“Hard at Work” license plate honored

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Contractors Association of West Virginia has received a 2014 national Public Relations Award for its “Hard at Work” license plates.

During the annual Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) National Chapter Leadership Conference on Sept. 29 in Washington, D.C., the CAWV received a 2014 chapter award in the Best Overall Public Relations Campaign category for the campaign.

Since 2010, the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles has been allowed to work with individual groups to promote a special license plate promoting their organization, a spokesperson said, adding, “The CAWV specialty plate, which prominently features the “Hard at Work” logo, is another way to elevate construction within the state. The logo is frequently seen on job site banners, at career fairs and on company letterhead and business cards. Association members use the logo to show pride in their career and industry, and as a way to promote careers in the construction industry.”

This is the second national award for the “Hard at Work” license plate campaign. In June, CAWV won the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) Transportation Development Foundation’s 2014 PRIDE Award. Established in 1999, the PRIDE Awards honor outstanding programs in two categories that enhance the image of the transportation design and construction industry. The CAWV won first place in the Community Relations: Public Sector category.

“We are proud to receive these prestigious awards on behalf of the important work done by CAWV and our members to promote a positive image for West Virginia’s construction industry,” said CAWV President Dan Flesher, Trimble Engineers and Constructors, Inc., Morgantown. “We have surpassed 300 license plates and the goal of the CAWV Public Relations Committee is to have 1,000 “Hard at Work” license plates traveling the state’s highways.”

When Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin unveiled the new license plates on August 14, 2013, he said, “From this day forward, a vehicle carrying the “Hard at Work” license plate will remind all those who see it that our contractors are hard at work building West Virginia bridges, roads, hospitals, office buildings and other projects that lead to future economic development. These plates will also remind all who view them of the good-paying jobs this industry provides to more than 36,000 West Virginians.”

Those interested in obtaining a “Hard at Work” license plate can do so at a Division of Motor Vehicles location or online at www.cawv.org.

The CAWV represents 450 businesses employing over 20,000 people in the highway, utility and building construction industries throughout West Virginia.