WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — State officials trying to sell West Virginia during this week’s Greenbrier Classic are spending $1.7 million to do it.
“We work this week very hard,” state Commerce Secretary Keith Burdette said from the Greenbrier Resort grounds. “This whole tournament is an incredible commercial for the state of West Virginia. It really is, at every end.”
West Virginia allocated $1.7 million in funding for the 2015 event through the state Department of Commerce. It’s an investment that Burdette said will pay off in the long run.
“We want to use the tournament. We actually want to piggyback on this tournament. We want to bring people in, prospects that have never been to West Virginia. We want to bring site consultants that make business deals and recruit companies every day,” according to Burdette.
In the past, Burdette said representatives from Procter & Gamble, which is building a $500 million manufacturing facility in Berkeley County, and Gestamp, located in South Charleston, have been among those who’ve visited West Virginia for The Greenbrier Classic.
On Thursday, commerce officials were scheduled to host companies participating in exports while Friday was dedicated to in-state small businesses looking to expand and international companies would be hosted on Saturday.
Additionally, Burdette said the event is important for tourism outreach, one that he called “a rare opportunity.”
“We don’t have a professional football team. We don’t have a professional baseball team. This is it. This is the big sporting venue for us and, just look at the crowds, it’s only smart to use it,” Burdette said on Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline” which is originating from The Greenbrier Resort this week.
Lee Trevino, golf pro emeritus at The Greenbrier Resort, said the best selling point for West Virginia is its people.
“I’ve been just about everywhere now and, I’m going to tell you something, I’ve got to take my hat off and I come from a pretty good town of Dallas, Texas but these are the nicest people I have ever been around,” he said.
Competition for the PGA Tour event was scheduled to open Thursday and continue through Sunday.
The Band Perry and Keith Urban were performing Wednesday night as part of The Greenbrier Classic Concert Series. Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton will take the stage Friday night.