Mon Valley Alliance gives award to Irey Vaughan
Diana Irey Vaughan, chair of the Washington County Commissioners, was given the Chuck Chattaway Award by the Mon Valley Alliance.
The award is given to a company or individual in recognition of their efforts to support and promote economic growth in the mid-Mon Valley region through industrial or economic development.
“Diana has been the catalyst for the economy to flourish over the years,” said Will Thomeier, chairman of the Mon Valley Alliance board of directors. “I don’t think there’s another person that I know of that’s more deserving to recognize for her career spent in economic and community development.”
Irey Vaughan, who is leaving the political forum, was given the award Oct. 26 at the Mid Mon Valley Economic Symposium.
“I’m very, very humbled to receive this award,” she said.
She proposed a partnership of the commissioners of the four counties (Washington, Fayette, Greene and Westmoreland) to put together strategic plans through the Mon Valley Alliance, and to start budgeting for that right away.
“If each county will do that, we can start the ball rolling to start a strategic plan for the Mon Valley,” Irey Vaughan said.
Chattaway was the first president of Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association, following the closing of the U.S. Steel Iron and Zinc Works in Donora, and helped to establish the groundwork to lead the organization to what it is today as the Mon Valley Alliance.