STAUNTON — Unemployment has been cut in half in Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County since 2010, even as the area’s top economic sector remains manufacturing — an industry that has suffered big losses nationwide in the last quarter-century.
Area economic developers said Wednesday morning that the key to the region’s future is workforce development, continued area partnerships and the proper strategic investments. The comments came at the annual Economic Outlook and Business Appreciation Breakfast sponsored by The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce and Waynesboro, Staunton and Augusta County. The event was held at the Staunton Holiday Inn.
Greg Hitchin, director of economic development and tourism in Waynesboro, said the designation of the Staunton-Waynesboro-Augusta County area as an official metropolitan area helps in getting funding and in site selection for industries.
“We’re a bigger dot on the map,” said Hitchin, who noted that sites for prospective industries are chosen globally.
Hitchin said unemployment in the area fell from 7.6 percent to 3.8 percent between 2010 and 2016. The rate of decline in unemployment generally followed the overall U.S. jobless rates between 2010 and 2016, although in terms of actual percentage rates, the SWA area generally fares better than the…