depends on what you are looking for in work

I've been looking for work in the immediate area to relocate and there's not anything available that would provide the income and hours I need to sustain a place to live and everything else life throws at you.

I've checked the careerbuilder site frequently and I hardly ever see anything for Elwood. You might check the site for RedGold.

I check careerbuilder and Monster Jobs DAILY and there is NOTHING ever available in Elwood. I have also checked Red Gold, but nothing really available for first shift. I just dont get it. I would be willing to travel to Anderson maybe but not any further. It takes anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour (sometimes longer) to get to work everyday, and just as long coming home. That is time that I could be spending at home with my family, not on the road. I realize that a paycut will more than likely be an issue, but what do you do? Ya know the phrase, "Another day, another dollar"? Well, it should be "Another day, another quarter", because with gas prices, that seems to be only what I am making.

I just wondered if anyone knew of any office jobs in any of the factories, or car dealerships around town. With State Plating closing, I am sure I wont be the only one looking for work in Elwood. Its just a shame that there arent more jobs in town for the citizens that live here.

Thanks again for any ideas that are thrown my way!!

Call center in Anderson. Its on the front page of this site. Positions will pay an average of $10 per hour. AGAPE plans to begin hiring immediately. If interested in employment with AGAPE, please direct an email to Apply@AGAPEcomUSA.com or check www.AGAPEIndiana.com after May 15.

Great! Thank you soo much~will be doing that next!

The city of Elwood is in bad shape financially. It needs to be marketed to large corporations. Being less than 30 minutes either way of I69 and Hwy 31 would be an advantage to any company looking for a place to open up shop here.

This city is in a complete financial crisis! No jobs here, people can't afford to drive out of town to work, people can't afford the groceries in this town...truckers are paying more for their fuel to transport our goods therefore the prices go up, and then the whole ethanol deal is hurting the food market now....it was suppose to be this GREAT thing huh? The city does need to market to bigger corporations to better us financially, but wait they would probably just get a tax abatement like every other bigger factory or corporation in Elwood. Why does Red Gold always get these huge tax abatements!?! For fear that they might leave Elwood???? Doubt it...they are not going anywhere, they have too much money invested in their machines, buildings, etc. here...this is a GREAT location for them, so they will not leave....why hurt OUR community to give them a BREAK! If someone knows more about this please clear it up for me, but I think we are hurting ourselves by giving this abatement to them year after year after year. My only other possible solution is to downsize from a "City" status to a "Town" status....we are obviously living above our means as a "City" now and no one can afford anything....as a "Town" there are so many more grants and funds our community can receive....for example Westfield (much bigger than Elwood) is still a "Town"...and they do GREAT compared to us! Edgewood, Pendleton, are Towns...we are in a good location to expand to certain businesses or corporations, we just have to handle business as business and quit trying to make friends and start thinking about the CITY for a change....Elwood is going nowhere and fast! Someone needs to do something! Thanks for listening!

Why doesnt Elwood charge for their ambulance service on all their runs and not just on the ones outside the city limits? Wouldnt this be a way for Elwood to make some money? I know that several of the surrounding cities charge for their service and I have always wondered why Elwood doesnt? Just a thought....

Maybe having ALL City Council meetings, regular and special' put on here as the Special Board of Works meeting was could be one way to get the information out so everyone that can't make it to the meetings due to working, etc. but are interested in our City can “see” what “OUR” elected officials are doing instead of reading only parts of the meetings in the paper. This could be one way to hold accountable our Council members to there campaign promises that were made at election time.

That Question has been asked by alot of people. The answer that keeps coming up is that not billing for ambulance service helps bring people to Elwood. Some of us ask back..... That if thats the case then why are we in so much trouble because the city should be full of people coming from other cities that charge. Just thinking out loud.

I couldnt agree with you MORE! Gas prices just rose to $3.84 here in Carmel. I am scared! I am scared for my future, for my kids, for everything. My husband is a firefighter and the city is to cut $1.5 million!!! Well what does that mean for his job, his career, his life, the time he has invested???? Where does that stand for my family?

