Jottings

There seems to be some interesting things going on in the area. Governor Tim Pawlenty was in town today to ceremoniously sign the bonding bill again. The Albert Lea Tribune has a story.

Then I see that the JobZ program was back on the front burner at the Capitol yesterday with former Rep Dan Dorman testifying. the Albert Lea Tribune and In-Forum have stories.


After reading what the wages being paid in Cass County in the In-Forum article ..
Quote

Gail Leverson, Cass County Economic Development Corporation’s executive
director, gave a list of businesses that have used the JOBZ tax-break program,
including one that produced 52 workers.
“JOBZ was their main motivation to
locate in Cass County,” she said.
Another business has 72 workers, with a
nearly $15 per hour wage average.
A third example was a mental health care
business that pays more than $22 an hour in wages and benefits, which she called
“an exceptionally high wage rate for Cass County.”
Leverson said she doesn’t
seek out just any job when recruiting businesses.
“I look for things that are
year-around jobs,” she said.
Cass County’s unemployment rate is twice the
state’s average and, like most of rural Minnesota, wages are lower than in the
Twin Cities.
Cass County JOBZ jobs are “higher than the average income for
low-income counties,” Leverson said.

I for one have to wonder what the average wages of employees of company's that have the jobZ zone in Albert Lea and Freeborn county area are?

Finally I see that Rep. Tim Walz wants to revamp GI Bill ,MPR has the story