County Unemployment Rate Better Than National Average
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
While the national unemployment average can’t get below 8 percent, the picture isn’t nearly as bleak in Kosciusko County.
During Tuesday morning’s Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting, commissioners heard budget presentations from various not-for-profit groups the county subsidizes.
George Robertson, executive director of the Kosciusko Economic Development Commission, came with a request for a $25,000 budget increase.
But Robertson also came with some good economic news.
He said that since the beginning of 2012, with KEDCo’s help, the county has created 400 jobs and that Kosciusko County’s unemployment rate is at 6.6 percent, 1.6 percent lower than the national average.
Robertson said the county is up to more than 38,000 people employed, which is nearing 2007 levels before the Great Recession of 2008.
But Robertson said that work has just begun.
With the budget increase, Robertson said he would look to add a fourth full-time person who would serve as an economic developer.
“Now is the right time to get aggressive in Indiana,” said Robertson.
Robertson said Kosciusko County’s biggest need is shovel-ready sites, which there are none, and existing buildings for companies looking at the area.
Robertson said he is also working on creating a shell building program for the county.
Robertson cited the work of KEDCo. and its role in getting CTB to move its PigTek Pig Equipment Group to the former Royal Products Products building in Milford.
The county’s budget for not-for-profits in 2012 was $469,857.
That number has increased in 2013 to $562,384.
KEDCo’s request of $25,000 would be paid from Economic Development Income Tax money.
Cardinal Center asked for an increase over 2012 of $24,481, while Beaman Home asked for an $8,627 increase and Kosciusko Council on Aging asked for a $6,427 increase.
The Animal Welfare League asked for an increase of $17,740.
Darla McCammon, executive director of the Animal Welfare League, told the commissioners that adoptions of pets has increased by 22 percent while euthanizations have decrease by 35 percent.
Bowen Center also presented its budget request to the commissioners for $528,080. However, that amount is mandated by the state.
Two bridge projects in Winona Lake were approved during Tuesday’s meeting.
Scott Tilden, county highway superintendent, along with engineer Phil Reed from USI, recommended Beer and Slabaugh be awarded the project for the bridge going over Wyland ditch on Park Avenue.
The bid was for $181,539, lower than the next bid by $4,000.
The other bid project for the bridge on Chestnut Avenue over Wyland ditch was awarded to Camden Construction for $128,213, which was lower by $566 than the next bid.
Camden’s original bid was incorrect by $3.
Combined, both projects came in $77,000 under the engineer’s estimate.
Follow staff writer Daniel Riordan on Twitter at @TUNews_Riordan