I CANT afford the groceries in this town. Marsh can change their name and change the layout of their store, but Im sorry, they are still too expensive for me. I used to drive out of town to get my groceries at (I know you all hate it) Walmart, but I cant even afford to do that anymore because of the gas prices. Is saving a few bucks really worth the amount I am paying for gas?

Changing Elwood to a town really does seem to be the better deal than naming it a "CITY", especially if it means more grants, etc.

You can't just choose to downsize to a town, that status is based on population and a lot of other factors. Also, Westfield is a city now, they elected their first mayor last year! No city, town or community in Madison County can ever be compared to those in Hamilton County, it just does not add up! I agree, our city does need to do something, but until everyone gets off their butts and votes for their city officials, this is how it will be. I worked the election last May and voter turnout for the election was HORRIBLE! Alot of men and women died for our right to vote, it is extremely disrespectful to them when people don't use that right! I hear so many people say, "oh well, my vote don't count" well when you have everyone saying that, and not voting, this is what happens. When it comes to electing our city officials, your vote does count. And for those that say they don't want to register because they don't want to get called for jury duty...COME ON...they don't even go by that anymore, if you have a drivers license, you can get called up for jury duty! Not to mention the fact, how rude, people are worried about jury duty when we have all these men and women spending so much time away from their loved ones defending our freedom! One way we can help is to start attending the council meetings, providing suggestions and ideas on how to save money or make money! I am totally for the charge on trash pickup, we are one of very few cities that still has free trash pick up. Another thing, take a look at the truck our street commissioner drives! OMG, how much does gas cost for that thing? Is it really necessary for him to have a truck that size? Another thing that could help would be for our Economic Development Director to quit holding his sons hand while he is on the council, and actually do his own job and get businesses here! There is one current business wanting to expand and make a national headquarters in Elwood, and one potential business that has requested help in finding space that could provide 30-40 jobs in Elwood, yet rumor is, neither have received call backs in about 6 months. WHY is he not contacting them and getting this going! The former Economic Director had Walgreens very close to opening in Elwood and informed the current director of this potential option...What to happened to that? If I was not doing my job, I would be let go for sure! Why is the city not looking at his work, or lack thereof, yet he is being paid for what we the citizens see as NOTHING! Also, what is this I keep hearing that about the city paying a lawyer to sit in court for all hearings, making close to $60K a year...WHY is that necessary? We also have other businesses that are not considered in the city, don't want annexed in, yet, they milk off our city water and sewage...Start charging these businesses for this this or they can hook up to the well! There are many choices we as the citizens of Elwood make that also contribute to the status our city is in. We need to stop ranting and raving on blogs and actually attend the meetings and make the suggetions and work together as a city to redeem ourselves before the state has to take over! I apologize that this is so long, but I have sat back and kept my mouth shut long enough and had to get it all out!

Ok, Now that you got that out of your system, I would like to add a few comments about what you said. First off, let me say that Elwood's financial problems are pretty much the same as every other small town in America right now. Jobs are leaving this country at an alarming rate the past few years. Our dollar is collapsing and our federal government is spending us into bankruptcy. It looks like our craving for cheap imports is finally catching up with us. Our lack of jobs can be blamed on the federal government through over regulation and higher corporate taxes than other countries and Agreements like, NAFTA, CAFTA, and AFTA which actually encourage corporations to leave here. A lot of whats wrong with Elwood's finances is beyond the local city employees control. To say that the
Economic Development Director needs to quit holding his sons hand while he is on the council, and actually do his own job and get businesses here is not being quite fair. I have been over at the city building several times in the past couple of years and I have to say that hes not just sitting around doing nothing. He always seems busy doing something when I have been in there. Meetings, Seminars, ect. The biggest problem Bill has is no business wants to open 30 miles from anywhere when they know you will drive to them. When people quit going there then they will come here to get your business. But lets face it folks, that ain't gonna happen. Until you start complaining at the federal level, don't expect any changes for the better here. Current trends tell us its just going to get worse.

