WDDI Endorses the Waynesboro City Council's Decision

WDDI Endorses the Waynesboro City Council's Decision to Preserve City 's Legacy and Collaborate with Arts and Business Leaders to Revitalize Community

( Waynesboro , Virginia ) Waynesboro Downtown Development (WDDI) supports the recent decision by the Waynesboro City Council to preserve, rather than demolish, an historic landmark, the Wayne Theatre . This decision by the Council is a watershed event in the history of Waynesboro . We feel that it heralds a new era of economic collaboration and a cultural rebirth for our community.

In scores of cities across North America , communities are being revitalized by government, business and arts groups working together on similar projects to attract jobs, create new businesses, improve property values and increase government revenues. The track record for success is voluminous. When the private and public sectors work together, magic can happen.

WDDI endorses the City Council's conservative approach, which uses the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to facilitate the funding of the program and significantly reduces the risk to taxpayers. The EDA will also provide oversight using a performance-based incentive program that places the burden for success on the arts management team of the Wayne Theatre .

WDDI also heartily endorses the City Council's action which sends a message to our community that should be embraced universally- our cultural legacy is not disposable. The City Council has made a prudent decision to build a new, dynamic Waynesboro on one of the few remaining foundation stones of our City’s history.

WDDI is committed to actively fostering the long-term viability of the downtown Waynesboro area as a center of commerce, a source of civic activity and pride, and a resource to attract new businesses and residents. Critical to this effort is promoting small town quality of life, preserving historic and cultural resources, and capitalizing on the City’s unique and splendid natural setting. For more information, contact Kimberly Watters, Executive Director Waynesboro Downtown Development, Inc. at

942.6705; or visit www.waynesborodowntown.org on the web.