Winona Town Council Hears Presentation On Local Economy
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council Monday heard a presentation on the Kosciusko County economy.
Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce president, shared statistical information on Kosciusko County and state unemployment rates.
Unemployment statistics were presented for November 2008 for Kosciusko County and the state. Statistics were obtained from Indiana Department of Workforce Development. McCarthy-Sessing said November's statistics are the most recent unemployment statistics that have been published for the county.
She said, in November 2008, Kosciusko County had an 8.8 percent unemployment rate, which was 2 percent higher than the state's 6.8 percent unemployment rate for the month.
She said Elkhart County had the highest unemployment rate in the state in November at a 12.4 percent unemployment rate.
She also presented a historic unemployment rate for November 2007 through November 2008 from Indiana Department of Workforce Development statistics.
She said while in November 2008 Kosciusko County had a 8.8 percent unemployment rate, the state had a 6.6 percent unemployment rate. McCarthy-Sessing said that means the county had 3,736 people unemployed out of a labor force of 42,485.
"When you attach 3,736 people who were unemployed in the county that is a lot when, historically throughout the years, Kosciusko County has had lower than the state and national average of unemployment rates," McCarthy-Sessing said.
In November 2007, the unemployment rate for the county was at 3.8 percent and the state average was at 4.2 percent. She said there were 1,573 people unemployed in the county out of a workforce of 40,920.
"Things aren't rosy, but we are blessed with good companies and I feel we will withstand economic pressures," McCarthy- Sessing said.
She encouraged council members and the community to shop locally.
She said if 100 new manufacturing jobs were created in the county with 100 employees making an average of $67,997 each, that would come to $6,799,700 in payroll.
Upcoming events in Winona Lake include a Martin Luther King Celebration Monday at 11:30 a.m. at Rodeheaver Auditorium, and Life Line Screening for Senior Citizens Jan. 30. For an appointment call 800-395-1801.
