After posting a response this morning, on another blog dealing with the paper mill, and re-reading my post as very dismal and dreary, I thought it might be more appropriate to repost the subject in a more uplifting mood.
Many folks from town who are concerned about their futures and the future of our area have posted many very good suggestions or requested viewpoints on how we might "help ourselves" out by improving the job/work enviornment of the area. I distinctly remember MamaG, BPARS, Laurel, kay, the Journal Staff and many others making good suggestions or asking for opinions on anyone having any suggestions for improving our lot. Seldom, does it seem, was there much enthusiasm or comment made to their requests for ideas. There may be many reasons for this apathy on our part but the two reasons that keeps coming to mind is that we just don't care or we are to afraid to even consider the possibility of something bad happening.
I thought I would just list some things proposed or in the works that shed some light on good things for some persons in the community
1.Fish company Have suggested a manpower of 35-40
and even more.
2.River project Have suggested a manpower of 35 or
even ore.
3.VNP Have suggested a phase in of 70+
new campsites. Possibly more trails
Obviously will provide for more visitors
4.Border Patrol Announcement of an increase in personal
of 35 more workers.
5.Local govt. Several depts have announced the
addittion of new hires in the city and
county
6.Pellet plant No plans that I know of but the idea has
been thought of and would be a good
as the pellet stove business is going
strong and we do have the timber
and business in the area that can
provide plenty of wood for pellets.
Possible hires 150-200 or more.
7.FTZ Unknown. Project is still being
developed but holds very good
promise for truckers and material
handlers and stock personal. It has
been said we have the largest
cargo influx into the US from Canada
through our "port of entry".
8.Plasma gasification Unknown but also promising for new
new hires. after all any "plant" of
this size requires workers, some of
them skilled.
These are just those ideas, of recent discussion, that come to mind. Things don't look "that" bleak. I'll bet we can come up with the possibility of a good bit more then 600-700 workers that will be needed around here just from the above mentioned new enterprise ideas if we don't get overly greedy and want the pants to fit like the old pair of pants fit. If this is the case, we should pay more attention and give more support to these new ideas, after all they are no skin off our butts and could be the livesaver we might need if we fall on that area of our body.
