Greenbrier CVB executive director: Tourism is the best flood recovery aid

LEWISBURG, W.Va. — In the wake of historic flooding, the best thing West Virginians can do to support the Greenbrier Valley is visit, says the Greenbrier CVB director.

Kara Dense said on MetroNews “Talkline” last week that many businesses are starting to get back on their feet following the June 23 flood.

“Businesses that were affected, especially in White Sulphur Springs and Rainelle are really now getting back in business,” she said. “There were so many businesses that were affected just simply because of the perception. There were people who thought the entire county was under water.”

Dense said many were laid off during the flood, and economic support is a key element to the county’s recovery.

“Some of them (businesses) were (closed) down as much as 40 percent in the weeks and months afterwards. The best thing that you can do to help those people is to come here and enjoy what we have to offer, because that helps them keep a job,” Dense said.

There’s many different events happening throughout the fall, Dense said, including one of the county’s most popular events coming up on Saturday.

“Taste of Our Towns is a fundraising event that Carnegie Hall puts on. It’s right in downtown Lewisburg, and they have vendors from all over the county coming,” she explained. “You can come and buy tokens and sample their food. It’s really like a true kickoff of fall. The leaves are starting to turn. We have things going on all the way through the holidays.”

Dense said the new tagline for the CVB is “Simply Get Away,” which she hopes people will do, particularly to escape the tension of the upcoming election.

“It is such a great place to come and simply get away, especially in an election year where everyone seems stressed. Just come here and put it all out of your mind and come and enjoy a great weekend.”

A full list of events in Greenbrier County can be found at its CVB website, greenbrierwv.com.





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