EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County Employment and Training is seeing an increase in people using its services.
Director Tony Fuhrmann told the Madison County Board’s Grants Committee Monday that last week 32 people were in the office at the county’s Wood River Facility. He has said repeatedly that even with coronavirus restrictions loosening up, there have not been a lot of people seeking jobs or training even as employers are becoming desperate to fill positions.
He noted there was a slight uptick in last month’s unemployment rate, but because of so many other factors relating to COVID-19, the numbers are “really useless” right now.
Fuhrmann expects the picture will become clearer beginning in mid-August and September. Children are expected to go back to school full time, freeing up parents who had to stay home with them. Also affecting those numbers will be the elimination of extra unemployment incentives that, in some cases, made it more profitable for low-wage workers to stay home rather than go back to work.
MCET is preparing for the annual jobs fair it holds in conjunction with its sister agency in St. Clair County. The event is set for 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 22 at the Gateway Convention Center in Collinsville.
Fuhrmann said he expects a larger than usual participation by both employers and job-seekers.
Grants committee members on Monday also discussed the Riverbend Enterprise Zone. Walt Williams, economic development coordinator for Madison County Community Development, talked about the impact and opportunity within the zone.
Last month the group discussed the Gateway Commerce Enterprise Zone.
Williams noted both times that the zones serve different purposes. He said te Gateway Zone is a “business attractor” because of the development of the logistics industry in the area, while the Riverbend and other Madison County enterprise zones are geared toward business retention.
Madison County has four enterprise zones: Riverbend, Gateway, Southwestern and Discovery.
Enterprise zones offer incentives to developers, primarily in the form of property and sales tax incentives, investment tax credit, machinery and equipment sales tax exemptions, and a utility tax exemption.
According to data provide by Williams, the economic investment within the Riverbend Enterprise Zone increased to $21 million from $12 million five years ago.
“That’s real dollars going to our coffers,” he said.
The committee also approved submitting an application for $72 in Community Services Block Grant, which provides services to low-income families to promote self-sufficiency.
Programs include employment, education, housing, health and other support services.
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