It's intended to encourage businesses to hire at least one employee this year.
An initiative to try to bring down the unemployment rate was launched in Frederick County on Thursday. Called "Frederick Works: One Job At A Time," it's an effort to encourage businesses to hire at least one new employee. "The idea is to get a percentage of our local businesses, and our goal is to shoot for 1,000 businesses out of about 8500 businesses in Frederick County, to hire just one person," says Laurie Holden, Director, Frederick County Workforce Services.
She says similar campaigns are underway in other cities, mainly Washington DC, Atlanta, Ga., and Greensboro, NC.
Economists estimate that one new hire increases the gross domestic product by $100,000.
It's a chance to help make a dent in the unemployment, and to show that, despite the grim economic news, companies are still hiring, Holden says. "Just as we hear a lot of negative press about the economy and about jobs, the fact is that businesses are hiring. People are getting jobs. This initiative is thank those businesses that are hiring, perhaps have it be contagious, and to get more people back to work," she says.
In addition to Frederick County Workforce Services, "Frederick Works! One Job At A Time" has the support of the Workforce Development Board, the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Frederick Department of Economic Development and the Frederick County Economic Development Office. It was officially launched on Thursday during the Commissioners' morning worksession.
Holden says it's certainly generating some interest. "One person has signed up on our website, which was launched this afternoon (Thursday). This morning (Thursday), I reported to the Commissioners I knew of 16. And since I've been talking today (Thursday) in different places, I have a few more," says Holden.
Anyone who wants to sign up on line can go to www.FrederickWORKS.com/onejob. There's also plenty of information on the website about "Frederick Works! One Job At A Time."
Holden says businesses which participate will be honored at an event at a later date. Employers who take part will get a letter thanking them for participating, a window decal to post at their business recognizing them as part of "One Job At A Time," and, if they wish, their name will be publicized on the program's website.
