Our future is focused on our heritage.
Our manufacturing prowess dates to the 1800s when companies flocked to the area to take advantage of the water and transportation access. Stoves, doors, furniture, bricks, barrels, dairy products, paper, and matches all carried the “Made in Waynesboro” label. Later, DuPont labs refined the Lycra manufacturing process, GE operated research facilities, and industrial players such as PGI, Mohawk, and Crompton rounded out a synthetic and industrial fibers cluster. Products made here played an important role in furnishing American homes, shaping the fashion industry, and landing men on the moon. Today, the Lycra Company continues fiber production; Virginia Panel and Allocortech develop electronics and engineering for defense, aviation, medical, and other industries; Augusta Lumber exports hardwood globally; Magnera produces nonwovens; Neuman Aluminum manufactures automotive and defense parts; and products made by Drake touch almost every hot dog made in the world.
While our industrial makeup has evolved over the decades, the City continues to have a strong heritage of manufacturing excellence with a significant percentage MSA workforce engaged in this segment.
Click here for complete data on industries, occupations, and clusters.
Based on the industry location quotient, the MSA has concentrations of manufacturing, transportation, health care, and retail. The largest industry clusters are Food, Machinery, Metal and Project, and Textile and Leather Manufacturing.
The largest major occupation group in the MSA is Transportation and Material Moving, with Office and Administrative Support Occupations and Production Occupations following. The major groups with the largest LQs in the region are Production Occupations, Transportation and Material Moving Occupations, and Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations.
To learn more about specific industries, contact us or download our industry brochures:
Digital Industries
Manufacturing
Food and Beverage Processing
