11 Million Job Openings and 9 Million Jobless-What Gives? (Training May Help)

There is always a natural balance between job openings and jobless that includes a type of cushion that when wages rise additional workers may be willing to jump into the market. The article, "Job openings reach historic high of almost 11 million. Why are 9 million still jobless?" by Aimee Picchi helps us think about some of those issues. 

There are lots of different ideas and thoughts about it. Some is related to COVID concerns and some of it may be related to a desire not to work at the same level. It may also be that there is a mismatch between the types of jobs opening and the type of skills currently available in the market. 

Let us say for a moment you have high job openings but people don't have the background and right skills to engage in those jobs. That may mean higher levels of training skill and ability that helps to give people real opportunities to engage in the market are needed. No one wants to sweep floors if they can do something more meaningful (not that its not meaningful but some of those jobs might be better served by robotics to augment human labor. Its better to think of maximizing our labor to raise their value and productivity in addition to the help of normal supply and demand.)

Others may simply decide that COVID taught them about life and don't want to work because they have other sources of income (untaxed shadow market.) or have supportive partners, families or have other concerns. Others might feel they don't want to work in low wage jobs anymore but don't have the skills to move to higher paying jobs. 

This is where education and training can help. Specifically, online education can partner with companies to develop certificates and other "hands on" type trainings where classroom and work time are part of the same process (i.e. work 4 days and attend school 1 day. or other arrangement.) and then discuss what you learned about work that week as students apply concepts. 

Its just a thought. There are lots of reasons why people don't work. There always is some unemployed people but perhaps lower/removal of COVID benefits will help but so will training as well as putting people to work as self-employed could also be helpful. Point is...we need to think about tackling problems with multiple perspectives that provide a more holistic solution. 🤷

Hate Behaviors and Law Enforcement-A Need for Healthy Balance and Accountability?

 We love our police and many of us grew up wanting to be an officer to help their communities thrive and grow. Sometimes there are just bad personalities that are attracted to law enforcement and then use their position to exploit, extort and harass others. Where hate behaviors become apparent there needs to be an effort to move beyond looking in the other direction into investigatory action. We have a responsibility to root out corruption and ensure our law enforcement agencies work for the common good of society. 

First, corruption in general raises costs for everyone and exploits society for personal gain. It makes no difference if this is an officer (s) or this is a large corporation. The toll on society is increasingly apparent and the rest of us must flip the bill for everyone else. Keeping the system clean and efficient is important.

Secondly, the integrity and trust of the justice system requires us to remove bad apples quickly. We have seen protests, radical groups, and increased polarization in society. The best thing we can do is enhance the institution of policing by removing corrupted officers and promoting officers with values of integrity. 

Third, there are differences between one's personal opinion and giving advice to friends to circumnavigate the law, engaging in local harassment, and coordinated hate/bullying activity that not only has hurt kids as collateral damage but could have gotten someone injured or killed (I can go on a long time about the details but am saving that for when its important.). Once officers begin to engage in these behaviors they move from law enforcement to law violator and should have their "immunity" stripped (along with their badge. Its more than a shinny object...it has meaning and value to people and lets not allow corrupt officers to stain it.). 

Fourth, Sometimes there is more than just a single bad officer. Hate behaviors often come from a long line of poor thinking patterns and other destructive actions hidden from public conscious. Other times it could be a coordinated group of officers exploiting an unmonitored source of resources (i.e. money, sex, extortion, etc...).

Fifth, we cannot fix policing and restore trust without accountability. We are a single nation of people and we must act as though all life is precious. The primary purpose of law enforcement is to protect and serve and who they are protecting and serving should be doing so following universal concepts that make our country great. 

We owe it to the other victims to take concerns seriously. 

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." - Benjamin Franklin

Delta County Business Development Monies-USDA Seeks Applications to Spur Job and Economic Growth in Rural Areas

There are monies available for U.P. businesses. Specifically Delta County Michigan is an under developed location with beautiful waterfront, affordable downtown commercial buildings, and lots of outdoor recreation. Those interested in starting a new business might want to consider the 200K ish to buy and start a business in downtown Escanaba or Gladstone. The area is in the process of being developed and some positive changes have also encourage local governance to make some adjustments to improve upon the business climate (DC Start Ups and Esky-Glad Downtown). 

From a theoretical perspective this piece would be part of the financial and non-financial aspects of drawing business interest to the area. Local governments may also want to consider adjusting their websites to attract business and investment interests. DC Financial Info.

The following was taken from Congressman Bergman's 1st District newsletter. 

Washington - The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development announced that the department is accepting loan and grant applications for projects that create jobs and economic growth in rural communities. Funds are being made available under the Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant (REDLG) program.

Through the REDLG program, USDA provides zero-interest loans and grants to Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Electric Program and Telecom Program borrowers who will use the funds to help local businesses finance projects that will create and retain jobs. Projects must be located in rural areas or towns with a population of 50,000 or less.

Funds may be used to support:

• business startup costs;

• business expansion;

• business incubators;

• technical assistance feasibility studies;

• advanced telecommunications services and computer networks for medical, educational and job training services; and

• community facilities projects that spur economic development.

