Monday, March 9, 2015

VIEW FROM THE TOP: How Do We Solve the Long-Term Unemployment Crisis? by Larry Gigerich

Managing Director

As appeared on Inside Indiana Business

The United States continues to struggle with how to help people who have been unemployed (including ex-offenders) for a lengthy period of time. It is important to the future of our nation and economy that we implement innovative ways to address this vital issue. So, how do we do it?

There are not any easy answers to this problem. Employers are often concerned about hiring people who have been unemployed for a long period of time. Issues, such as educational achievement, dependability, work ethic and drive, factor in when companies look at candidates. While not necessarily fair, the stigma is real.

Many states are implementing creative ideas to try to solve this issue. The federal government can certainly provide financial support to help in this endeavor, but cities and states are best positioned to shape initiatives to help its residents. Several states are attempting to address the issue:

1. New Jersey: The state has implemented the Jobs4Jersey training program that not only helps with the training of its citizens, but also matches companies and candidates, links people to training resources and provides information regarding skills required for different types of positions.

2. Utah: The state has implemented an innovative training program to upgrade the skills of the unemployed to be positioned to fill job openings from growing businesses. Funding can be used directly by individuals for education, credentials or certifications.

3. Connecticut: The state has partnered with non-profit, The Workplace, to launch the Platform to Employment program statewide. The program works with regional Workforce Investment Boards throughout the state to help unemployed people who have exhausted their unemployment benefits to upgrade their skills.

In particular, the Platform to Employment program has gained significant momentum throughout the United States. Today, approximately 40 states are testing this program on a local, regional or state basis:

1. Pays the worker’s salary for the first two months of employment. This helps mitigate the risk a company takes in hiring someone who has been chronically unemployed. This component of the program reports a 90 percent success rate nationally.

2. Works with people who have been unemployed for a long period of time to boost confidence and help with job preparedness skills.

3. Accepts people into the program that have demonstrated work skills in the past. Sometimes, these candidates need skills upgrade, but most often, preparing a resume, social media training and confidence in using computers are the biggest impediments that they face.

4. Funds come from private donors, foundations and governmental entities (local, state and federal).

5. Works with candidates from all socioeconomic backgrounds, educational achievement levels and previous job experiences.

In a report by the Pew Research, a recent study sent thousands of mock resumes to employers with job openings and found that the longer a candidate had been unemployed, the less interested the employer was in interviewing the candidate. The drop-off was extremely sharp if someone had been out of work for six or more months.

Based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data, there are approximately three million people who have been unemployed for more than six months. This represents approximately one-third of everyone who is currently unemployed. This is the highest in the history of our country; the previous high was 26 percent. This shows that the challenge that our country faces is even greater than one may think and a solution is critical.

In a Brookings Institute report, only 11 percent of chronically unemployed people who have found work are continuously employed, meaning that the remaining 89 percent are either employed on a part-time basis or are employed, laid off and then rehired on a sporadic basis. In addition, the most recent five-year economic downturn has been different than previous recessions. In the past, workers were rehired in similar positions. The most recent recession has resulted in employees accepting positions that they are overqualified for and/or at a much lower salary level.

Indiana is currently implementing some elements of the Platform to Employment program. In the next few years, Indiana should be able to evaluate how the state is faring with this new program. However, it is important for local and regional areas to embrace this effort. They are the ones closest to the problem and are best suited to help prescribe a solution.

In summary, we have an economic and moral obligation to collaborate to solve this issue. Every member of our society has value and we have a responsibility to implement solutions to help the chronically unemployed. The cities, regions and states that solve this problem first, will be the economic winners in the future.

About Larry Gigerich: Larry Gigerich serves as Managing Director of Ginovus, an Indianapolis-based economic development advisory services firm. Ginovus is a leading provider of national site selection, public policy development, community comparative analysis and economic development incentive procurement & management services to private sector, educational, governmental and not-for-profit organizations. Click here to visit the Ginovus website.

