Nearly a month prior to last Thursday's annual Chamber banquet, one of the major awards had already been announced. The Lincoln Economic Development Association (LEDA) annually presents the Industry of the Year award and did so this year at their 2021 Industrial Appreciation Event held October 21st, also held at Vesvuis Vinyards.
“With 2021 being the year it was, we thought they were very deserving” said Kim Phillips, Chair of the LEDA Board.
American Woodmark, a manufacturer and distributor of high-quality kitchen and bathroom cabinets, located in the Lincoln County Industrial Park, is Lincoln County's largest industrial employer.
American Woodmark eagerly participated in this year's Operation Backpack, donating 473 backpacks full of school supplies to employees' children and grandchildren.
The company also recognized employees who are veterans for their service with T-shirts and a military coin and those who are First Responders by creating a wall to recognize friends and family who are police officers, firefighters, and EMTs.
The company was recognized recently for having accumulated over 1.6 million
hours without a lost-time incident since September of 2020.
American Woodmark is an active participant with LEDA and the Industrial Managers
Association.
In the past two years, their foundation has provided support to the community totaling $62,500. They donated $12,500 to Hesed House of Hope homeless shelter and a group of 40 employees spent the day working on chores to help them out. They put together a play gym for the kids and worked on a walking trail, moving gravel, dirt, and clearing brush.
They donated $5,000 to Habitat for Humanity. They also donated $5,000 to the fire department to assist with the building of a live burn training facility, and for various other equipment.
They donated $5,000 to the sheriff’s office for swift water rescue gear. Other donations included over $18,000 to support the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Christian Ministry soup kitchen, and other charitable causes.
Kim Phillips, LEDA’s Chair of the Board, presented the award and praised them for their outstanding growth and commitment to the community.
