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Jobs Report and Employment Review

February, 2010

Jon Smith, managing director of the Grant County Economic Development Council, spoke at a recent Realtors’ lunch and provided us with an overview of jobs and employment figures for Grant County.

Below is a summary of that report:

-In 2009, Grant County had the highest level of employment in its history...however, it also had more unemployment. Both are the result of an increase in population (up 6,000 since 2002).

-Lay-offs have essentially ceased, and indeed, several companies have begun rehiring.

-In 2009, Grant County received a total of 20 RFPs (Requests for Proposals). In the first month of 2010, they have already received 6 signaling an increased interest in the business sector.

-Development of the rail line will continue and should be operational later this year.

-Guardian Industries is completing installation of machinery to be operational within 6 months of market recovery. This company will eventually result in 130 jobs once in full operation.

-The new biodiesel plant in Warden will start production in 2010, resulting in 30 new jobs.

-The mysterious, “Project Chinook”, which is a BMW/SGL Group venture, will produce a raw carbon-fiber material which will be used in the bodies of the next-generation electric cars for BMW. A decision is expected soon, and would eventually result in up to 180 new jobs if grant County is selected.

-A tire production plant is still moving ahead with its plans for a large scale facility near Ephrata. If negotiations continue, this plant will begin construction this year, and will result initially in 100-150 jobs in phase 1. This employment number could increase to as many as 1500-2000 jobs in the next ten years.

-Genie/Terex have made the decision to relocate a line to Moses Lake and have actively begun the hiring process for operations.

General observation is that we are moving in the right direction. It will not all come to fruition this year or even next year, but we are moving in the right direction!

Look ahead and smile...