Special honor marks Smith’s 50th anniversary leading the CCEDC
Recognizing his uniquely successful 50-year career, it is with great pride that the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) announces that one of its own, CEO Gary W. Smith, will be the 2026 inductee into its Chester County Hall of Fame.
The CCEDC Chester County Hall of Fame Celebration ceremony is set for Thursday, May 28, 2026 at one of Chester County’s most historic and renowned venues, the Phoenixville Foundry where business, civic, community and legislative leaders from across the region will gather to celebrate Smith and his tremendous impact on the economic growth and vibrancy of the county and region.
“The CCEDC has hosted the Chester County Hall of Fame induction ceremony for more than 25 years, and for the first time in our history we felt it was appropriate to celebrate one of our own team members, long-time CEO Gary Smith, with this honor as he marks his 50th year of service to our organization and to our county,” said Michael J. Hankin, Chairman of the CCEDC Board of Directors and COO of Hankin Group.
A lifelong resident of Chester County, Smith joined the CCEDC in 1976, shortly after his graduation from West Chester University. Within two years, he was named CEO of the organization where he focused on furthering CCEDC’s role as an economic development engine across the county as well as southeastern Pennsylvania and the entire Commonwealth.
“Gary’s vision, entrepreneurial spirit and passion to serve others have driven our organization for more than 50 years,” said Michael Grigalonis, CCEDC’s President & Chief Operating Officer. “Having worked alongside Gary for 27 of those years, I can attest that those same qualities inspire our team every day. There is no individual who is more deserving of this special honor.”
“This induction into CCEDC’s Chester County Hall of Fame is an honor of a lifetime, second only to the privilege I have had for the past 50 years to serve the businesses, entrepreneurs, farmers, communities and residents of Chester County and the region,” said Smith. “My work with CCEDC is a true calling both personally and professionally, and I am blessed to have been able to invest my life’s work in support of others across the county and the commonwealth.”
Smith has earned a reputation as a leading authority and trusted advisor across the region, the Commonwealth, and nationally in the areas of financing, workforce development, agriculture and land development. Smith has shaped and led CCEDC to be a purpose-driven economic development organization that seeks to improve lives and empower others for the betterment of residents and communities across the county and region.
Smith has helped thousands of businesses of all shapes and sizes and across every industry, from Main Street storefronts, to startups, to farms along our countryside to the county’s largest employers like Vanguard and CTDI. Among the many notable projects CCEDC developed and implemented under Smith’s leadership are:
- The formation of more than 65 industrial centers and business parks such as the Pickering Industrial Park, which is one of the first such projects of its kind;
- The formation of five Industry Partnerships to serve the needs of the key sectors of agriculture, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology;
- Spearheading career exploration programs for area youth such as Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT), the What’s so Cool about Manufacturing? student video contest, and STEM Innovation summer career academies;
- Funding solutions for countless businesses and industries including family farms and agriculture initiatives across the region and the Commonwealth;
- Financing of more than 8,000 businesses; creation and expansion of one of the country’s most successful U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) lending partners (Southeastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania (Seedcopa);
- The launch of the PA Catalyst Fund, a nine-county, $22 million revolving loan fund managed and administered by CCEDC;
- The creation of a charitable foundation to support educational and training initiatives specific to business growth and workforce development that today is a regional program known as the Penn Southeast Economic Development Foundation;
- The creation of an angel investment group to help startups across the region.
In addition, under Smith’s leadership, CCEDC’s AgConnect initiative has grown into a renowned program that has helped countless farmers and agricultural programs and projects regionally and nationally. Smith has nurtured scores of professionals, empowering and inspiring his team to embrace innovation and to take measured risks. Under Smith’s leadership, CCEDC has pioneered award-winning programs of below market-rate financing, brownfields redevelopment, conduit funding for commercial construction, urban revitalization and multi-agency collaboration. Smith leads the county’s two Industrial Development Authorities (Chester County IDA and Central & Western Chester County IDA) guiding investments in land redevelopment and business formation. During his tenure, CCEDC has secured over $275 million in external funding for more than 420 projects ranging from regional economic revitalization and industry partnerships to workforce development; helped to create over 175,000 new jobs; assisted in retaining more than 190,000 existing jobs; and brokered more than $13.5 billion in commercial financing loans. Smith serves on numerous statewide and national boards where he provides his expertise on topics ranging from agricultural programs to financing options and economic development initiatives.
Smith was awarded an honorary doctorate in public service from West Chester University, and the Gary W. Smith Entrepreneurial Leadership Endowment was established to support the operation, mission, and efforts of the Cottrell Entrepreneurship Center as well as award at least one minimum $1,000 scholarship annually to a promising student who exemplifies his entrepreneurial spirit. Smith earned his undergraduate degree and an MA in public administration from West Chester University. In addition to his leadership role with the CCEDC, Smith also manages his family farm located in Chester County, which includes a herd of registered Polled Hereford cattle.
To join in what is sure to be a festive celebration honoring Gary W. Smith as he marks this milestone moment of induction into CCEDC’s Chester County Hall of Fame, please contact Tracey Oberholtzer at toberholtzer@ccedcpa.com to explore sponsorship opportunities.
Recent Chester County Hall of Fame inductees include Paul B. Redman of Longwood Gardens (2025); Christopher Fiorentino of West Chester University (2024); Patti Brennan of Key Financial, Inc. (2023); Chris Annas of Meridian Bank (2022); James E. McErlane of Lamb McErlane, PC (2021); Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet of Victory Brewing Company (2020); Michael L. Pia of South Mill Champs (2019); Claudia P. Hellebush of United Way of Chester County (2018); and Dr. Jerry Parker of Delaware County Community College (2017).