Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Guest Post: DARKE COUNTY JOBS (by Mike Stegall)

Speaking as a citizen and not an elected official, I have been amused and irritated lately by some of the comments going around about the lack of jobs in Darke County. I find it amusing that apparently all the new businesses in the county that have been highlighted in the papers and blogs are being overlooked, and irritated that some people just don’t want to see the positives in what we have accomplished. We are in a serious recession in this country, and yet despite that Darke County has been adding businesses and jobs at a rate that is getting us noticed throughout the state. Take a good look around everybody. Just open your eyes and you will see new companies, and established ones, adding jobs and expanding. In the past year we have added Integrity Ambulance, with 45 jobs retained and an expansion of the business. Continental Carbonic with a new structure and about 75 jobs as of now with more to be added. American Plastics Recycling, located in the old Excello plant has opened, and JAFE Glass who has expanded our adding jobs as well. There are also other companies, such as HD Supply, Marco’s and 2 other companies with expansion that we cannot disclose of yet. We are also in talks with 5 or 6 other companies about possible expansion or relocation to our County. One of the most irritating things I hear is that these are “low paying, burger flipping jobs with no benefits,” really? Apparently, some people just like to complain and don’t want to see anything positive. Of the companies I mentioned the average hourly wage runs from $22.40 an hour to $11.00 an hour! No burger flipping wages there! (You may check with the Economic Development office if you like.) It is time to start being positive about what the Economic Development team is doing! This collaboration between the private sector and Government is unprecedented. We are making it work here in Darke County. In my opinion, the smartest move was turning the Economic Development Department over to the private sector, and keeping the County involved as an investor, not a sole manager. I truly believe that Government should be involved in people’s lives as little as possible, and the private sector does a better job of running most things in the long run.

I encourage everyone in Darke County to get involved by checking with the Economic Development Office and the Commissioner’s Office frequently. We are doing everything publicly so everyone can feel they are a part of this effort, because you are a part of the solution. If you hear a rumor of a new business, a possible expansion, or a hiring, or if you have an idea, let us know. A collaboration where we all work together is the key to our success in Darke County. We are practicing that philosophy now. That is why I write the “Commissioners Corner” column. I also have the “Coffee with the Commissioner” gatherings, also myself and my two fellow Commissioners go on the Tiger Radio station monthly to keep everyone updated & involved. I think it is important for the people of the county to realize that this is truly a County wide effort, not just a Greenville effort. The Partnering for Progress initiative is a business and citizen group from all over the county. We all know that if one town gets a new business or an expansion, we all win. There are no borders in Darke County. If Arcanum gets a new business, there is no reason a person from New Weston cannot apply for a job there. We have to start realizing this. All of Darke County is in this boat together, and we will sink or swim together. Those involved in Partnering for Progress are swimming, and we are not stopping! I want everybody in the County to start being positive about the County, help us achieve our goals, and help each other to make Darke County the leader in the State. We can do it, and we are going to do it. I am positive about this and you should be too!

Mike Stegall

35 comments:

  1. Thank you Mike! You make a very good point!

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  2. Mike, you mentioned a lot of companies in your report- but I know of one that has been in business for over 50 years right here in Darke County - is a 3 million plus with 55 employees and they are thinking of moving out of the county.. Also - what about Neff lettering - someone let 55 jobs go to the Domican Republic becuase they didn't stay on top of the investors of that company. SO when you talk about the good - talk about what you are missing too. Look around... get outside your bubble!

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  3. I agree with Mike. There are many negatives in the world today but there are also many good opportunities in our great county.

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  4. Anon 12:57. call Mike or Marc Saluk and tell them who the company is that is looking to leave. If you don't, then you will be responsible for not helping to avert the loss of 55 jobs. Economic development won't work if people don't get involved.

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  5. 1:44.. that was done 1st part of June to both county and the Mayor. However, its not my job to visit business's in the area, but if there was a company that has been around 50 plus years and they don't know who that may be - there is a problem. I have to do research on my job if I want to succeed, I suggest they do the same.

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  6. Very nice "feel good" article, however, I have not been convinced. Darke County is in a downward spiral and has been for years. I do not see the light at the end of the tunnel. My advise to my children has always been- move. I want my grandkids to go to a good school, have good jobs and a great future. I do not see that happening in Darke County, especially in Greenville.

