McPherson County was named the 18th least economically stressed county in the country, according to the Associated Press Economic Stress Index released earlier this month.
The index is based off of statistics gathered in June of this year.
According to the AP, the index, “...measures the relative impact of the recession and its recovery by integrating the cumulative effects of three economic indicators: unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcy.” It assigns a ranking from zero to 100, with the latter number being the worst case scenario. McPherson County scored 5.29. The least stressed county in the nation, Ward County N.D., scored a 3.85.
According to data from AP, McPherson County, population 29,044, has an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent, a foreclosure rate of 0.01 percent and a bankruptcy rate of 0.71 percent. In October 2007, the county had a stress index of 3.29 percent.
McPherson Industrial Development Company (MIDC) Executive Director Marvin Peters said the ranking comes as no surprise.
“(This has) been consistent. The Kansas Department of Commerce used to put out a survey. At one time McPherson was first or second,” Peters said. “Our industries have held up pretty well. Some are hiring now, while others indicate they will later.”
Peters said number 18 in the nation was a ”pretty good place to be.”
McPherson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Burch was also happy with the ranking.
“It’s great news,” Burch said. “I’ve always heard we’re conservatively progressive here, and it’s a true and accurate statement about our community. Because of our conservative nature, we’ve been able to weather the recession.”
Kansas counties made up one-fourth of the least stressed counties, while 12 out of the 20 most stressed counties are located in California.
“McPherson, in general, and the State of Kansas, have been in the news with positive accolades as being one of the best states to do business in,” Burch said. “I think that really trickles down locally, as well.”
|
|
|
McPherson County was named the 18th least economically stressed county in the country, according to the Associated Press Economic Stress Index released earlier this month.
The index is based off of statistics gathered in June of this year.
According to the AP, the index, “...measures the relative impact of the recession and its recovery by integrating the cumulative effects of three economic indicators: unemployment, foreclosures and bankruptcy.” It assigns a ranking from zero to 100, with the latter number being the worst case scenario. McPherson County scored 5.29. The least stressed county in the nation, Ward County N.D., scored a 3.85.
According to data from AP, McPherson County, population 29,044, has an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent, a foreclosure rate of 0.01 percent and a bankruptcy rate of 0.71 percent. In October 2007, the county had a stress index of 3.29 percent.
McPherson Industrial Development Company (MIDC) Executive Director Marvin Peters said the ranking comes as no surprise.
“(This has) been consistent. The Kansas Department of Commerce used to put out a survey. At one time McPherson was first or second,” Peters said. “Our industries have held up pretty well. Some are hiring now, while others indicate they will later.”
Peters said number 18 in the nation was a ”pretty good place to be.”
McPherson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Burch was also happy with the ranking.
“It’s great news,” Burch said. “I’ve always heard we’re conservatively progressive here, and it’s a true and accurate statement about our community. Because of our conservative nature, we’ve been able to weather the recession.”
Kansas counties made up one-fourth of the least stressed counties, while 12 out of the 20 most stressed counties are located in California.
“McPherson, in general, and the State of Kansas, have been in the news with positive accolades as being one of the best states to do business in,” Burch said. “I think that really trickles down locally, as well.”
