STANLEY: Waynesboro’s largest employers: 1926-2008

Waynesboro’s chief manufacturing era occurred between 1926 and 1980 as Crompton-Shenandoah, E.I. DuPont de Nemours, Basic Witz, Wayne Manufacturing, Dawbarn Brothers, General Electric and other plants set up shop in Waynesboro, employing area residents.
Between 1990 and 2000 the global economy and American industries relocating plants overseas changed the local economy and employment options.
The Virginia Employment Commission listed Waynesboro’s 10 largest employers in 1990 as DuPont (1,000-plus), Genicom (1,000-plus), Wayne Tex (500-plus), Augusta Medical Center (500-plus), Stanley Furniture (250-plus), Waynesboro Public Schools (250-plus), city of Waynesboro (250-plus), Virginia Metalcrafters (250-plus), Virginia Management and Tech (100-plus) and Fleming Foods (100-plus).
Four businesses remained on the VEC list by 2001. These included DuPont, Wayne Tex, Waynesboro Public Schools and Waynesboro city.
Businesses that were dropped from VEC’s list of Waynesboro’s 10 largest employers between 1990 and 2001 included: Genicom (after 2000), Stanley Furniture (after 1992),Virginia Management and Tech (after 1994) and Augusta Medical Center (by late 1994). The VEC credited AMC employees (1,000-plus) with Augusta County by December 1994. Others dropped from VEC’s local list included Virginia Metalcrafters (after 1999), and Genicom (after 2000).
Businesses added to VEC’s list of Waynesboro’s 10 largest employers between 1990 and 2001 included Valley Community Services (100-plus, 1991), WNI Industrial Services (250-plus, 1995), Poly Bond Inc. (100-plus, 1995), CFW (100-250-plus, 1999), and Kellogg and Brown (250-plus, 2001).
Waynesboro’s businesses with 100-250-plus employees between 1995 and 2001 included Kmart (1996), Express Temporary Services (1997), Burns International Security (1997), Communications Instrument (1998), Shenandoah Properties (2000), Augusta Lumber (2001), Allied Ready Mix (2001) and Kroger (2001).
By 2002, Waynesboro’s 10 largest employers included DuPont (1,000-plus), Wayne Tex (500-plus), Waynesboro Public Schools (500-plus), city of Waynesboro (250-plus), CFW Communications (250-plus), Augusta Lumber (100-plus), Allied Ready Mix (100-plus), Kroger (100-plus), Poly Bond (100-plus) and Avante (100-plus).
Between 2002 and 2008, Waynesboro’s largest employers changed. Polymer Group Inc. (100-plus) evolved from Poly Bond Inc. by 2003. Private Limited Company bought DuPont’s Invista Plant (1,000-plus) by 2005. Employment dropped to 500-plus. By 2007, Wayne Tex (250-plus) was purchased by Mohawk. Wal-Mart (250-plus) opened in 2004. CFW became nTelos (250-plus) in 2004. Waynesboro’s other largest employers between 2003 and 2007 included Adecco (100-plus, 2003), DuPont Community Credit Union (100-plus, 2005), Mundy Maintenance (250-plus, 2006) and Virginia Panel (100-plus, 2007).
Eight of Augusta County’s 10 largest employers in 2007 operated within seven miles of Waynesboro. These included Nibco (300-plus), Hollister (500-plus), Alcoa (250-plus), Hershey (500-plus), McKee Baking (1,000-plus), AMC (1,000-plus), Target (500-plus) and Augusta County Schools (1,000-plus).
Between 1980 and 2008, several local plants were purchased or closed.
By 2004, a retail district developed beside Interstate 64 and Route 340.
Waynesboro was designated a Foreign Free-Trade Zone in 2008 and Reo Distribution gained a trade relationship with Wanzhou, China.