I think Mr. Williams meant there are over 300 open positions in Cowley County, not just Arkansas City. I don't think it makes much difference as they are all within 10 or 15 miles.
It is true that many of the jobs are in the $7.50 range, but they don't require any real training or experience. There are many jobs that pay more, but usually require some specific training or education.
There were 2 plants in other states that closed down and moved here to existing operations in the past year. Many of their people transferred to Cowley County to keep their good paying jobs. Even with the transfers there were and still are many openings. One has even been advertising on cable because they are so desparate for help. As for wages, people that only qualify as general labor only make that $7.50 per hour, though qualified and experienced people make considerably more.
The Workforce center had a meeting of local employers and human resource agencies in the county. David Seaton was one of the attendees. It would be nice if he could provide some input here too. The county has a critical problem finding qualified people to hire. Creekstone has a commute bus (or possible 2, I can't remember) for employees from Wichita every day because their operation cannot find enough people here in Cowley County. I can't imagine them coming from Wichita for the lower paying jobs.
There are many people who do not qualify for the better paying jobs, and that is another issue. Cowley College a training program for young people for the techno industrial jobs in addition to the classes they have had all along.
I would suggest contacting the Workforce Development Center out at Strother Field and get more information on employment stats for our area. There have been some huge changes in the last few years.
Thank you for answering some of the questions I had. I have others,
*Can you tell me if the new company hiring prisoners, that came to Goff industrial park was given any tax breaks to locate here in our county?
I don't recall the county offering any tax breaks, and I am sure the city did not. Tax breaks are generally for new construction only, though it could be a significant addition or renovation. Being in the county the city could offer no tax breaks, though it could have offered IRB's (Industrial Revenue Bonds) for a lower financing rate. This would also have required significant construction or renovation to qualify.
*If so how much?
*Is there a place on the net that will show just who gets those breaks, and how much?
I am sure the state has a record of such things, but I don't know where you would go online to find out. Locally the county clerk's office has that information so that the enitities are taxed correctly.
*Also can you tell me how many local people they hired? (Not including prisoners from the prison)
I do not have that information. I do know that all of the supervisory and clerical positions are hired employees. I believe that almost all of the rest are from the Dept. of Corrections. They are quite proud of their operation and I am sure would gladly give you any information if you ask them. Personnaly I haven't concerned myself with how many people they have hired for a couple of reasons. Firstly, each business knows what it takes to make money and stay in business and entities not intimately familiar with that business (ie: government) should stay out of the way. Secondly, if the business did not come NOBODY would have been hired, no additional dollars would have been brought into the area, no improvements would have been made, and no additional taxes collected (even an abatement would have been just a few years).
Thanks in advance for your prompt responses!
I'm sorry I didn't have more direct information. Because I do not work in a city office I do not have information at my fingertips. I am glad to answer to the best of my ability, and I do make my share of mistakes. You will always get much more information directly from the department in question. In this case I recommend contacting the County Clerk's Office and the company directly for more details.
Thank you for answering some of the questions I had. I have others,
*Can you tell me if the new company hiring prisoners, that came to Goff industrial park was given any tax breaks to locate here in our county?
*If so how much?
*Is there a place on the net that will show just who gets those breaks, and how much?
*Also can you tell me how many local people they hired? (Not including prisoners from the prison)
Thanks in advance for your prompt responses!
Just a note of some new information... I noticed that the company in questions "Northern Contours" has TWO ads in the help wanted section of the Traveler this evening. One for a driver another for a second shift supervisor. I didn't even know that they had added a second shift.
I didn't even know that they had added a second shift.
Patrick McDonald
It just means they are hiring two more Cowley citizens and giving the rest of the jobs to the prisoners.
If the company were not here would there be ANY Cowley citizens working there? What about additional jobs it might provide in the area? Transportation, materials, services, etc? Even though the city and county did not offer anything to this company to get them to come here, should there have been an effort to keep them out?
Has anyone called the company to ask how many people they have employed? Even if it is only 5 or 10 isn't that in impovement to our area, especially if they use additional services that may have had to add employees? 5-10 would seem to me to be a good number of people for any small business. Perhaps this company has hired more than that....
I have not asked as I am grateful for increase in industry in our area. I hope they do well and have to hire even more in the future.
This is a recent letter to the editor: Try looking at glass half-full, not half-empty
As the fireworks signal a new birthday for our nation, it is time to put aside our differences and work toward a better life for our citizens, especially in Ark City.
I know I have been critical about issues dear to my heart but I see a great future for the city and its tenants.
The improvements in the downtown area will be talked about and remembered for a long time as the youth of the community grow up and as some will leave the area. The sports and education the youth receive here will go with them. Sure there is room for improvement such as rebuilding much of the infrastructure by repairing or rebuilding sewer lines and water lines but these things were not in the shape they are today because of our new commission.
They will be taken care of as soon as possible. I know too there have been a lot of negative comments about Ark City but I see the glass half-full not half-empty. I see that only 12 percent of the population says it is not a good place to live; the other 88 percent say it is fair to excellent.
And as far as the job situation in Ark City, are the people here aware there are 300 plus jobs here that are not filled? I know some people think there must be $25 an hour jobs before they apply and that they're worth $25 an hour, but if you're not working, a $7.50 to $12 an hour job should help. We cannot make people work.
Hmmm, three hundred plus jobs here in Arkcity that are not filled?I am so glad that there are those that are so understanding of the job market and are willing to work for the $7.50 per hour. I work with 7 people in the Ponca City area in one shop, that come from Arkansas City. The reason we drive all the way to Ponca is because there are not jobs to be had in AC that pays what we can make in Oklahoma. If we had better paying jobs in our area we would stay home and fill the jobs in our area. No, we don't make $25 an hour. Some of us don't even make half that but while looking for work in our area, we chose to drive the miles and make a better wage. I am most certain if we acutally knew how many people drive from Cowley county to Wichita or Ponca City it would amaze you. Standing in the unemployment line is a scary place, especially if you have financial commitments and children to feed. And yes, I have been there. And yes I have taken lower paying jobs just to be employed. But not for long. I looked elsewhere till I could find better pay. And never did I take public assistance. If they want to fill those jobs they need to pay better wages. Or find a way to make the cost of living go down in our area. (not going to happen) I guess it depends on which part of the glass your in, on whether you think the glass is half empty or half full. Making $25 an hour, I could see the glass half full. At $7.50 an hour, I can see the glass half empty.
I enjoy listening to the band play in the park, the Arkalalah festivities, the farmer's market and having good neighbors. I enjoy playing bingo and supporting the American Legion and not the casinos.
I enjoy the freedom of choosing the church of my choice. I enjoy giving to the Salvation Army to help our citizens in need. I enjoy watching a baseball game or softball game whether it is the little tykes or the champion Cowley Tigers. And most of all I enjoy living here in Arkansas City where I have my American freedom and my privilege of free speech whereas I can write my opinion in our local newspaper.Grant WilliamsArkansas City
The glass is more than half empty! Twenty years ago or better ,non-skilled jobs paid more than $12 per hour and the dollar was much stronger at that time and when you went into a store to buy groceries for $50 dollares your basket was full and youreally needed help to your car from the sacker. $7.50 a hour just does not do it. And sir may I say those of you who have it do not pay close attention to those who do not. I am starting to think that some people around here think that you do not want those who you may call the unskilled (poor) folks to have anything because they did not take the same path you did. If you do fight harder for better wages for your town!!! and even city employee'soh yea the glass is alway's half full if you on top!
oh yea the glass is alway's half full if you on top!
