SHEPHERDSTOWN — Over 50 businesses in Jefferson County have been named finalists in the annual Best of West Virginia Awards.

The winners of this contest will be determined after the online voting period has been completed on October 15, according to Abby Bowman, who serves as a social media and marketing specialist with the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Bowman, who graduated from Shepherd University with a bachelor’s degree in painting this past May, has been busy reaching out on the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau social media and through email communication with Jefferson County’s municipalities, to encourage community members to vote for which West Virginia businesses they believe deserve recognition by West Virginia Living, which created and runs the contest every year.

“Jefferson County businesses are the best of the best,” Bowman said. “Let’s make sure they get the recognition they deserve, by voting in West Virginia Living’s Best of West Virginia Awards!”

Shepherdstown itself is a finalist in five categories, including “Best Mayor,” “Best Historic Town,” “Best Town for the Arts,” “Best Downtown Shopping” and “Best Town in the Eastern Panhandle Region.” Other Shepherdstown businesses are also in the running as finalists in the contest, including Amy and Alexs Ice Cream and Coffee, Bistro 112, Hive House Apiaries, Shepherdstown Pedal & Paddle, the Bavarian Inn Resort & Brewing Company, Thomas Shepherd Inn, Alma Bea, Center, Grapes & Grains Gourmet, Lilah Restaurant, Shepherd University Wellness Betty’s Restaurant, The Mecklenburg Inn, Rock Hill Creamery, the Community Garden Market, Mountaineer Popcorn Company, Shepherd University, Four Seasons Books and The Club at Cress Creek. Alma Bea’s chef, Mary Ellen Diaz, is also up for recognition as the “Best in West Virginia.”

For Bowman, along with wishing to see the town of her alma mater doing well in the contest, she also has a vested interest in seeing one particular business being named best in the state — her employer, the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which manages tourism advertising for the county and runs the visitor centers in each of the county’s municipalities, including Shepherdstown.

“We would greatly appreciate if you voted for the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau for the ‘Best CVB,’ as well as our Virtual Libation Lovers Trail for ‘Best Libation Trail,'” Bowman said, referring to the first themed trail created by the bureau.

The Virtual Libation Lovers Trail features an interactive PDF of Jefferson County distilleries, vineyards, breweries and restaurants known for their excellent selections of beer, wine and spirits. It can be viewed, along with interactive PDFs featuring an Art Lovers Trail, Sweets & Coffee Lovers Trail and local walking and hiking trails, by clicking on its name at the Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau webpage, https://wherealmostheavenbegins.com/attractions/themed-trails.

“We encourage you to vote for other Jefferson County partners every day, as we truly are better together! Make sure you make this a daily commitment to vote for until October 15,” Bowman said, noting only one business in each voting category will win the title of “Best in West Virginia.”

To help Shepherdstown and Jefferson County receive recognition for being the best in the state, community members should begin voting at https://wvliving.com/best-of-west-virginia-2023/#//.