Eligible applicants include current, former and potential borrowers of Rural Development's Electric Program and Telecommunications Program.

Applications are being accepted continuously with funding competition deadlines on Sept. 30, 2021; Dec. 31, 2021; March 31, 2022; and June 30, 2022.

Applications submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. local time on the deadline dates to the USDA Rural Development State Office where the project is located and will compete for the available REDLG funds in that quarter.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their local USDA Rural Development State Office well in advance of the application deadline to ask questions about their project, the program or the application process.

Additional information is available on page 50015 of the Sept.7, 2021, Federal Register. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page

Below is from the USDA Website

What does this program do?

The Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program provides funding for rural projects through local utility organizations. USDA provides zero-interest loans to local utilities which they, in turn, pass through to local businesses (ultimate recipients) for projects that will create and retain employment in rural areas. The ultimate recipients repay the lending utility directly. The utility then is responsible for repayment to USDA.
 

USDA provides grants to local utility organizations which use the funding to establish Revolving Loan Funds (RLF). Loans are made from the revolving loan funds to projects that will create or retain rural jobs. When the revolving loan fund is terminated, the grant is repaid to USDA.

 

Who may apply to this program?

To receive funding (which will be forwarded to selected eligible projects), an entity must be:

• A former Rural Utilities Service borrower who borrowed, repaid or pre-paid an insured, direct or guaranteed loan.
• Nonprofit utilities that are eligible to receive assistance from the Rural Development Electric or Telecommunication Programs.
• Current Rural Development Electric or Telecommunication Programs borrowers.

What is an eligible area?

Intermediaries may use funds to lend for projects in rural areas or towns with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents. 

How much funding is available to local utilities?

• Up to $300,000 in grants may be requested to establish the Revolving Loan Funds.
• Up to 10 percent of grant funds may be applied toward operating expenses over the life of the Revolving Loan Fund.
• Up to $1 million in loans may be requested.

 

The local utility applies to USDA for funding support on behalf of specified local projects. Projects may begin after an application is submitted, but there is no guarantee of approval. USDA funds are issued to the local utility at project completion.

 

What are the terms for the local utility?

• 10 years at 0 percent interest.
• Grants require a 20 percent match from the local utility.
• Grants must be repaid to USDA upon termination of the Revolving Loan Fund.

How may funds be used?

The local utility passes the funding to ultimate recipients for such eligible projects as:

• Business incubators.
• Community development assistance to nonprofits and public bodies (particularly for job creation or enhancement).
• Facilities and equipment to educate and train rural residents to facilitate economic development.
• Facilities and equipment for medical care for rural residents.
• Start-up venture costs, including, but not limited to, financing fixed assets such as real estate, buildings, equipment or working capital.
• Business expansion.
• Technical assistance.

 

NOTE: 7 CFR, Part 4280.27 and 7 CFR, Part 4280.30 list ineligible uses.

 

How much funding is available to business and community borrowers (the ultimate recipients) through the Revolving Loan Fund?

An ultimate recipient may request up to 80 percent of project costs using these funds, with the remainder provided by the ultimate recipient or the local utility.

 

What are the terms on the loan to the ultimate recipient?

• The interest rate is 0 percent.
• Up to 80 percent of project costs; 20 percent must be provided by the ultimate recipient or the local utility.
• The local utility may incorporate interest rates or administrative loan fees after the funds have been loaned out and revolved once. First-time loans are at 0 percent interest.
• Repayment may be deferred up to two years for projects including a start-up venture or Community Facilities project.

How do we get started?

Applications for this program are accepted through your local office year-round. You should work with your local office to acquire the documents needed to submit an application.

 

Who can answer questions?

Contact your local office.

 

What law governs this program?

• Basic Program – Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR, Part 4280.
• Loan/Grant Servicing – Code of Federal Regulations, 7 CFR, Part 4280 and 2 CFR Part 200.
• This program is authorized by the Rural Electrification Act of 1936.

Why does USDA Rural Development do this?

Rural Development undertakes this program in order to promote rural economic development and job creation projects.

 

NOTE: Because citations and other information may be subject to change, please always consult the program instructions listed in the section above titled “What law governs this program?” You may also contact your local office for assistance.

 

Why Business Students Should Understand and Apply Theory (Industry-University Co-Development)

 Theory is one of those things that helps us understand the bigger picture but in and of itself must rely on working knowledge of how things function on the ground. One of the criticisms of higher education is that students might come with theory but not with practicality. Some of that is related to experience and some of that to exposure. Learning to apply theory within advance business education helps to make practicality out of what would considered "pie in the sky" thinking. 

Let me say theory is not useless. It helps us create a mental model of how something works. When someone understands theory they are able to create abstractions of events in order to better adjust the factors toward a more beneficial end. 

There are some theories that have been consistently tested to have a level of accuracy and in turn are able to be used by most practitioners with working knowledge. Other theories are unknown and obscure and may only partially explain events. The practical and theoretical can be best buds!

Innovative environments lead to new theories and models that help to explain what is occurring. Graduating students that hope to work in innovative environments should have both practical knowledge and theoretical knowledge in a way that leads to actual application. 

