Helping the unemployed

<b>A look at where Cass County stands with unemployment.</b>

by Denise Massie

In just one year, the percentage of unemployed workers has nearly doubled in Cass County.

According to Skip Kuker, president of the Logansport-Cass County Economic Development Foundation, the unemployment rate in December 2007 was 4.8 percent. A year later, the rate had grown to 8.8 percent.

Kuker said the actual number of Cass County residents unemployed in December, for all reasons, was 1,625.

With such an increase, many might feel the county is struggling, but Kuker encourages residents to look at the brighter side of things.

“Going from 4.8 to 8.8 percent is devastating to our local economy,” he said. “But the state is at 8.1 percent. Some counties are in the double digits. Elkhart is the leader at 15.3 percent, and that is nearly double.”

The unemployment rate in Miami County is 10.7 percent, he said.

Kuker said Cass County ranks 41st out of 92 counties for the number of persons available for work, the number unemployed and the number employed.

“This bracket is good,” he pointed out. “We want to see those three grouped together.”

Kuker said his office was always searching for new jobs for Cass County.

Right now, he said, he is working on 11 projects. Most were put on hold in December because of the national economic situation.

“The companies and the clients wanted to see how the economy shaped out,” Kuker said.

Even though some projects have been put on hold, Kuker said, he still met with two clients last week.

“No matter what, the clients know the economy will turn around,” he said. “They just don’t know when and they have to time it out correctly.”

According to Kuker, the issues concerning Cass County residents are a national problem. He said residents have been saving money for the past year.

“They are afraid of the future and the economy,” he said. “We need a stimulus program or people need to go out and spend.”

Another issue with bringing in jobs to the area has been competition.

When the market for jobs starts declining, he said, there are even more people searching for a job. The competition with other counties, states, regions and countries also increases.

Deanna Crispen, Cass County leader for the Regional Leadership Institute, said the institute was created from the Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development grant through Indiana University Kokomo. She said the group was made up of leaders from 14 counties.

The purpose of the group is to develop a plan to help the region move forward together.

The ultimate goal of the institute is to attract jobs. Crispen said members will travel to three counties that have succeeded in attracting jobs to find out how they did it.

After evaluating other regions’ practices, local group members will try to come up with a regional plan for economic development.

“Hopefully they will come back with a plan to move forward together as a region,” she said. “What is good for Cass County is usually good for Miami and Howard.”

Adding jobs in a neighboring county is still good for the local economy, she said.

“I think we are hoping to come out with a plan to move the entire region forward, so the communities aren’t competing against each other,” she said.

Marc Lotter, communications director for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, said there are several options for those who are out of work.

He said the best advice he could offer was for the person to access the Workforce Development Web site and fill out a form for benefits and assistance.

Another key instrument is Indiana Career Connect. Lotter called the Web site one of the largest job search sites in Indiana.

The system not only allows people to search for jobs, but also to post a résumé and type in job skills. The site finds jobs openings that meet those skills.

Unemployed workers can also visit the local Work One office for job search assistance and workforce training. Lotter said Work One would help people identify what skills they have and what skills they might be interested in developing. The office can also help find grants and financial assistance to help further develop skills for a new or better job, Lotter added.

In the meantime, Kuker urges local residents to stay positive.

“The economy always turns around every time we have been through a recession,” he said. “It is still unknown, uncharted waters and areas we have not been in.”

Denise Massie can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or via e-mail at denise.massie@pharostribune.com



Online

• To find out if you are eligible for unemployment visit:

www.in.gov/dwd

• Job-search site through state of Indiana

Indianacareerconnect.com

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