COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Outgoing Branch County Economic Growth Alliance Executive Director Lisa Miller told the Coldwater City Council on Monday night that 205 jobs were created in 2015 and that the county’s unemployment rate was between 4% and 4.5%.
Miller said when she became the executive director of the Growth Alliance in 2009, unemployment was at 14.5%.
She said in the last seven years there has been a net gain of 1,350 jobs in Branch County. In addition, there were nearly $797,000 in commercial additions in the last year.
Miller said job retention, recruitment and workforce development will be keys in 2016.
She also pointed out the seven county region in southwest Michigan has about 780,000 people and over 15,000 companies.
Miller said the region also has over 55,000 college students which she feels is a big plus for workforce development.