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  7. As one who lost their job at a closed manufacturing factory, there are no jobs in Greenville to be had that even comes close to the wages mentioned. Or at least that many. Also when a decent job position comes open its mostly done thru temp services. As one who had to go out of town to get a job, I can't afford to take my chances by going thru a temp service in order to work at home. What happen to businesses hiring straight out so some of us that were displaced can come back home to work? I have been advised to move away especially in order to lessen my driving expenses but I shouldn't have to move away.

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  8. Actually, there are docimneted tax return and payroll record that indicate that the salary figures given by the commisioner are 100% accurate. I have seen them myself. You can refuse to see the progress being made around you, but it is still there. However, Rome wasn't built ion a day. It will take time to truly execute all of the agenda items that it will take to make Greenville strong again.

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  9. Every single one of the companies that are referred to in these posts, or mentioned directly, are in discussions at one level or another with the city and the county. The officials live in the same community that you do and they hear the same rumors. When they do, they respond. This may not have been the case in bygone years, but it is now and has been for about 2 years. It's their community too, as well as their children's, so of course they respond and do what they can. All jobs are taken seriously.

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  10. To Anonymous 12:57, the research has been done. There is a reason no comapnies have left the county in the past 2 yers. Officials can't tell you that thye are addressing the rumors with a comapny due to conficentiality agreements. But that doesn't mean it isn't hapenning. Complain if your points are valid but don't do so with no understanding...or willingness to understand...the realities are for the people that are actually dealing with the problems.

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  11. finally, some positive good points! everyday, something new always pops up and it seems to be bad. it's always nice to see that there is some good news happening to darke county! unlike some people, it makes me feel some pride in this community and hopefully one day more people will feel the same

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  12. While the anonymous family continues to enlarge, there are some valid points on both sides here. It is extremely scary for me to agree with anything Mr. Stegall says but he is right, there have been some jobs created here in Greenville and they probably do pay well. The problem is when you create 100 jobs and 1500 need jobs, you don't get very far. Secondly, was priority given to people being hired at these new jobs for people of Darke County? Doubt that. That would be illegal. So we really don't know if we're better off than before or not. Only one good thing out of that is we may get some income tax money. The reason that the commissioners are doing everything publicly is because they have to by law. Until the 500 or 600 jobs return to the Corning building, we'll continue to have hard times. When someone contacts Fram and says Hey, how about shipping some jobs to your half empty building in Greenville and when all of the other empty manufacturing buildings in Ansonia, New Madison, Bradford and others are full, then we'll be moving ahead and not until. Have any of the politicians,Mayor, Commissioners stopped at Fram and asked what we can do to help them?

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  13. With the recent purchase of Honeywell Automotive Group buy the Rank Corp. there have been rumors about how that might affect the plant here. I know for a fact that the Mayor and others have contacted Fram and have offered to do what they can to help keep jobs here. I work for a company here in Greenville and we are a supplier to Fram. We are concerned too knowing that if Fram goes so do we. The mayor has called me personnally to gather information. He has spoken with the owner of our company and has visited our site. Because of the efforts of our community leaders and those at Fram (both company and union) there is a possibility that not only will it be safe but it might also enlarge.

    Granted nothing is for sure yet but there is hope and I thank the Mayor and his staff for all their efforts. So many times actions are being taken but they aren't known to the general public. Sometimes negotiations taken place can't be made public. But, anyone who thinks that our city stands back and watches companies leave just hasn't been involved enough to know.

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  14. Exactly Cindy. County and City staff have indeed been working with Fram....for several years now. Points made by Badge are being addressed. People need to understand that, reagrdless of the type or amount of intervention, things still unfold on the COMPANY'S timeline. When progress is allowed to be announced, it will be announced.

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  15. There are jobs a short 40 minute drive north in New Bremen...CROWN EQUIPMENT. Good wages and benefits. They employ thousands of workers in the New Bremen/Celina area and are a leader in lift truck manufacturing in the world. Too bad our local leaders can't get them to look at a site in this county!

