WHEELING — Project BEST hosted its Holiday Happy Hour and Awards ceremony Thursday evening at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack 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.

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 entitie

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