Posted by
ricaler on Sunday, October 28, 2007 9:39:15 PM
Salem takes another economic punch this past week by the announcement that the Tecumseh plant has been sold. No other information is available to the 350 workers that are employed there. The community is holding it's collective breath as details from the new owners are released.
So who will offer Salem an economic lifeline? A job loss of that magnitude would cripple our already hobbling local economy. With property taxes already a burden and high local utilities, what company would want to set up shop? The glory days of 200 employee sized factories is over. Small business is the rule of the day...and we've not been effective in drawing many of these.
Salem has made progress over the past few years, the schools are modern, the YMCA, Senior Center, and Learning Center are attractive and helpful for quality of life. A new CVS and new Rite-Aid gave us a much needed facelift. The new Jay C is progressing, but not as fast as some would like. The State has been helping as the improved 135 South roadway is under construction. (note to Marcia Walker at Salem Leader...how many properties and/or homes were purchased for the improvement?) Another road improvement project will soon start on SR 56 from High Street east to Rubber Hill road. This project will displace a few homes and their residents during construction and when finished, will provide for better traffic flow from the east. It also anticipates the proposed bypass project. (another note to Ms. Walker...see if you can determine the number of homes involved in this "new controversial roadway project"?)
Lower local taxes would be a great benefit, but unlikely to happen. An interstate highway would be great too!, but is out of the question as we're a little off the beaten path.
There is a group of people working to achieve the same ends as having an interstate on-off ramp located right in Salem; that would be the local airport officials and some in city government. Support from the state level has also been forthcoming. My research shows that a twofold to tenfold increase in local economic activity is achieved by a business class airport. (economic impact data source: Aviation Association of Indiana 2003) According to an airport source, the project itself would pump upwards of $20 million dollars into the local economy. Why more local residents are unaware of this is understandable given the biased press coverage it's generated. However, my hat is off to these guys for helping throw a lifeline. Just wonder if anyone will be there to grab hold?