04/02/2026
It's RED's 100th year! So happy to have a ringside seat! HBD! ☺️
The Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), a division of the Ohio Valley Industrial and Business Development Corporation (OVIBDC), is proud to celebrate 100 years of service to our region!
RED’s story began on April 1, 1926, as the Ohio Valley Industrial Corporation, Incorporated, with $1 million in capital stock. Its founders included C.R.L. W. Guskey (Imperial Glass of Bellaire), Lee C. Paull (Paull Insurance), Wilbur E. Stone (Stone & Thomas), and Moses Sonneborn (The Hub Department Store). The organization’s first president was William P. Wilson (W.A. Wilson and Wheeling Park Commission).
As the region evolved, so did the organization. The original corporation was reorganized and ultimately dissolved, leading to the incorporation of OVIBDC on June 15, 1961, in accordance with West Virginia legislation establishing business development corporations (WV Code §31-12).
The Regional Economic Development Partnership name was officially adopted as a trade name on June 1, 2004—continuing a legacy of supporting growth, opportunity, and innovation across the Ohio Valley.
We hope you’ll join us throughout this year as we share historical highlights, fun facts, and continue bringing you updates, events, and news from our incredible region and beautiful state.
Happy 100th Birthday to us! 🎉