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  16. The use of average pay is a slick way of not responding to the statement "these are low paying jobs". If a business employs 40 people.
    5 managers at 60k/year
    35 workers at 11$/hour
    The average pay is 17$ /Hour
    Notice how much better the average pay statement looks rather than saying we created 5 living wage jobs and 35 welfare requirement jobs.

    More jobs are always better, so I'm glad to see progress.

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  17. Continental Carbonic looks great from the outside, but they are treating their employees worse that Shraders. Short handed on lines, 6-8 hours before they offer you a break.

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  18. It is correct to say some good things are happening. It is also correct to say that we face some large challenges. Our community has lost a lot of jobs over the last 15-20 years. And, we are also part of the current deep recession which has done great harm to the regional economy upon which we rely.

    10 years ago, our community not only didn't make much of an effort to participate in economic development, the mentality of some community leaders was that we should shun new industry which might adversely impact our small town. 5-7 years ago that changed and we have become much more aggressive.

    Mike is right to focus on the positive. These things have a way of being self-fulfilling prophecies. If people get a positive feeling about a community, that alone can help it grow (sort of like the stock market).

    For most of you, there are two things you can do to help. First, "be like Mike" and spend a little more time talking about the positive things in the community and stop dwelling on the negative. The second thing? Vote yes on a new school.

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  19. "A collaboration where we all work together is the key to our success in Darke County."

    - I couldn't agree more Mike! There are many ways in which the public and the citizens of this community could possibly contribute to the advancement and development of the area. I believe anyone who would think otherwise would be seriously re missed and could quite possibly sell the area short of opportunities for our betterment. Our leaders, the Chamber and Economic Development Office are no different than any other governmental or private organization- you are only as good as the strength of your people.

    This includes the citizens who inhabit this area as well. Listen to their ideas- You never know where the next big break my come from and we are surrounded by many creative and talented folks in our community. Don;t short change them and let ego stand in your way!

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  20. Looking to manufacturing as a sole means of economic development is a rather short sighted endeavor at a time when a paradigm shift is occurring over all in our nation way form that sector.

    By looking at those jobs as a sole means will quickly become an uphill battle when the rest of the nation is also considering new, alternative means of development. We can not afford to be behind this curve in looking to adopt additional means of income and development. Irregardless of national trends, it would seem, from my perspective, a more rounded approach, to consider additional avenues.

    Don't put your eggs in one basket.

    If agri-business offers a means for expansion, dedicate some time to understand and explore it. If small business can be refined and focused in a way which generates another income stream, than swim with it! If we can generate new business in the tourism industry, then embrace it. Smart business people understand that investment and diversity in multiple streams of income generate more potential for growth. It is by this principle, that these folks are able to enjoy the abundance of life. Why not follow their lead and similarly invest our energies as a community for development?

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  21. I heard yesterday a guy lost his finger at Continental Carbonic because they push you past all limits.

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  22. You mean the farmers who get a welfare handout from the government already in the form of subsidies?

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  23. Farm subsidies?

    Wow! That must mean they are all Socialists!

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  24. 11:37- No, the farmers, who formulate their business as a small business directed at generating products for sale. A model which steps away from the corporate farm mentality.

    We also need to stop looking at subsidies and grants as a handout and learn to utilize them for the ways they can properly stimulate economic growth. You are merely seeing things in black and white and not looking at the WHOLE picture.

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  25. My guess is 11:37 has taken very little time to understand such angles as agri-business and tourism as a viable sources of development because they are only viewing it as some sort of unfair advantage they are not receiving in life.

    If a subsidy generates a new, economically viable business which in turn repays its debt and goes on to create a revenue stream the greater economy can tax, is it not a positive growth?

    There are always two sides to any coin, and sometimes even breaking ones opinions and views down to just two views is not fully taking the time to understand every variable.

    Growth comes from objectively evaluating every angle presented, often plausible or not!

    We learn stand to learn just as much from our failures as we do from our triumphs. Hopefully we can minimize the impact from past failures to use them as a positive also.

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  26. So there are jobs being created BUT again the hiring process shouldn't be thru temp services that limit opportunities coming home to work for "displaced" workers that had to go out of the county to find jobs. We want to come home and work but are trapped by the temp service hiring process. So is it that positive? I have lived my entire life in this county, love it and worked my entire adult life here too until Corning shut down. Now stuck working out of town. It saddens me everytime I get in my car to go to work. Oh am I glad to presently have a job? You bet but would love to come "home" to work but...

