FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | JANUARY 25, 2023
VEDA AWARDS 2022 MICHAEL W. WOODS LEGISLATOR
OF THE YEAR AWARDS TO DELEGATES REID, KNIGHT
Richmond, Virginia (January 2023) — The Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) awarded its 2022 Michael W. Woods Legislator of the Year Award to Delegates David Reid, (D-Loudoun), and Barry Knight (R-Virginia Beach) at its 2023 Legislative Reception held in Richmond.
 
The annual accolade recognizes public officials who support economic and community development and actively engage in public policy efforts that advance prosperity in the Commonwealth.
 
Del. Reid grew up in Buena Vista in a four-room house that lacked indoor plumbing. He and three siblings later transitioned to a Methodist children’s home in Richmond when their father could no longer raise them. Reid served in the U.S. Navy Reserves from 1998 to 2011 and has represented District 32 since 2018. He has supported Medicaid expansion, freezing college tuition and the Virginia Energy Plan.
 
"My family has lived in Virginia for 12 generations, and for most all of that time, we have been really very poor,” Del. Reid said.  “I understand what it means to be given an educational opportunity, an opportunity to be able to succeed. What I want is to make sure across the Commonwealth that everybody has the opportunity to succeed — not only as individuals but as businesses. When we are doing things to help other parts of the state, we are helping the entire state. That’s the epitome of the definition of us being a Commonwealth.”
 
Del. Knight, representing Virginia’s 81st District since 2009, chairs the House Appropriations Committee. A farmer who owned his own hog farm, Del. Knight was appointed to Virginia’s Pork Industry Board and is respected as a champion for Virginia businesses.
 
“As a lifelong Virginia business person, I have always strived to make Virginia the best place to work and do business,” Del. Knight said. “I was very honored and pleased to receive this award named after a dear friend of mine.”
 
VEDA’s Legislator of the Year Award dates back to 2007 and was named posthumously to honor Michael W. Woods, who died in November 2020. As VEDA’s legislative liaison, Woods monitored legislative and regulatory issues before the Virginia General Assembly and other state regulatory agencies for 15 years.
 
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION
The Virginia Economic Developers Association (VEDA) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership association for individuals with a professional interest in economic development across the Commonwealth of Virginia. VEDA serves as the voice of economic development in Virginia and was founded in 1982 to increase the effectiveness of individuals involved in the practice of economic development in Virginia by encouraging cooperation, exchange of information, and professional development activities. For more information, visit goveda.org.
 
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MEDIA CONTACT
Stephanie Heinatz
Consociate Media for the Virginia Economic Developers Association