Al Jordan

It is true that the Economic Development Director needs to do more to lure businesses to the city. We're lucky that CVS is going to be expanding, but look at all of the prime real estate on SR 37 that businesses could have a field day with. Especially out in front of K-Mart and the old Timber Roots property. The fact is you need to get out and let people know that Elwood WANTS to grow and doesn't want to turn into another ghost town. Market the city! That means the seminars, meetings, etc, need to be turned into progress, not just resume building.

Ok let me start by saying: 1) I have always voted and 2) I thought thats what blogs were for (for venting) and expressing opinion, after all that is what you did correct? I too worked the election last May and you are indeed correct, voter turnout was TERRIBLE! My suggestions were for mere opinion to see if it would motivate people to become more involved. I do attend the coucil meetings and listen to what is being done in this city! As I will for sure be in attendance again this evening just as last night! I do not know the answer to Elwood's problem as I am sure nor do you or anyone else in the City...I personally believe that it is compilation of lots of factors. People are leaving Elwood left and right...look at all the vacant houses...our population is dwindling, no one wants to move here...there is nothing drawing families to purchase homes here...there are few if any job openings, the school academics seem to always be on probation or on the verge/borderline or below average...sooo frusterating. I guess at this point not only am I frusterated but I am a bit overwhelmed at how bad of shape the city is in fact in. At last night's council mtg my eyes were opened wider than before. On Monday the council was told that the amount the city needed to cut from the budget was 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS! Last night after all the cuts were listed (which I personally thought was a lot) the total cut was only around $300,000....wow was I shocked! What's left next...hopefully the GOvernment Finance office will pull through today otherwise tonight is gonna be a very looonnnngg mtg....the next place to cut is probably jobs...this extremely saddens me as my Mother, Father, and Husband all work for the city, not to mention friends that I would consider family! This blog is not intended to target anyone, just a citizen who is worried about the well being of their family and friends....Please keep all of this in the back of your minds and don't be afraid to attend mtgs., vote, and be a PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY!
SAD

The Economic Development Director can lure all the businesses in the world here but its a fact that most close within 3 months of opening. Why? Because people here won't support them. Why would a corporation want to open here with a reputation like that?? The answer is they won't. That's why there is so many empty buildings here. Look at the restaurant on 37 that's been opened and closed over and over again and now the building is falling apart. All of our money is being spent in foreign countries on imports because of places like Walmart so if you want a better economy here then start spending your money here! If there is no money to be made here then they will just go somewhere else as they already do. Pretty simple logic. You just have to look at the bigger picture. You can't keep buying imports and expect us to keep our jobs as well.

Al Jordan

My blog was not directed to you, I actually thrived off of your blog to get my feelings out! Your blog is what helped me realize, let it all it all out...now it is time for us to go to the meetings and let it out there! I apologize if it sounded like it was directed at you, that was not my intention at all : ) I have more to come in a bit when I get off work and have time : )

Amen Al:
I have to commute to work in Cincinnati; being home on weekends; because of exactly what you spoke of. "Out Sourcing has closed plants" weakening our manufacturing base and this has a huge ripple effect on Local & National Jobs, Demographics, Pay Scales, Economics and Social Security Insurance.

But the big picture gets even bigger.
a.) Elwood can't supply the needs of future manufacturing facilities demands; simply because of access in and out.
b.) Another stumbling block is the annexed property & tax incentives.
c.) UAW threat on business "Honda & Toyota hate this". No-One wants to deal with labor disputes "they always want more" driving business eventually out. Business is in business to make a profit.

It should not be at our expense.

Ed Spearman
28yr Manufacturing/Industrial/Process Engineer.

Our only hope is to bring in larger businesses from the outside, the chain stores. They are the only ones that DO stay open. It's the smaller family owned businesses that close within 30 days because of the cost of doing business. Yes, I agree that the imports are a joke, but even with a SMALL income, the families in this town need places to work, even if that means supporting Chinese imports as you have mentioned in the past. We're a poor city with limited resources at our fingertips, so this is the only way that we'll bring jobs and people to our community, and the marketing of the community starts at the top, with the Mayor and Economic Development Director. We've gotta do something, or the city IS going to disappear. I know as a small business owner that this is not what you want to hear Al, but younger and older families alike need places to go here in town if you expect them to want to stay here to live and work.