The Power of a Spectacular Team

They sure make us better

By: Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
                    
The other day, I was sitting at a bar in the Atlanta airport, waiting for my flight to begin boarding. Along with a couple fellow road warriors, we chatted about the life of a business traveler and thanked our lucky stars for our support teams. Although I had internet connection and my tablet, I was acutely aware of the vast amount of work taking place in my absence.

Our Team Makes Us Better:
For anyone not aware of what it takes to manage a constant flow of economic development branding and marketing projects, our team includes brand strategists, writers, designers, public relations experts, videographers, web programmers, and a top flight project management team. When some of us are traveling to client meetings, conferences, speaking engagements, and an occasional vacation, the work still has to get done. It’s a beautifully-orchestrated thing, pushing projects through the pipeline, on time and on budget. With a workload that includes the development of community logos, slogans, websites, videos, brochures, e-mail campaigns, social media marketing, and countless other tactics, we couldn’t make it all happen without this group of professional marketers.

Our Advisors:
We also understand that we don’t have all the answers. Our clients throw us new challenges almost every day, and when something comes up that’s a bit puzzling, we have an Advisory Board made up of industry leaders who almost always have an answer. This august group is made up of specialists in regionalism, workforce, business retention and expansion, site selection, and young professionals (YPs). Having such a great group of friends and advisors on our team helps us to better serve our clients and the economic development industry. Sometimes, we even bring these people directly into a client project, adding them to the paid professional team.

Our Allies:
I learned a long time ago that there is no way that Brand Acceleration can, or should, try to be all things to all people. Because my philosophy is to do one thing, economic development marketing, and be the best in that category, we still seek avenues to serve client needs through allied relationships. Being the perfectionists that we are, we won’t send clients to just anyone. The last thing we want is to hear that we referred a client to a company that provided inferior service. Getting on our referral list is no easy task. We know these people very well before we ever refer them.

So, when our clients and friends have needs for such services as competitive analysis, workforce and skills assessment, strategic planning, site location advisement, lead generation, fund raising, incentives evaluation, GIS services, and several others, we can steer them to trustworthy leaders.

When my flight finally boarded, I left with confidence that over our eight years in business, we have put together a team that allows me to recline my seat, close my eyes, and know that all is well in my world.


My best wishes to you for similar solitude,

Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations
Indianapolis, Indiana
Office: 317.536.6255
Cell: 317.523.7380


Brand Acceleration is a full-service marketing communications, brand management and website development firm with a focus on community and economic development.

Good News: 3-9-2015

Here are just a few of the recent jobs announcements that have crossed my desk in recent weeks.

In Hopkinsville, Kentucky, farm equipment maker Fimco, Inc. will open and create 15 jobs. Congrats to economic developer Mitch Robinson, CEcD.

Plastic container maker IRIS USA will open in Surprise, Arizona, creating 100 jobs. Congrats to site consultant Larry Gigerich of Ginovus.

In Boone County, Indiana, D-A Lubricant, Inc., a provider of auto lubricants, will expand and create 25 jobs. Congrats to economic developer and Brand Acceleration client Molly Whitehead.

Engineering and construction firm Bechtel Corporation will open its headquarters in Reston, Virginia, creating 700 jobs.

In Troy, Michigan, ORBBEC 3D Technology International will open and hire 40 workers.

In Hillsboro, Oregon, identity management firm Eid Passport, Inc. will expand and hire 40 people.

Physical fitness products provider Prophet Corporation will expand and add 12 jobs in Owatonna, Minnesota.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, Langham Logistics will expand and hire 20 people.

Medical services provider Medytox Solutions, Inc. will open in West Palm Beach, Florida, creating 60 jobs.

In Lake Odessa, Michigan, food processor Cargill Kitchen Solutions, Inc. will expand and create 35 jobs.

