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Chesapeake honors local small-business winners and donates $13,091 to school scholarship
Summary
City leaders recognized three small-business award winners at the Aug. 13 council meeting, including IDF Pensign and Pale Horse Coffee, and announced a $13,091 gift from the Chesapeake Classic tournament to the Chesapeake Education Foundation's Jared Cotton Career Scholarship.
Mayor Richard W. West and Stephen Wright, the city's director of economic development, presented several small-business awards and a charitable donation during opening remarks at the Aug. 13 Chesapeake City Council meeting.
Wright announced IDF Pensign as Chesapeake's 2024 Small Business of the Year and asked owners Wade and Deb Crane to join him at the podium. Wade Crane told the council the business relocated from Virginia Beach and now employs a loyal team of roughly 28 people. "We've enjoyed making signs together, as a husband and wife team," Crane said, thanking the community for its support.
Wright also named Pale Horse Coffee the Hampton Roads Chamber veteran and military spouse-owned Small Business of the Year and invited owner Grey Livingston to speak about the shop's start in 2019 and its ties to the veteran community. Bert Ortiz, president and CEO of AVMAG, was presented as the Small Business Champion for Hampton Roads; Ortiz said mentoring and helping other veteran-owned firms is central to his work.
The council also heard from Diane Edwards of Chesapeake Public Schools about a career-signing program and standing scholarship awards. Wright announced the tournament proceeds would fund the Jared Cotton Career Scholarship, stating the city would present a check for $13,091 to the Chesapeake Education Foundation. Edwards described how the scholarship supports students entering careers with industry credentials: "That night, they got their signing bonus, 70 students," she said, noting many move directly into well-paying careers such as shipyard welding.
The recognitions were ceremonial; no formal votes were required for the awards and donation announcement.
