Washington-Wilkes Economic Development

05/13/2026

A wonderful story. Watch our town come full circle.

Wilkes Lumber has brought the old mill back online in Washington, a small mill town surrounded by endless pines along Highway 78.

05/12/2026

Proud of Wilkes Lumber and thankful for the fantastic news for our community.

09/19/2025

Good Work WW CTAE!! 💪💪💪

09/06/2025

We’d like to extend our thanks to our community partners at Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School for hosting a Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) Economic Development Tour!

We learned how CTAE (formerly known as vocational education) offers community needs based curriculum to students to prepare them to enter the world of work after graduation.

We met some amazing students and were able to watch them demonstrate how they use industry-standard equipment. Special thanks to Dr. Alicia Finnell for hosting and sharing her program successes with us!

Great work everybody!

Attendees:

GA State Senator Lee Anderson Dist 24
GA State House Rep Rob Leverett Dist 123
Chairman Sam Moore Wilkes County Board Of Commissioners
Sheriff Darrell Powers
Commissioner Ed Geddings
EMS Director Dan Wright
Payroll Development Authority Board Member/Business Owner Eric Luke
Business Owner Juan Jackson
Worksource Georgia District Manager Renee Januszki
US Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock Southeast Region Representative Maria Cook
CleanSpark Community Outreach Director Michelle Lumpkinso

07/11/2025

Wilkes, Burke Development Authority Directors Elected to Regional Development Alliance Executive Board

July 11 2025
Washington GA

Burke County Development Authority Director Austin Stacy and Wilkes County Payroll Development Authority Director Janet Parker were unanimously voted in as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Augusta Regional Development Alliance and Unified Development Authority at the July 11, 2025 board meeting

“We are committed to leveraging regional partnerships as we continue to steer resources, good paying jobs, and clean sustainable industry to Wilkes County,” said Parker. “It is an honor and privilege to serve the people of Washington Wilkes and the Central Savannah River Area”. The Chair and Vice Chair terms will run through July 2027.

Augusta Regional Development Alliance and Unified Development Authority (ARDA/UDA) is a partnership between the 13 counties within the CSRA. The organization coordinates economic development strategy, builds regional capacity, and supports site readiness, infrastructure planning, and industry recruitment through shared vision and resources. ARDA/UDA meets at the CSRA regional commission offices in Augusta bimonthly.

Pictured L-R

Austin Stacy, Chairman ARDA/UDA, Director Development Authority of Burke County

Mandy Underwood, immediate past Chair ARDA/UDA, Director Jenkins County Development Authority

Allen Haywood, immediate past Vice Chair, Mayor of City of Sparta

Janet Parker, Vice Chair, Wilkes County Payroll Development Authority

07/04/2025

Washington’s Own! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

We wish everyone a safe and happy Independence Day! 🎆

06/24/2025

More coverage of our Rural Site Development Grant award from the State! Excited to build capacity for our community to attract good paying jobs! (Article behind soft paywall)

Ten rural Georgia counties will receive a combined $8 million in the state’s second round of grants in the Rural Site Development Initiative, Gov. Brian Kemp announced.

06/18/2025

Great news from the Governors Office today! The Washington Wilkes Payroll Development Authority has been awarded a Rural Site Development Grant!!

THANK YOU to the State of Georgia for your support!

What is the grant for?: Site development, specifically GRAD certification from the State of Georgia Department of Economic Development

What is GRAD certification?: “Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development” program helps the State identify “shovel ready” sites to show to companies who may be interested in investing in Wilkes County

Where is the site?: Across from Wilkes Lumber (where International Paper used to be)

Do you have a company looking?: Not at this time, but the GRAD certification gives us a competitive advantage when talking to companies!

What kind of company would be interested in locating in WW?: Something complementary to our existing industries, workforce skill level and access to resources. We mostly have agricultural based businesses, so think along those lines. We want something that fits us well! Of course we want to work with companies that invest in our community and bring good paying jobs to our residents. We work for you!

(It only takes know-how, elbow grease, making connections, building the right team, knowing what’s out there and being prepared when the opportunity comes!)

🏆🏆🏆🏆 we did it!

More on the program linked below:

Today, Brian P. Kemp announced 10 new recipients of the OneGeorgia Authority’s Rural Site Development Initiative grants:
Development Authority of the City of Milledgeville and Baldwin County
Development Authority of Bulloch County
Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority
Worth County Economic Development Authority
Development Authority of Burke County
Douglas-Coffee County Economic Development Authority
Development Authority of Jefferson County
McIntosh County Industrial Development Authority
Pulaski County-Hawkinsville Development Authority
Washington-Wilkes Payroll Development Authority

Recognizing the vital importance of ready for development sites, this initiative enables Georgia’s rural communities to identify, assess, and develop industrial sites to maintain Georgia’s competitive edge. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3T0PNo1

06/14/2025

Taste of the Market - Fort Washington Park behind the Courthouse! Farmers Market Thursday afternoons at Chamber of commerce office on the Square, and Saturday mornings at Ft Washington Park. Fresh locally grown, homemade, handmade. Shop local!

05/05/2025

Thank you to Rekord Structures and Washington Wilkes Chamber of Commerce for a great Power Hour on May 1!

We toured the newly expanded Rekord Structures with very special guest, Georgia State Senator Lee Anderson Dist. 24, and an impressive turnout of Chamber members and supporters.

Thank you to Peggy, Martin, Lauren and the whole Rekord team for your warm welcome and all that you do for Washington!