Clark, Champaign counties work to offset unemployment
Officials in Clark and Champaign County are hopeful for economic growth despite having higher unemployment rates than the state average.
Both counties have been able to attract new businesses and provide job opportunities for locals.
Champaign County
Mike Morris, Champaign County economic development director, said despite the county’s 10.3 percent not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June — compared to 9.6 percent in Clark County and the 9.2 percent state average — he remains hopeful.
“We’ve got opportunities with some other companies that have been growing,” he said. These opportunities could offset unemployment, Morris said.
“In our economic development plan our goal is to have the local unemployment to be at or lower than the state rate.”
Urbana city officials approved two resolutions last week that may help retain and create hundreds of jobs for the city. American Pan, based in Urbana, announced their plans to purchase equipment, increase parking and add 38,000 square feet to its facility at 417 E. Water St. City officials approved an enterprise zone agreement Tuesday along with Willow Run Realty, owner of the property.
According to the agreement, American Pan will create 33 full-time jobs, retain another 109 full-time jobs and retain an additional 45 temporary jobs. The agreement also carries a stipulation that the company must look to city residents first when considering candidates for employment.
At the same meeting, council members approved a resolution that will allow Rittal Corp., also based in Urbana, to expand operations and add as many as 120 jobs over the next three years and retain another 545 workers.
Gilbert Bundy, president of American Pan, said company officials had been considering plans for expansion for about six months before the agreement with the city and Willow Run Realty. The company produces industrial and retail baking pans.
At Rittal, city officials approved a resolution that will offer a tax exemption for 75 percent of the real property tax for 10 years for the $6.7 million expansion.
Clark County
Clark County has also seen progress in the job front. Last month, Enon-based seepex Inc. was awarded a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement that will allow it to move forward with an expansion that could provide between 38 and 150 high tech jobs in Clark County.
The company — which supplies pumping units to Procter and Gamble, Nestle and power plants and oil and gas producers — also received a $7.8 million package of loan incentives to the state in April to encourage the company to create jobs in Enon and not outsource the jobs to China.
Another major source of county job growth is Thirty-One Gifts and its partner Exel Logistics, which received a 60 percent, six-year tax credit from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority in May to bring at least 500 jobs to Springfield.
Thirty-One Gifts, which manufactures and personalizes home gift items, and Exel logistics, which handles product logistics, began recruiting managers at a June job fair, and are also looking to fill distribution and manufacturing positions, said Nicolle Racey, Thirty-One Gifts public relations manager.
Challenges
One of the challenges both nationally and locally is that the positions that are becoming available demand specific training, and in some cases, there are few workers qualified to fill the need.
In the case of Thirty-One Gifts, the company provides the training. Other places will rely on the county to help people get the adequate education.
The Champaign Technology and Employment Center works closely with local businesses and economic development directors to determine what positions are in demand, said Sue Bailey, director of the Champaign County Department of Job and Family Services.
Clark County Department of Jobs and Family Services provides the same services with the help of the WorkPlus One-Stop Center and the Workforce Investment Act, which provides federal funding for job training programs.
Both counties have been able to attract new businesses and provide job opportunities for locals.
Champaign County
Mike Morris, Champaign County economic development director, said despite the county’s 10.3 percent not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June — compared to 9.6 percent in Clark County and the 9.2 percent state average — he remains hopeful.
“We’ve got opportunities with some other companies that have been growing,” he said. These opportunities could offset unemployment, Morris said.
“In our economic development plan our goal is to have the local unemployment to be at or lower than the state rate.”
Urbana city officials approved two resolutions last week that may help retain and create hundreds of jobs for the city. American Pan, based in Urbana, announced their plans to purchase equipment, increase parking and add 38,000 square feet to its facility at 417 E. Water St. City officials approved an enterprise zone agreement Tuesday along with Willow Run Realty, owner of the property.
According to the agreement, American Pan will create 33 full-time jobs, retain another 109 full-time jobs and retain an additional 45 temporary jobs. The agreement also carries a stipulation that the company must look to city residents first when considering candidates for employment.
At the same meeting, council members approved a resolution that will allow Rittal Corp., also based in Urbana, to expand operations and add as many as 120 jobs over the next three years and retain another 545 workers.
Gilbert Bundy, president of American Pan, said company officials had been considering plans for expansion for about six months before the agreement with the city and Willow Run Realty. The company produces industrial and retail baking pans.
At Rittal, city officials approved a resolution that will offer a tax exemption for 75 percent of the real property tax for 10 years for the $6.7 million expansion.
Clark County
Clark County has also seen progress in the job front. Last month, Enon-based seepex Inc. was awarded a 10-year, 100 percent tax abatement that will allow it to move forward with an expansion that could provide between 38 and 150 high tech jobs in Clark County.
The company — which supplies pumping units to Procter and Gamble, Nestle and power plants and oil and gas producers — also received a $7.8 million package of loan incentives to the state in April to encourage the company to create jobs in Enon and not outsource the jobs to China.
Another major source of county job growth is Thirty-One Gifts and its partner Exel Logistics, which received a 60 percent, six-year tax credit from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority in May to bring at least 500 jobs to Springfield.
Thirty-One Gifts, which manufactures and personalizes home gift items, and Exel logistics, which handles product logistics, began recruiting managers at a June job fair, and are also looking to fill distribution and manufacturing positions, said Nicolle Racey, Thirty-One Gifts public relations manager.
Challenges
One of the challenges both nationally and locally is that the positions that are becoming available demand specific training, and in some cases, there are few workers qualified to fill the need.
In the case of Thirty-One Gifts, the company provides the training. Other places will rely on the county to help people get the adequate education.
The Champaign Technology and Employment Center works closely with local businesses and economic development directors to determine what positions are in demand, said Sue Bailey, director of the Champaign County Department of Job and Family Services.
Clark County Department of Jobs and Family Services provides the same services with the help of the WorkPlus One-Stop Center and the Workforce Investment Act, which provides federal funding for job training programs.
