About Partnership
To promote economic growth in Washington County, a dynamic public and private venture was formed in 1999 to provide a business-driven, customer focused approach to economic development. The Washington County Economic Development Partnership is an alliance among the Washington County Commissioners, Washington Industrial Development Corporation, Washington County Industrial Development Authority and the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. To date the Partnership has leveraged it’s resources into $200 million in public/private investment and thousands of new jobs.
The Washington County Economic Partnership stands ready to assist businesses investing in Washington County through a single point of contact. For more information on economic development assistance, please call Jeff Kotula, President at 724.225.3010 or email jeff@washcochamber.com.
About the Members
Washington County Board of Commissioners
The Washington County Board of Commissioners is elected to serve for a term of four years. During this time the Commissioners are responsible for the fiscal affairs of Washington County including the annual budget, levying of real estate taxes and the investment of county funds.
Persons are appointed to serve on a number of Boards of Directors such as the Planning Commission, Transportation, Tourism Promotion, or Housing Authority by the Commissioners each year. The Commissioners serve on the following boards directly related to County government: Elections, Retirement, Sinking Fund, Salary, and Prison. Likewise Commissioners have seats on other boards which impact Washington County including, but not limited to Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, Conservation District, and Washington County Chamber of Commerce.
Through the organizational structure of Washington County the Commissioners approve the employment of the county staff. Daily operations of county government are administrated via four primary departments: Chief Clerk/Administrator, Solicitor, Human Services, and Planning. Each of these departments manages a number of other departments which provide direct services to the residents of Washington County.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners is a founding member of the Washington County Economic Development Partnership.
Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Representing over 900 businesses that employ nearly 22,000 people, the Washington County Chamber of Commerce has grown into the largest business association in Washington County and the fourth largest chamber of commerce in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Chamber members have access to innovative programs and offerings that provide opportunities that insure their continued business growth and expansion.
As a founding member of the partnership, the Chamber serves as the single point of contact for location, expansion, growth requirements and development assistance throughout the county.
Washington Industrial Development Corporation
The Washington Industrial Development Corporation (WIDC) was created in the 1950’s as a private economic development organization to encourage business development through low-interest loans and industrial park development.
The WIDC also provides access to low interest loan financing to eligible entities for financing land and building acquisition, construction and renovation resulting in the creation or retention of jobs through the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA).
Recently, the Washington County Commissions have designated the WIDC as the county’s recipient of the Local Economic Development Assistance program fund and County’s lead marketing agency. The WIDC is currently engaged in creating a county-wide marketing effort.
Washington County Industrial Development Authority
Established under the Pennsylvania Industrial Commercial Development Authority Law of 1967 (now known as the Economic Development Financing Law), the Washington County Industrial Development Authority was formed in 1969 to provide economic development incentives for businesses interested in expanding or locating in Washington County.
The WCIDA provides tax-exempt financing for qualifying projects such as building and equipment loans for manufacturers and non-profit entities by issuing local tax exempt notes (L-TEN program). The bonds, notes or other indebtedness issued by the WCIDA are not supported by the general credit or taxing power of Washington County or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or of any other political subdivision but are supported only by the credit of the enterprises receiving the benefit of the tax-free financing.
The WCIDA also provides tax exempt and taxable bonds, both in pooled transactions and stand-alone transactions, which are used to finance land, building, equipment, working capital and refinancing through the Pennsylvania Economic Development Financing Authority (PEDFA).
In addition, the authority may apply for Infrastructure Development Program (IDP) funds on behalf of eligible private companies engaged in the following enterprises: agriculture, industrial, manufacturing, R&D and export services or real estate developers who are developing sites for eligible private companies. The grants and low interest loans are utilized for public and private infrastructure improvements.
