Economic Development Week celebrated

The Harrison Regional Chamber of Commerce marked National Economic Development Week from May 9-15, to celebrate the contributions of positive economic development and explain the role of the profession in our local community.
Scott Tennyson, chair of the Chamber’s economic development committee joined Chamber chair, Melissa Collins, in noting, “In the past two years, the Chamber has increased awareness of the positive impact of economic development on the area’s prosperity and the numbers tell the story. Since January 2019, over 800 jobs have been created and projected, with those jobs accounting for almost $20M in new payroll.”

Tennyson went on to say, “Unfortunately with the Covid-19 pandemic, Boone County had 10.7% unemployment in April 2020, accounting for an estimated 1,000 people out of work. With a faster economic recovery than most of the nation, and an unemployment rate of 4.5% for the county today, there are now an estimated 300-plus job vacancies. Good paying career jobs are plentiful.”

Collins added that, “While the workforce has experienced a flux the past thirteen months, capital investment has remained steadily growing. Over $60M in business investment has been made since January 2019, and $25M of investment is forecasted in the months ahead.”