Monday, September 01, 2014

Hooper calls on Cocke County officials to improve local workforce
As the NewsSource reported last week, a number of local officials were sworn into office on Friday. Circuit Judge Ben Hooper called on them to do their best. He again pointed out that Cocke County has problems with it's workforce, which he said is currently ranked at 92nd. out of the 95 counties in Tennessee. "Now you all are gonna be talking about business, everybody talks about jobs. Crystal Ottinger, all of you....until we do something to get a labor force in this county, don't expect to have anybody coming in. Who would want to come here now when you don't have anybody to work?" The judge went on to say those who are good workers go primarily to Hamblen and Sevier Counties to work. Judge Hooper said he was recently told that the largest employer in Cocke County is the education system. The Cocke County Legislative Body recently voted to end funding for economic development and tourism promotion in the county at the end of the year. The outgoing CLB discussed the possibility of setting up new economic development and tourism programs but the new budget does not include funding for such efforts. Mayor Ottinger told the audience she is hopeful the new county officials will work to change the county's reputation and improve the local workforce. "We will do what it takes to make Cocke County a better place," she told the audience.


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