The new executive director for the Washington County Economic Development Group has so far had over a week under her belt, visiting various people and places in the county.

Mary Audia’s first day was on December 1st following the WEDG Board of Director’s announcement of her hiring on November 20th. Audia fills the role that was left vacant by the sudden passing of director David Collins last July. Her background includes having created, operated, and sold two of her own businesses that are still operating today, and she has served on the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce Board with an emphasis on public policy and advocacy areas. A current Iowa City resident, Audia says she has visited Washington County several times in the past to enjoy its local retail and restaurant businesses, but she says the job interview and tour of the county opened her eyes to all that it has to offer.

Audia shares the first priorities set out by herself and the WEDG Board, “Well, the biggest thing that I am hearing is [the] workforce. We need more workforce in this area, people have job openings that they just can’t fill so that was a biggie. Housing was another one, that if we get these people down here we’re going to need places for them to live, good places that are affordable. So that was also another issue, and so just bringing awareness and perhaps supporting the businesses that are here currently, making sure that they have what they need. And then finally bringing in new business eventually as soon as we get these needs met.”

Other quality-of-life priorities Audia plans to continue progress on are affordable daycares and schools. She plans to move to Washington County, and she says she has greatly enjoyed the first couple weeks on the job, meeting current and past Board directors, the County Board of Supervisors, and touring some of the county’s largest employers.