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  27. Agritourism is the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agri-business operation for the purpose of enjoyment, education or active involvement in the activities of the farm or operation.

    Now take an operation such as Bears Mill. It is set up as a non-profit but it creates a profit center which generates a certain portion of revenue. The Mill works and functions on several levels. As a profit center, it has the ability to create a retail outlet which provides several micro-businesses and other operations a means to sell to the public. I would venture to say no less than 24 of these small product lines are handled which entails employing a number of folks in their function, production and operation. Now, granted, that may not be a large conglomerate of jobs produced, it is a surplus of jobs instead of a liability.

    If you take a program like the Farmer, The Miller and the Baker, which Bears Mill has undertaken, you will see where at least four businesses have pooled their resources to create a revenue stream that is a viable source of income. The wheel starts turning at Eat Food For Life Farms in North Star. They grow the grain and various other products which transfer out to both the Mill, Bakehouse Bread in Troy and The Inn at Versailles for use in their restaurant. The Mill grinds the grain which it sells to Bakehouse. Bakehouse then in turn, employs a group who produce the bread which is sold at the Mill and also served at The Inn.

    These product lines serve as a retail tool to drive traffic to all three businesses. By marketing their combined efforts as a point of interest, you have established a vehicle which fuels the desire of a portion of the population to frequent their business and also visit the areas that produce them. Few would doubt the ability of Bears Mill to generate a stream of interest which drives folks to visit the Greenville/Darke County area. The ability to do so was enough for CBS to send Hannah Storm to the area to do a national level feature on the story a few years ago.

    Although this is a small scale break down of how this sort of approach could stimulate economic growth, I would hope one would be able to at least see the potential present in attracting attention of this sort. It may be hard to gauge by sheer numbers how having national exposure could stand to lead to economic growth, but it does present ONE new way which we could achieve it by which had not existed had we not invested our interest in it. If one last breathe might be your life line to staying alive, are you not going to take it just because the air might not be scented as sweet as you personally like it?

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  28. http://farmermillerbaker.wordpress.com/

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  29. Now let’s look at this abstract scenario, if you will, which illustrates small business scale as related to large business scale:

    Let’s say you have a city which is situated along a wide river which has a dam that serves to protect the town from flooding, much like New Orleans and its many dikes. Say one of those dams springs a small leak which is spewing water into every corner of the city. If you are the maintenance worker in charge of patching the dam until a much larger crew comes along to repair things on a bigger scale. Your job is to at least stifle the flow of water and keep it from over-taking the city at a much faster rate.

    Although as a mere “maintenance worker”, your having slowed the leak enough to prevent it from allowing the city to be enveloped in water. This has been a heroic enough task to stymie the great flood until the larger repair crew could swoop in and thwart the tide. Now under such circumstances, smaller scale business also functions much in the same way as the maintenance work did in the illustration. Had he been hindered from doing his job or not been in place at all, the city may have been sweep away by the flood. Is that a chance the vast majority of the city is willing to take? I would venture to say not…

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  30. Oh, I get it. Subsidies and handouts are ok as long as we get them. But when the government even thinks about similar programs for other folks outside of our area, they are reckless socialists.

    Smaller businesses and agri-businesses are great but we need the larger businesses to sustain long term growth. Mike is right.

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  31. Just as you need all the spokes of the wheel before its a wheel.

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  32. 12:23 PM - You mean like the boondoggle Ethanol plant that is only still in operation because of government subsidies?

    it's funny how when WE get them here, they are welcomed, anywhere else and they are attacked. NO farmer should get a single subsidie. If they can't survive on their own, then they should let the rules of a free market economy take over. The same goes for any other business.

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  33. Ok BE, are you willing to give up the subsidy you receive by writing your home mortgage interest off your taxable income?

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  34. Absolutely. I would have no problem losing that write-off, if they also get rid of the BS earned income credit and child credits. It's nothing but welfare, and there is no reason anyone should get paid by the government for having a kid. It would stop these people making 20k a year from getting the 8k tax returns because they have 4 kids.

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  35. Well, at least you're consistent.

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