The people should feel like they can let post our feelings here on this blog. We can't all attend those scheduled meetings, but we can post here whenever we want. I have been working in Marion the last three years and will be switching to a new job in Noblesville next week. The fact is, there is NOTHING here in Elwood.

If all we can get is restaurants and the like.. well, bring it on!!! How about a movie theater? Big chain restaurants? Maybe a new skating rink for families, mini-golf???

What really makes me mad is the closure of the city pool again!! Finally after repairs they open it to only run for a couple months. Now what? Is it going to sit for years unused again?? That's a waste of the repairs! How about selling it to a private company to run??

I could go on... maybe I will later, I'm going to Walmart now for groceries because Marsh is too expensive.

Doesnt anyone shop at Harvest a local market?

Looks like you just proved my point about why businesses do not want to open here! There is not one of the businesses you named above that would last here because they would be too expensive as well. Why? because the people will not shop here but instead go out of town and shop because its cheaper which is actually a contributing factor to the higher cost here. If the majority goes out of town then the local business isn't doing as well so they have to raise their prices to keep operating but if everyone was shopping local then their prices would not have to be as high. Businesses would then see a potential here and the jobs would start to follow. If you would rather give your money to the ridiculously rich oil companies and the rest to China so Marsh can be the next business to close, that's your decision but I think I'll stick with the local businesses whenever I can. I think Marsh did a pretty nice job of remodeling by the way and Harvest has good meats.

Al Jordan

Al, I agree with some of what you are saying and I respect your views! However I still stand firm on my belief that it appears to alot of people in this town that the director needs to be working a little harder! I have been in my position for 12 1/2 years now, I can "seem" busy with meetings and seminars, but that does not actually mean I am working, some of those are just required nonsense. If I am not actually producing results that are there for people to see, then it appears to my boss, co-workers, and clients that I am not working and I would be replaced! Same as it appears here in this situation! We are not seeing businesses open, we watch them leave, therefore we are not seeing the results of his so called hard work. Tonights council meeting was only about the budget cuts, told the general area where cuts were made. The mayor said for now, ther will not be any layoffs, but that is not a guarantee...I keep hearing "rumors" about the fact that if there were layoffs, it would involve the police and fire departments...R U kidding me, if there is any truth to that, those are the last city employees who should ever take a cut in ANYTHING! Those positions should not even be considered for any cuts, ok, well, maybe they shouldn't go to Rickers as often and save some gas, I think they would be up for that : ) Those should be the most well respected positions in our city! When your house/business is burning, you are running out, our firemen are running in risking their lives! When you have a wreck, they are there to make sure you are ok...when your house/car/property is being vandalized, or there is a fight, etc., the police are the first ones you call and I have heard some of the nonsense they get called out for, they put up with quite a bit of crap! Yet, that does not stop people in this town from badmouthing those departments, I am beind our police and fire department 110%, I know if I ever need them, they will be there, regardless of their pay!

Regarding the job Issue: I would LOVE to have a job in my hometown, I have been driving 55 mins away for work for the past 12 years to the same job, quite frankly, I am sick of driving, but you have to go where pay is, and to be quite honest, that cannot be found in Elwood and at the rate we are going, more than likely never will be. Which brings me to shopping. I shop quite often at our local Marsh, I would shop at Marsh over Harvest any day, the prices at Marsh on majority of the items is MUCH cheaper, not to mention their service is friendly! However, Marsh is large chain, not just a local chain. Since most people in this town drive out of town to work, it is just sometimes easier to run to Walmart or Kroger on lunch, or stop on the way home, face it, their prices are great on groceries and when everyone is living on a budget these days you have no choice. I hate to say it, but it is starting to sound to me like Elwood needs a Walmart. That could possibly bring people from Alex, Tipton, Orestes, Frankton, Hobbs, Windfall etc, to shop here. They are all driving a 1/2 an hour or more away to shop there anyway, so you know they would trade that for a 10 min drive.

