Looking at Connersville

The old hometown looks the same

Part One in a series of Look-back/forwards at Connersville, Indiana.

Local economic development director address [sic] school board

It's a high-tech, global economy that takes a highly-educated work force, Fayette County School Board members were told during their meeting Tuesday.

We've come a long way since fluoridating the water

New Economic Development Group Director Bill Konyha described the changing work force and the importance of education in an ever-changing world...[and] share[d]his thoughts on lifelong learning and the role public education plays in the community and economics.

Pull Quote: Konyha said one of the things he has noticed since coming to Connersville is "a bad image has been developed."

There is light at the end of the tunnel:

"In my first 60 days here, we have uncovered three expansion projects - one retention project and two attraction projects," he said. "I'm here to say that the economy in Connersville is not nearly as bad as people think it is."

even if there is some fuzzy math involved in treating a "retention" project as an "expansion" project.

Pull Quote 2: Manufacturing will continue to change, although it will remain a vital economic engine that drives the county, state and nation, he said.

Uh, yes. That's why 80% of the U.S. economy is services-based.

At least we got someone qualified to lead the turnaround:

Konyha said he is 56 years old and continues his education while enrolled in the equivalency [sic] of an MBA program - the Certified Economic Development program - through the University of Oklahoma.