Huron County has launched its Work Force Attraction and Retention Strategy.
County Immigration Liaison Kristin Crane explains the strategy involves five specific areas: preparing the community, particularly for new immigrants and refugees; attracting newcomers by increasing their awareness of Huron County; supporting employers in the hiring process as well as developing measures to ease the settlement process for newcomers as much as possible; and retaining and repatriating as many newcomers or previous residents to Huron County.
Crane says the population of Huron County has remained reasonable static for several years, but adds that doesn't tell the whole story because many of the people coming into Huron County are coming here to retire, not to join the work force.
Crane adds the latest census shows between 2009 and 2014, Huron County lost 2343 people, and within that number -- 2,200 people were between the ages of 18 and 44, or the prime working age. That's why the strategy focuses on that group.
The county Economic Development Department has set a goal of attracting 500 new working age people to Huron County in the next year. They are hoping to raise awareness of the strategy and Crane says they'd be happy to meeting with groups and organizations to make a presentation and get their feedback.
Crane explains, "Many of the people coming in are not entering the work force, they've already exited the work force and are choosing to settle in Huron County. That's why we're putting the focus on work force and not just people."
