JASPER — The City of Jasper is doing what it can to entice people to move to the area for skilled jobs already here and more on the way.
“We have companies committing to jobs. We have more jobs than people to fill them,” Mayor Terry Seitz said Tuesday. “When you have the highest level of employment in the state, it turns normal tactics of economic development on its head. We don’t have any place close by that is like us.”
Dubois County’s unemployment rate in December was 4.2 percent, the best in the state. The county’s labor force consisted of 21,564 people in December, 20,652 of whom were employed. The county has had at least a share of the state’s employment lead for 18 of the last 20 months.
Such a sustained high level of employment requires a different economic plan. Instead of funneling effort into attracting businesses, the movement is focused on luring people.
“This is such a new thought, and totally opposite of what most economic development tactics usually are,” he said. “It’s a wonderful challenge, but it doesn’t make it any less daunting.”
Seitz and Jasper Utility Service Board President Wayne Schuetter promoted the city on “Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick,” a public show that focuses primarily on the state’s business scene.
The segment was on television Sunday and will air again at 10 p.m. Thursday on WNIN.
“That was a unique opportunity for us,” Seitz said. “We knew we would reach people. I’ve gotten calls already from people saying, ‘We didn’t know that was going on in Jasper.’ It was a great public relations opportunity.”
The duo discussed the city and its utilities and efforts to pursue renewable energies and the 700 jobs that are either available or will be available in the area. Seitz said four companies in the county — Stens Corp., Meyer Distributing, MasterBrand Cabinets and Best Home Furnishings — are offering most of those skilled-labor jobs. Other existing employers also have jobs they need to fill, Seitz said.
Seitz said the city and Dubois County are collaborating with local economic development organization Dubois Strong to tout the area. Jasper officials are also working on initiatives to make the city more attractive to potential workers. Plans in the works include creating a large centralized park in the city, extending and connecting the city’s walking trail and analyzing the city’s swimming pool and aquatic offerings to see how they can be improved.
“That is my role as a representative of Jasper and of Dubois County,” Seitz said, citing that the city, other municipalities and area businesses are members of Dubois Strong.
In Jasper, officials are angling to bring to fruition aspects of the city’s comprehensive plan.
“The desire of the (Jasper Common) Council is to not let that plan collect dust,” Seitz said. “We are starting to act on the downtown and riverfront master plan. We are working on a hydrology study of the river. And then there is The Parklands (the former Jasper Country Club property the city now owns), which was an unexpected opportunity. There are so many connections across these thresholds.”
The city may also submit an application to the state to be named a Stellar Community. The label would enable grant funding to help pay for projects in the master plan. Even if that grant doesn’t materialize, city officials will continue with plans to enhance the city’s offerings, promote what is already here and encourage people to make Jasper their home.
“Jasper as a whole has a lot going for it,” Seitz said. “We have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but it will pay off in the end.”
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