SHALAG US, Inc., a maker of non-woven materials, will expand and create 40 jobs in Granville County, NC.

Porcelain tile maker Gruppo Concorde will open a facility in Maury County, Tennessee, creating 180 jobs.

In Madison, Wisconsin, healthcare services provider Exact Sciences Corporation will expand and hire 750 people.

In Henderson County, North Carolina, biopharma company RAUMEDIC will locate and hire 138 people.

In Livingston, Louisiana, EPIC Piping, a maker of pipe products, will open and hire 560 people.

SAW Capital, LLC, a business solutions firm, will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 29 jobs.

In Harbor Beach, Michigan, food products maker SensientFlavors will expand and create 28 jobs.

Metalplate Galvanizing, a hot-dip galvanizing provider, will open in Jennings, Louisiana, creating 104 jobs.

In Union County, North Carolina, safety products maker Scott Technologies, Inc. will expand and hire 67 workers.

In Winfield, Kansas, Newell Rubbermaid will expand and add 320 employees.

HealthX, Inc., a provider of technology to the healthcare industry, will expand in Indianapolis, Indiana, creating 40 jobs.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, food maker Frito-Lay will expand and create 35 jobs.

Thermal management technology provider Gentherm, Inc. will expand in Farmington Hills, Michigan, creating 150 jobs.

In Natchez, Mississippi, resource recovery company Delta-Energy Group, LLC will open and create 91 jobs.

Target Corporation will open an online order fulfillment center in York County, Pennsylvania, creating 250 jobs.

In Indianapolis, Indiana, defense and security services provider Raytheon will expand and hire 250 people.

Polymer and adhesive maker Specialty Polymers will expand in Chester County, South Carolina, creating 5 jobs.

In Petersburg, Virginia, Big Trouble Malting and Spirits will open a facility, creating 9 jobs.

Mig Molding, a plastics company, will open in the Village of Almont, Michigan, creating 35 jobs.

Machinery and engine maker Caterpillar will expand in LaGrange, Georgia, creating 50 jobs.

In Holland Charter Township, Michigan, office furniture maker OMT-VEYHL USA will expand and create 206 jobs.

Pharma and chemical company TriclinicLabs, Inc. will open in Lafayette, Indiana, creating 10 jobs.

In Hoke County, North Carolina, Butterball, LLC will expand and hire 367 people.

In New York’s Mohawk Valley, Amsterdam Printing and Litho will expand and create 40 jobs.

In Hancock County, Indiana, John Morrell Food Group will open a distribution center and hire 260 workers. Congrats to economic developer and Brand Acceleration client Skip Kuker.

Machine services provider Toolamation Services, Inc. will open in Kenosha, Wisconsin, hiring 65 people.

In Jacksonville, Florida, Volkswagen will open a distribution center and hire 100 people.

Precision manufacturer LIEPOLD, Inc. will expand and hire 20 people in Windsor, Connecticut.

In Lake County, Indiana, stair systems maker American Stair Corporation, Inc. will open and create 180 jobs.

In Fort Mill, South Carolina, Furniture HomeStore will establish a corporate campus and hire 200 people. Congrats to economic developer David Swenson.

Biopharma company Cardio3 BioSciences will open in Rochester, Minnesota, creating 33 jobs.

In Chicago, Illinois, MeadJohnson, a maker of pediatric nutrition products, will locate its headquarters and hire 200 people.


Stratice Healthcare, LLC, a provider of healthcare technology, will expand in Hamilton County, Indiana, creating 43 jobs.

Total Jobs Announcements: 5,702

Jim Walton
CEO
Brand Acceleration, Inc.
Branding // Marketing Communications // Public Relations
Indianapolis, Indiana:
Office: 317.536.6255
Fax: 317.222.1425
Cell: 317.523.7380

  

Brand Acceleration is a full-service website development, marketing communications, branding, and public relations firm with a focus on economic and community development.