Jobs, events and promoting the community were all discussed at Washington’s recent City Council meeting. At Tuesday’s meeting, representatives from Main Street Washington, the Washington Chamber of Commerce, and the Washington Economic Development Group, also known as WEDG, presented their organization’s recent happenings and budget requests. WEDG Director Ed Raber said Washington County and the City of Washington are growing with 2016 having the highest number of jobs ever in Washington County at about 8,500.

Main Street Washington director Sarah Grunewaldt said there are some new jobs in the Main Street district, ongoing projects and they logged over 1,100 volunteer hours not including RAGBRAI last year.

Also, Michelle Redlinger, director of the Chamber, shared they’re working on marketing Washington to the rest of the state as a place to visit and do business. Council member Steven Gault asked about the Hotel-Motel Tax and volunteered, along with council member Millie Youngquist, to sit on a committee to work to develop it in Washington.