By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel noted that Hutchinson was strengthened in the pandemic because people found what they needed closer to home.
"That return to local is so important," Teufel said. "We preach it every day, shop local, but I think people found the reason to be very deliberate with those patterns during COVID. Maybe that will be the one bright spot that we look back and say, yes, that was a turning point for our community to realize, there are wonderful businesses right here under our nose."
Teufel also said it's going to be a battle to keep our community the same size going forward.
"Population in counties like Reno County will continue to decline unless we are very deliberate about focusing on growth," Teufel said. "We've heard great examples of people that now can work from anywhere and they are choosing Reno County because of the great quality of life that we have. We promote that every day. We need people to be positive and share those positive messages about your kids coming back post college."
Teufel notes that over the last few years, the workforce in Reno County is growing, even though there are still more jobs to be had.
"We are approaching 29,000 people employed here in Reno County," Teufel said. "Four years ago, we were in the 27,000 range. Almost 2,000 more people working here today than were four years ago. That is one ingredient that's putting more pressure on the labor market. We just need more people. We have more jobs open now that we would love to fill and we need people to do that."
There are only about 117 people in Reno County right now receiving the unemployment subsidy, so there are more jobs available than people who are looking for work to fill them.