Date: February 28, 2020
The County of Augusta is proud to announce the promotion of Rebekah Castle to Director of Economic Development and Marketing.
Castle brings 14 years of economic development experience to the role having served as the department’s Marketing Coordinator for more than six years. She specialized in marketing initiatives for economic development and tourism along with project work with stakeholders across the region and state. Castle managed the development of augustaVAbusiness.com which won an International Economic Development Council Gold Award in 2017. Castle also spearheaded the creation of Augusta County’s tourism site and has grown the tourism program to include social media and printed materials. Her successful initiatives include collaboration with the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail and the Shenandoah Valley Tourism Partnership. During the county’s recent national search for a new Economic Development Director, she provided interim leadership to the department, maintaining momentum and strategic partnerships. County Administrator Timothy Fitzgerald said, “The leadership Rebekah provided has kept the county moving forward with new business development. She is a large part of the reason we have the strong economic program that we currently enjoy, and I feel fortunate for the continuity that she brings to the role.”
“I’m grateful for the six tremendous years I’ve had with Augusta County, and I look forward to expanding my role into new challenges,” says Castle. “From innovative economic development initiatives to an expanded tourism presence, we have a lot of momentum to build upon.”
Castle is a member of the Virginia Economic Developers Association, International Economic Development Council, Shenandoah Valley Partnership Lead Generation and Marketing and Communications Committees, Project Grows’ Farmers Market Committee, and the Shenandoah Valley Tourism Partnership Marketing Committee.
Board of Supervisors chair, Gerald Garber, stated, “I look forward to building on the solid work that Rebekah helped start in bringing over 30 businesses to the county and nearly 1500 jobs. She already has an established working relationship with the board and intrinsically understands our goals for growth.”
Castle is an Augusta County native and earned a B.S. in Communication Studies from Bridgewater College. Prior to joining Augusta County, Castle served as the events coordinator for the Shenandoah Valley Partnership. Castle lives with her husband and two young children in Augusta County.