Roanoke Cooperative CEO Marshall Cherry was presented the Halifax County Business Horizons Working Together Works award during its 30th annual meeting this week.
The award honors an individual or organization that has had a significant impact on economic development in Halifax County.
Horizons President Scott Aman said, “Under Cherry's leadership, Roanoke Cooperative continues to be a key partner in improving infrastructure and economic opportunities in Halifax County. We are grateful to Marshall and the entire Roanoke Electric Cooperative for their collaborative spirit.”
In the past year, Roanoke Cooperative provided funding to update site due diligence at the Halifax Corporate Park and committed $2 million in Rural Economic Development & Grants funding to Halifax County to leverage a $1.4 million Golden LEAF grant to construct a 40,000-square-foot shell industrial building at the park.
Additionally, Roanoke Cooperative has continued to build its fiber network to provide affordable broadband access, supporting both business growth and community needs.
"I am truly honored to receive this award. Working with Halifax County has been incredibly rewarding, and I am proud of what we are achieving together,” Cherry said. “There is a dedicated team here, and their commitment to progress is inspiring. I look forward to building on our successes and to continuing to create positive opportunities."
The meeting was at held at Weldon Mills Theatre.
Dan Gerlach of Dan Gerlach LLC was the keynote speaker for the evening, sharing insights on Halifax County's position within the broader economic landscape. Gerlach focused his comments on how Halifax County fits into the greater economic picture and stands apart from its competition.
He emphasized the county's assets, specifically agriculture; the county’s major economic sectors including manufacturing and healthcare; Interstate 95; and leadership, encouraging
stakeholders to continue to work together to support future opportunities and be willing to put “skin in the game” for major projects.