Industry specific knowledge can be helpful when students know the type of field they want to work in. As our economy innovates and there are greater pressures for new products and outcomes one will also want to think about helping graduating students move helpful theories into practical application within their workplace (one might also say take practical theories found in business and then create working models that can be taught to other students. Its a reciprocal process.)

Greater connection between industry and business will help not only discover new theories forming within business but also be able to develop, test and share those theories in other places. 

September 18th 2021 Capitol Rally of Concern to Authorities-Justice for J6

 I'm watching this video and protests are expected around the capitol and am concerned about a dangerous underbelly that has been given a free hand over the past 20 years. The most concerning part of this is the discussion that they may hit Jewish Centers and other liberal outlets while police are preoccupied with the capitol issues. There is some discussion on the Capitol Police Board and what security measures they will make. Planning for multiple scenarios. (This is where strategy is important.)

Just a few thoughts. First I would say that security of the Capitol is important and planning for what might be expected and for multiple unknowns is important (If the 💩 hits the fan being in the place of most options is beneficial) . Its helpful to be flexible and have the right people in place to not only protect the capitol but also to have mobile police units that can be used to either support the capitol and/or deal with issues that arise on the streets (Not to mention removable security perimeter fencing, appropriate equipment support, significant undercover officers with group disruption capabilities i.e. smoke, flash and LRAD, and multiple methods of building extraction.). 

Secondly, attacking Jewish centers is not what this country stands for. As a Muslim-Catholic conservative (with lots of liberal personal friends) I'm appalled that we still think like that and we are allowing the voices of hate to spread (Meaning ways to handle hate at the community level. There is a strategy to local involvement because it doesn't appear to be from top down but from bottom up engagement as a total national organism. Federal engagement can be an additional support when needed.). We may have our own way of living and worshiping but attacking others for their faith is anti-American at its core. Whatever, our political beliefs are we must not seek scapegoats for political/social anger! 

I'm sorry to hear that the Jewish people are being put in harms way because of the radical beliefs of some (Why we need our politicians to find a better way of handling insurrection and extremism issues.). I hope very much that we are able to manage these issues (and hopefully everything is peaceful.) before they become bigger issues down the road. Its time to find ways to handle domestic terrorism issues in ways that are forceful and helpful to our long term national unity. Our values of protecting other's ability to worship as they see fit as essential to our universal American principles (No matter the religion or the perpetrators.). 

Does Weaker Consumer Demand Help the U.S. Market?

I'm reading a Bloomberg article entitled 'How Weaker Consumer Demand Could Help the U.S. Economy' by Karl Smith. There is some discussion on 2022 being a stronger year. The article further discusses a decrease in consumer demand and less pressure on wages that decreases inflationary pressure. Its a great article and it got me thinking about wages and investments in innovation. 

The best of both worlds is that those who want to find a good job while at the same time being pushed to develop our wearable technologies, robotics, and other production enhancements. Strong wages and improved productivity can go well together in finding that balance between improving labor's economic share while at the same time being able to draw additional international investment interest. 

Our next national path is likely to be based in our ability to improve on our human capital through education/training and labor enhancements that increase manufacturing diversity and keep costs competitive. Technology and ability can lead to attracting businesses that want to be on the leading edge of manufacturing and have the skilled labor to make it happen. 

I'm thinking about what we would look like as an advanced manufacturing nation (cutting edge products and cheaper mass production regional/allied partners). It would mean highly skilled labor, new investments, new manufacturing technologies and next generation products that eventually move to mass production (Maximizing R&D returns and creating a longer tail for taxes and wages. Thus, improving the ability to reinvest in our infrastructure further to create net positive returns that enhances business growth and international draw.)

Either way, the article is thought provoking and the author does a great job sort of thinking out of the box on these issues. I suspect that if a new variant of COVID doesn't arise to slow us down the pressure could push us to adjust upward in our development as a re-emerging manufacturing powerhouse.  Let us see what 2022 brings us....we are almost there! I think 2023 will be a very interesting year for U.S. business interests.

Delta County Firefighters Help Train With Other Departments

Volunteers Training

Every community needs firefighters and a dedicated crew of first responders. Delta County is a rural place with beautiful waterfront and lots of opportunity. Full time firefighters are often connected with local public safety and a wider group of volunteers. Escanaba Township Fire Department engages in a lot of free training for and with the other departments in the area. The department is centrally located and often donate older equipment to small area departments when they can raise enough funds to buy newer equipment. 

For example, they received a donated truck but need to cover the expenses so that is an opportunity to get a placard on it or something showing your company's patronage. So if your a company and/or government entity that has a few extra bucks Escanaba Township Fire Department would be one of the best places to donate (I keep thinking a regional training yard for police, fire departments, and other uses would be helpful but that is just an opinion. One would have to get into the feasibility issues. We are located next to the National Forest, Water, Ice, Rural, etc...making for multi environmental training opportunities.). Many of the other departments would also be more than willing I'm sure to update their equipment and training opportunities. Volunteers are also needed!

FEMA offers helpful resources and articles on firefighting fatalities and statistics. FEMA Research