Mahoning Valley Employment Situation – October 2010

Ohio out of double digit unemployment – but jobs in the Mahoning Valley are still disappearing.

Ohio JobsAlthough the employment rate in Ohio was little changed, Ohioans got a psychological the rate fell nominally out of double digits for the first time since March of 2009. Ohio’s unemployment rate was 9.9 percent in October, down slightly from 10.0 percent in September, according to data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment increased 8,400 over the month, from the revised 5,014,500 in September to 5,022,900 in October.

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Unemployment Falls In Mahoning Valley Sixth Straight Month

Double Digit Unemployment Rate Drops in All Three Counties – but Valley still loses more jobs in September.

Unemployment Rates

Job loss continues to plague the Mahoning Valley even as the unemploment rate drops.

Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS), a federal-state program that gathers data on labor force, employment and unemployment at the state and sub-state levels, reported today that the Columbiana, Mahoning, and Trumbull Counties in the Mahoning Valley all saw drops in unemployment rate. The combined Mahoning Valley rate fell to 10.9 percent from 11.2 percent and was the sixth straight monthly drop in the rate since March’s high of 14.5 percent.

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EdChoice Scholarship Program – A Way Out

Ohio Educational Choice Scholarship program provides scholarships to students attending persistently under-performing public schools to find quality education at a private school.

Schools - EdChoice program

Ohio's EdChoice program offers students a way to avoid persistantly under-performing schools.

Some would have us believe that finding a caring parent in the City of Youngstown is an oddity as rare as any endangered species. It seems everybody, especially the members of the Youngstown Education Association (YEA) a.k.a. “the teachers,” are quick to blame parental care and discipline – or lack thereof - for the double whammy  facing Youngstown City Schools.  If the union is to be believed, and unfortunately many do, YEA is in no way responsible for the fact that the system has been mired in academic emergency for two straight years, and certainly the continuing  fiscal emergency declared by the state auditor is in no way connected to union protectionism.  Continue reading

Warning: Research Before They Drill

Sean Logan, Director Ohio Department of Natural Resources strongly advises Ohio landowners to seek the advice of experts before agreeing to lease mineral rights.

Marcellus Shale Deposit

Below the Marcellus lies the Utica Shale Formation. The Utica represents a source of natural gas that may one day prove even larger than the Marcellus.

Sean Logan, Director Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued the following advice and warning to Ohio landowners:

“As many property owners have learned, oil and gas drilling companies are seeking to lease the rights to drill on local private property. This is taking place throughout eastern Ohio. This new pursuit of leased rights reflects the oil and gas potential being found in the Marcellus Shale formation, which is located between 5,000-6,000 feet underground.”

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Is it Possible To Read 1Million Pages in 90 Days?

The Salem Public Library says you can – with a little help from your friends.

Reading LibraryQuaker Million Pages Reading Challenge 2010

To celebrate books and reading, the Salem Public Library in Salem, Ohio (Columbiana County) is sponsoring a unique challenge to all residents of the Salem community and Mahoning Valley to collectively read, read, and read some more until, as a community, we’ve read a grand total of ONE MILLION PAGES -and- we have to do it in 90 days or less! The challenge kicks off on Monday, October 4th.

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Just A’MAZE’N – Columbiana Maze Craze

The Corn Maze, Columbiana, Ohio is unlike anything you’ve seen or done in the Mahoning Valley. At the Maze Craze, the exit is the destination – but the real fun is the journey.

Safari at Columbiana Maze Craze

Picture courtesy www.ColumbianaMazeCraze.com.

The good folks at Columbiana Maze Craze have transformed nearly 12 acres of corn stalks into a life-size seven foot tall maze. Over five miles of professionally designed twists, turns, and dead ends will frustrate and invigorate all at the same time.

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Ohio and U.S. Employment Situation – August 2010

Help wanted signs out again in Ohio and the Mahoning Valley. Unemployment rate edges down for fifth straight month.

Help WantedOhio’s unemployment rate was 10.1 percent in August, down slightly from 10.3 percent in July, according to data released this morning by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS). Ohio’s nonfarm wage and salary employment decreased 15,400 over the month, from the revised 5,046,600 in July to 5,031,200 in August.

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ODNR Approves Grants to Fund Volunteer Fire Fighters

The Mahoning Valley Will Collect $12,450 from Ohio Department of Natural Resources for Three Local Volunteer Fire Assistance Units.

Volunteer Fire Assistance

73 percent of firefighters in the United States are ‘volunteer’ firefighters. In Ohio 70 percent of our fire departments are classified as rural.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry has approved federal pass-through grant funding for 55 projects to assist and improve fire departments and fire associations serving communities with populations under 10,000.

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Hartford Apple Festival Returns for 2010

September 18 through September 20, 2010

Apple Festival

Hartford Apple Festival, September 18-20.

The Hartford Apple Festival, a long time tradition in Hartford, Ohio, returns the weekend of September 18. It has food and rides, parades and games, crafts and history and  even apple peeling and pie eating contests. Go join the fun and share a bit of Hartford History! There will be a new look now with the old school gone, but we’re told this years apples couldn’t be better!

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Lake Tomahawk Awarded OEEF Mini Grant

Ohio Environmental Education Fund includes Lake Tomahawk in its  recent round of Mini Grants Awards.

Grant

Lake Tomahawk Property Owner Association, Columbiana County is to receive $2,925.00 for a project called “Lake Tomahawk Septic System Reminder Registry.”

The Office of Environmental Education administers the Ohio Environmental Education Fund, awarding grants annually for projects targeting pre-school through university students and teachers, the general public, and the regulated community. The Office also administers scholarship program for university students in environmental science and engineering.

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Ohio Announces Microenterprise Business Grant Awards

Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel announced that Columbiana County is one of four Ohio recipients of $220,000 in Microenterprise Business Development Program grants. 

Ohio Microeconomics Grant

Columbiana County Awarded $60,000

The Microenterprise Business Development Program provides grants to eligible nonprofit organizations, cities, and counties to assist in the development of local microenterprise businesses and to create and retain long-term jobs in the private sector. Microenterprises are defined as for-profit entities with five or fewer employees, one of whom owns the business. Entities working with low- and moderate-income populations are eligible to apply for Microenterprise Business Development Program funds.

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