Waynesboro Downtown Development Inc. executive director Kimberly Watters has retired from her position.
Watters, who was in the post for six years, retired effective Nov. 1.
The news was made public on Monday.
“With the help and support of a dedicated board of directors and the time and talent of hundreds of volunteers, I have accomplished what I hoped to accomplish through WDDI,” said Watters, who came to Waynesboro after leading the Staunton Downtown Development Association for a nine-year run.
She noted in her retirement statement the “organizational challenges” faced in Waynesboro, most notably reductions in city funding that have threatened the future of wddi for several years.
In the face of those challenges, wddi has been able to balance its budget, grow its volunteer base and re-establish the long-dormant Waynesboro Farmer’s Market.
While in Staunton, Watters helped the SDDA win a Great American Main Street award, making Staunton the first Virginia city to win that honor.
In Waynesboro, Watters helped the city receive a $770,000 Community Development Block Grant award for downtown revitalization – the largest grant given in 2011 and the only one for a downtown project.
She said Monday that she is hopeful that several annual signature events created and maintained by WDDI, including the Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, the Virginia Chili Blues ‘N Brews Festival, and Waynesboro Downtown Motorsports Show will continue, “bringing visitors to Waynesboro and creating revenue for the city.”
“With the current streetscape and facade improvements, the Wayne Theatre nearing completion, bridge replacements, park redevelopment and continued greenway extensions, the Mill at South River developments, the hikers’ pavilion, and all the other projects in the works, Waynesboro is well on the way to becoming a distinctive tourist destination, which was not the case six years ago,” Watters said.
“At this point in my life I look forward to exploring other opportunities and interests. I will remain invested in Waynesboro’s success and I thank all of you who support downtown,” Watters said.
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Chris Graham
