Many of our regional issues such as poverty and crime are the result of double-digit unemployment.
The newly released Implementation Plan of the Regional Jobs Initiative is a tremendous tool that includes business, government, labor and community groups in solving our region's unemployment and underemployment. The comprehensive nature of the RJI addresses physical needs like matching workforce training to job openings, reintroducing vocational education for students not attending college and addressing government roadblocks to attracting new business. RJI also addresses invisible barriers to our community's success such as the pervasive mood of resignation, the negative attachment to "small town" and "underachiever" image, regardless of evidence to the contrary. I support and will work to implement the RJI plan as proposed. Additionally, I will encourage inclusion of the agricultural community in the next phase of the project.
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