Region lost nearly 1,000 workers last year

New figures from the Kentucky Education & Labor Cabinet show that the region’s workforce dropped in 2023.

Daviess County lost 838 workers.

Hancock lost 77, McLean lost 107 and Ohio lost 24.

Muhlenberg was the only area county that saw more workers in 2023 than in 2022.

It had 102 more.

That a net loss of 944 workers.

• And unemployment rates rose in 116 counties between March 2023 and March 2024, fell in Bullitt, Fulton and Lewis counties and remained the same in Spencer County, according to the Kentucky Center for Statistics

Daviess reported a rate of 5.1% last month, compared with 5.2% in February and 4.3% a year ago.

Hancock had 5.4% in March, 5.3% in February and 4.8% a year earlier.

McLean’s rate was 5.9% last month, 6% in February and 4.7% in March 2023.

Muhlenberg saw a rate of 7.3% in March, 7.5% in February and 6% a year earlier.

And Ohio reported 6.9% in March, 7.1% in February and 5.2% in March 2023.

• Some good news for Muhlenberg County.

Thursday, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority approved $50,000 in incentives for Central Screen Printing in Central City for an expansion.

The company said it plans to spend $1.02 million on the project and increase employment by 50 jobs within three years.

It currently has 107 employees.

• The Kentucky Small Business Development Center in Owensboro is hosting a free Small Business Bootcamp from 9 a.m. to noon at the Party Space Place on Wednesday.

If you’re interested, contact Jamie Johnson at jamie.johnson@uky.edu.

• Building permits this week show one for $2.065 million to renovate Cravens Pool.

• Taco Bell is promoting its new Cantina Chicken menu with a $5 “Taco Discovery Box” on Taco Tuesdays through June 4.

The box includes a Cantina Chicken Crispy Taco, two classic tacos and a medium fountain drink.

• Jagoe Homes is starting a new residential development in Henderson.

The announcement says it will have “tree-lined homesites and water view homesites for serene living, streetlights and 5-foot wide sidewalks for added safety and convenience, six to nine acres of greenspace with a picturesque lake and walking trails.”

• Chipotle said this week that it plans to open 285 to 315 restaurants this year, on its way to doubling its store count to 7,000 locations.

• Kentucky businesses shipped a record $40.2 billion around the world last year, according to the governor’s office.

That was a 16.6% increase.