The past year was better for job creation in Chatham-Kent than many people think because a lot of job gains were at existing companies, according to Mayor Randy Hope.
Hope, in a year-end interview with BlackburnNews.com, says internal growth provided more than 400 new jobs.
"We had gainful employment opportunities in Chatham-Kent through business retention, we've seen companies that were struggling have turned the corner established themselves, they are hiring people," he says. "There used to be empty buildings all along Industrial (Park) Road in Tilbury, all full. Autoliv is going gangbusters hiring people and increasing production."
He says there have also been employment gains in Wallaceburg and Chatham over the past year.
Hope is still enthusiastic about the chances of attracting a major new employer over the next year, but says that does take time.
