businesses

Population loss, dwindling labor force hurting Guernsey Co. businesses

By Dorothea 6 months ago

A dwindling population that pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a limited labor force that continues to impact hiring woes for businesses in Guernsey County as they begin the new year.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census report, there are 38,438 residents in Guernsey County, down slightly from a previous projection of 38,750 and a 4.1% decline from 2010 when the population totaled 40,087.

“Probably the most important piece of data to recognize in our county is our shrinking population, said Sue Thomas-Sikora, assistant director of Guernsey County Department of Job and Family Services and OhioMeansJobs Guernsey County.

“However, our business and industry base has remained strong. We are fortunate that employers have remained committed to our county, however as folks move elsewhere it makes it more difficult to fill their job needs.”

Future estimates indicate the number of residents in Guernsey County will be 37,310 in 2030 and

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State supports veteran businesses with record-setting $856M contract

By Dorothea 6 months ago

WILKES-BARRE — Gov. Tom Wolf this week announced that his administration built on its commitment to support small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses in Pennsylvania with nearly $856 million in state contract spending for fiscal year 2020-2021.

he Bureau of Diversity, Inclusion and Small Business Opportunities (BDISBO) detailed the record-setting contract spend — a 30 percent increase from the previous year’s total — in the Bureau’s 2021 Annual Report.

“I am excited to share that for the first time in the history of the commonwealth, more than 20 percent of our total state contracting spend went to small, diverse and veteran businesses,” Wolf said. “This is a true milestone for our efforts to improve diversity, equity, inclusion and fairness in state contracting, and builds on our work throughout this administration to provide opportunities for small, diverse and veteran-owned businesses to succeed.”

In 2020-2021, the commonwealth contract spend was up 15 percent

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Businesses: Idaho education politics are hurting state

By Dorothea 7 months ago

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FILE – A woman walks across the University of Idaho campus during a snowstorm of the season on Oct. 23, 2020, in Moscow, Idaho. Political hostility to public education in the Republican-dominated Idaho Legislature is causing some businesses to doubt the wisdom of moving to or expanding in the state. (Geoff Crimmins/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP, File)


Geoff Crimmins

AP

BOISE, Idaho

Political hostility to public education in the Republican-dominated Idaho Legislature is causing some businesses to doubt the wisdom of moving to or expanding in a state that ranks at or near the bottom in what it spends on K-12 students and has one of the nation’s worst graduation rates.

The Legislature also targeted higher education earlier this year when it cut $2.5 million from universities despite a budget surplus. An influential libertarian group that wants to abolish public education entirely says it will push for a $20

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Pismo local businesses seeing economic growth with surfing competition in town

By Dorothea 7 months ago

The 2021 Para-surfing Championship brought hundreds of people including staff, volunteers, competitors, and spectators for the first time in Pismo Beach. Local businesses benefited from the week-long event.

The host this year is Amp Surf and the founder, Dana Cummings, said it has created opportunities for businesses every day.

“A lot of people coming into town, coming to support local businesses. so every day when this event is done all these athletes, coaches, trainers, family members they’re going out to town and they’re getting their dinners at Cool Cats, Splash Café,” said Cummings.

With COVID-19 still looming around, the 2021 Para-surfing Championship brought in more tourism and foot traffic to local businesses.

“I think it’s been a good impact. With COVID still around helps keep business afloat and helps keep people buying stuff and helps keep them interested in the businesses down here,” said Jacob San Diego, a retail associate.

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