professionals, manufacturers, and residents who work together to build a thriving economy. On March 20th, Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) had the great pleasure of celebrating this shared effort with over 250 people from our community at GCDC’s Annual Dinner & Awards.
Beyond the tremendous amount of gratitude we feel for all of those that contribute to the amazing progress we are seeing in the county right now, we also got to experience the gratitude that others feel for our local businesses with a special recognition for Monroe Arts Center for 50 years of creative excellence in our community, and the business awards presentation.
This year there were nominations from all sectors for three awards given at the event. Outstanding Business of the Year held the highest number of nominations with nine total, Entrepreneurial Spirit and the Leadership Legacy Award held five each. Some were nominated by multiple people. All the nominations are a testament to the efforts of incredible entrepreneurs and leaders in our community. GCDC brought the nominees together to celebrate their nod to greatness. In the end, incredibly difficult choices were made to represent the 2024 winner of each category.
● Outstanding Business of the Year: Campbell’s Piggly Wiggly in Brodhead
● Entrepreneurial Spirit: Maribel Lovato & Santos Tinoco owners of Veracruz Mexican Market in Monroe
● Leadership Legacy Award: Gene Jacobson (co-founder and previous owner of Precision Drive & Control)
Pulling together an event of that size and tying in an awards portion is an undertaking that is well worth the effort if it means we can celebrate with our community, give a shout out to incredible businesses and leaders, and especially to extend heartfelt appreciation to everyone who plays a role in strengthening our local economy through their daily actions and commitments.
Economic development is not just about numbers; it’s about people, relationships, and a shared vision for a thriving future. Thank you to everyone in Green County who contributes to our collective success. At GCDC, we truly believe that Green County is Where Opportunity Lives!
(A list of all nominees and photos of the evening can be found on GCDC’s website at www.greencountydevelopment.com, as can contact information to keep us informed of what you would like to see developing in Green County.)
GCDC’s mission is to catalyze economic growth while enhancing the quality of life in Green County, Wisconsin. Through business support, workforce development, and community engagement initiatives, we work to build a stronger and more prosperous region through public and private partnerships.
— Tracy Brewer is the Marketing & Project Manager of the Green County Development Corporation (GCDC). She can be reached at tracy@greencountydevelopment.com, or by calling 608-328-9452.
