Expand Job Creation

By Geraldine "Gerri" Grego

Some feel when need to bring in large industries to expand our economy - I do not. We need to expand our economy from the bottom up - making it more sustainable in difficult times.

We do that by many different ways, including making our planning and building departments ombudsmen to business who are trying to get established or to grow their business. We don't want to create roadblocks to expanding our economy.

We look towards other industries that would provide needed jobs. We have a "silver tsunami" coming where the greater portion of our population will be seniors. We should be creating senior living facilities, senior day care and other related industries to handle the needs that will soon be upon us. This will create new jobs for nurses, massage therapists, physical therapy, personal trainers etc. to be able to keep our seniors in good health - saving everyone money in medical costs and long term care.

Let's encourage businesses that we don't already have in our communities. Ask "what don't we have", and then "what would be well utilized" and then use our new economic development department to facilitate the opening of such businesses.

It would be my goal to encourage and facilitate year round, full time jobs for the people of our communities.