Welcome to The Washington Chamber of Commerce

As I reflect back on our first full year as the Washington Chamber, I truly cannot be more proud

of what this Chamber has accomplished. And I want to be very clear—none of this happened by

accident. It happened because of you. Because of our members, our board, our partners, and

the trust you placed in this Chamber, we were able to do some truly incredible things in 2025.

This year was about growth, engagement, advocacy, and community.

Let’s start with one of our biggest milestones—membership growth.

At the beginning of the year, we had 75 members. Today, we proudly stand at 200 members.

That growth tells a powerful story. It tells us that businesses believe in the Chamber, believe in

partnerships, and believe in the future of Washington Parish.

Keeping our members connected and informed has been a top priority.

Each month, we spotlighted a Chamber member business, because our businesses deserve

recognition and visibility and we will continue this into 2026.

Every month, we also send out a Chamber newsletter, keeping members informed about what

the Chamber is doing, what’s happening in our parish, and where opportunities exist.

Connection doesn’t stop with communication—it happens face to face.

This year, we co-hosted the Washington Parish Summit on Economic Opportunity, bringing

leaders and businesses together to talk about growth and the future of our parish.

We hosted six Business After Hours events, creating space for networking, relationship-building,

and partnerships.

We also celebrated 10 ribbon cuttings, welcoming new and expanding businesses and showing

them that the Chamber is here to support them.

One of the highlights of this year was bringing back the Youth Leadership Award. We were

proud to award two $1,000 scholarships—one to a student from Pine High School and one

student from Varnado High School. Investing in our youth is investing in the future of

Washington Parish, and this is something the Chamber is committed to continuing.

Service and community pride continue to define who we are.

For the fourth year, we sponsored Team Up to Clean Up, helping keep our parish beautiful.

We hosted a food drive, collecting over 2,000 items that were distributed between the

Bogalusa and Franklinton food banks—proof that when our community comes together, great

things happen.

We also made sure Washington Parish had a strong presence beyond our borders.

We partnered with St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena Parishes through

Northshore Focus, strengthening regional partnerships. We traveled to the State Capitol,

meeting with senators and representatives to advocate for Washington Parish.

Alongside the St. Tammany and Tangipahoa Chambers, we treated the Northshore legislative

delegation to lunch, building relationships and ensuring our parish has a seat at the table.

We hosted a Legislative Wrap-Up with Senator Beth Mizell and Representative John Wyble,

where we heard firsthand about the positive work happening during the 2025 legislative

session.

Our board members attended the 11th Annual Dairy Day, proudly presenting awards to

Washington Parish producers and supporting one of our parish’s industries.

Health and quality of life were also important focuses this year.

We attended a meeting hosted by Riverside Medical Center as part of the Delta Regional

Community Health Systems Development Program, joining community partners to connect and

share ideas for a healthier Washington Parish.

We celebrated community spirit in fun and creative ways as well.

We entered a float in the fair parade, asking our members to donate promotional items to

represent their businesses—and we proudly took home first place.

We hosted the Fall Decorating Contest, showcasing creativity and local pride across our

community.

Our board members also met with the Louisiana Restaurant Association to discuss

opportunities to attract and grow the restaurant industry in Washington Parish.

We attended Parish Pulse meetings to stay informed and engaged with what’s happening

across the parish.

And as we wrapped up the year, we sponsored a Holiday Punch Card program, encouraging

residents to shop local and support our businesses. One lucky winner went home with $500,

but the real win was the support shown to our local economy.

When you look at everything we accomplished—growth, advocacy, service, partnerships, and

community—it’s clear that 2025 was a year of momentum.

And the best part?

We’re just getting started.

I am incredibly excited about what we can accomplish together in 2026. With continued

support, partnerships, and community spirit, there is no limit to what the Washington Chamber

can achieve.

I would like to leave you with this quote —“May you be proud of the work you do, the person

you are, and the difference you make”—I hope you see yourself reflected in those words.

Because every business owner, every partner, every board member, and every supporter does

make a difference.

The Washington Chamber is not a building or a logo—it is people. It is relationships. It is a

shared belief that when we work together, our parish is stronger, our businesses thrive, and our

future is brighter.

Thank you for believing in this Chamber.

Thank you for supporting one another.

And thank you for helping build a stronger Washington Parish.

Here’s to continued growth, continued partnership, and an even brighter year ahead.

Let’s make 2026 our best year yet.

Thank you

Penny Jones

Washington Chamber President