KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports, classifieds-More jobs coming to Mississippi County, say some

More jobs coming to Mississippi County, say some

by Stan Morris e-mail | Twitter

BLYTHEVILLE, AR (KAIT) - Mississippi County is finally on the receiving end of good economic news. Region 8 News is told Tenaris Hickman is adding almost 450 jobs - some already filled and some yet to be opened.

It's great news for Blytheville, surrounding communities and the whole county. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Mississippi County has an 11% unemployment rate in the latest reading from October, 2009. In Northeast Arkansas, only Clay County has a number that high (also 11%). It is among the highest in the state.

At staffing agency Staffmark Branch Manager Cori Freeman has seen the worst of the economy first hand and says news like this is what the county desperately needs. "We hope that this is just the beginning; that the other industry will follow," she says.

Since the recession set in, Tenaris had reportedly cut jobs. Freeman says Milwaukee Electric Tool Plant's shutdown have hurt the area and cost it hundreds of jobs. Others in the area also shut their doors.

But, when we talked to Freeman about new jobs coming to the area, she said it was great news for the area and for its residents.

"It should help a lot of people get back to work," she commented. "I think that there are good hard workers here. I think that there are people here that really need a job [and] need employment."

Freeman says while the companies benefit from hardworking people in the area, the people benefit in a more obvious way by having jobs.

Blytheville's Staffmark will be hosting a job fair Thursday, December 17 at the Holiday Inn from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., where numerous new jobs from the area will be available.

Jobs from Staffmark are also posted on the Region 8 Joblink (click to activate).

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