Ed Raber (center) presents while Washington School Board members Patty Roe (left) and Stephanie Ellingson look on. Photo by Sally Hart

The economic vitality of Washington County and the area was presented to the Washington County School Board. Looking at non-agriculture jobs from 1999 to the most recent data, Ed Raber director of Washington Economic Development Group said never have there been more jobs in Washington County than right now. In 1999 there were 6,741 jobs and in 2014 there were 8,292 jobs. Currently the healthcare sector is the biggest employer of jobs in Washington County.

Raber added that an economist from Purdue University said the residents of Washington County bring in about $100 million in payroll each year, while Henry County sees more payroll leave the county with people who work there living elsewhere.

Some of the area companies growing in employment include Bazooka Farmstar, Iowa Bridge and Culvert, DeLong Construction, Kalona Supernatural and MD Orthopaedics.


A slide from Raber’s presentation shows a handful of area companies growing in employment.