I was in no way saying that we HAVE to attend ALL council meetings, trust me, I know that is impossible for most of us! I leave town at 6am and don't get home until 5:45 pm, I am the mother of 2 young children, my hubby works crazy hours so I am normally on my own with all the evening chores of dinner, homework, baths etc. On top of that I coach softball and am involved in 4-H! Yet the funny thing is, I still find time or make time to be involved in commuinty events and attend meetings as often as I possibly can.

Of course this site is for blogging, that is what I am doing, I am only saying we all collaborate and come up with these suggestions and ideas, but we need to start also getting these points across to the local government. This is why I am saying if you want to see a change, start encouraging people to vote! The only way for change is for us to vote that change in, obviously what we have is not working out. If people don't vote, they have NO RIGHT to complain about the officials, they lose that right when they choose not to vote at all! And to those that do vote, keep it up! It take 5 mins of our precious time to cast those votes! We have a very important election coming up in November, I would love to see voter turnout in Elwood be increased, yes it is not for our local government, but we are voting for our Governer & President!

Elwood DOES need a Walmart. It wouldn't have to be a giant supercenter. I shop at Walmart on my way home from work if I am purchasing alot of things. However, I live close to Harvest and frequently shop there as well. I'm really grateful they are so close and open late! I also shop at Marsh if I am out that way, but I cannot afford to purchase the same amount of food there as I do at Walmart. Besides, Walmart has everything else I need to get too.

If Walmart came to Elwood it would create alot of new jobs. I really doubt Marsh would pull out if we got a Walmart.

If Elwood had a movie theater I wouldn't have to drive out of town to take my kids to the show.

I also do my fair share of shopping at the local Marsh or Harvest. I am just saying I do the BULK of grocery shopping at Walmart, you cant beat it. With gas, daycare, diapers and everything else, I am glad that the Walmarts are there, but I am also glad that I have Marsh and Harvest!! Parents with young children, especially that have to buy formula or diapers, know the difference in prices between Marsh and Walmart. Please dont think that I dont spend plenty at the businesses in Elwood, because I do. Kmart, CVS, Marsh, Harvest, they are all convenient, and I frequent them often. I just recently bought all of my beautiful flowers and a new tree at Harvest!!!

Can anyone tell me how the Council Finance committee cuts a little over $300,000 AND tells where it came from, but when they say the Clerk / Treas says she cut over $900,000 more I have to ask where did “THAT” come from? For years it has been said the City has no money for equipment, raises, and ways to entice new businesses to town. Now all of a sudden, out of the Blue, everything stays the same with that cut? No one lost equipment, jobs, pay? That make it look like there has been a lot of wasted money spent over the years.

PLEASE could the city post where that money was cut from?

As to the pool, I wish it could have stayed open, but if it were a private owned business, it would have been closed a long time ago. It has LOST money for years. It has been said the pool LOST over $40,000 last year alone. I would love to see it back open, but not if its going to lose money for the city. The Mayor and Parks Dept tried to do what they could to save it and make it an asset. But when you have to make cuts you have to start with money losing items. If it were up to me, I think it would be better to close the pool than to start laying city employees off.

I agree with the why the Street Comm. Needs a “MONSTER TRUCK”. The street commissioners in past years did not have anything even close to that and did just fine. I did not see it doing anything to help improve the roads this winter that was different than years past.

Skating rinks and movie theaters in town would be great. Tipton and Alex both show that even a small theater open just a few days a week, playing top shows in the 2nd or 3rd week of runs, and in older buildings can make it. And I remember a time when you had to wait in line to go skating. I see other communities that have skating rinks and they do well.

If you know of anyone that would want to come to town and build one, then play Economic Developer and draw them here. If other people did that then maybe he would start working harder. I know I would be in fear of my job and work harder if i saw people doing it for less that what I was being paid.