For most of this decade, Polk County has rarely had more than 400 people unemployed in any given month.
Even at the height of the recession following September 11, 2001, the unemployment rolls topped out at 579, according to figures from the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
That was equal to an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent, which at the time was two to three times higher than Polks jobless rate through most of the decade.
In late 2008, a much deeper national recession began to take hold in Polk County. The jobless rate hit 6.9 percent in December of 2008 and kept rising, reaching 9.3 percent by February of 2009 and 10.2 percent by February of 2010.
Along the way, Polk lost jobs in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing. After decades of operation in the county, Grover shut down its Lynn plan in late 2008, and Woodland Mills closed its doors in early March of this year.
Despite that closure, Polk County saw in March the largest decline in the unemployment rate since the recession began, dropping 0.8 percent to 9.4 percent.
Even so, more than 900 people in Polk County remained unemployed and looking for work in the month. The construction industry, a considerable source of jobs prior to the recession, is slow to recover. The number of single family residential permits issued in Polk County in 2009 was a quarter of what was issued in 2003.
Candidates for the Polk County Board of Commissioners have said they are hearing from more people who want to see additional jobs created in the county.
As part of coverage for the May 4 primary election, theBulletin recently asked candidates to share their plans for creating more jobs in Polk County. Their answers are provided below.
Question: What, if any, specific actions would you propose to increase job opportunities in the county?

Even at the height of the recession following September 11, 2001, the unemployment rolls topped out at 579, according to figures from the N.C. Employment Security Commission.
That was equal to an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent, which at the time was two to three times higher than Polks jobless rate through most of the decade.
In late 2008, a much deeper national recession began to take hold in Polk County. The jobless rate hit 6.9 percent in December of 2008 and kept rising, reaching 9.3 percent by February of 2009 and 10.2 percent by February of 2010.
Along the way, Polk lost jobs in a variety of sectors, including manufacturing. After decades of operation in the county, Grover shut down its Lynn plan in late 2008, and Woodland Mills closed its doors in early March of this year.
Despite that closure, Polk County saw in March the largest decline in the unemployment rate since the recession began, dropping 0.8 percent to 9.4 percent.
Even so, more than 900 people in Polk County remained unemployed and looking for work in the month. The construction industry, a considerable source of jobs prior to the recession, is slow to recover. The number of single family residential permits issued in Polk County in 2009 was a quarter of what was issued in 2003.
Candidates for the Polk County Board of Commissioners have said they are hearing from more people who want to see additional jobs created in the county.
As part of coverage for the May 4 primary election, the Bulletin recently asked candidates to share their plans for creating more jobs in Polk County. Their answers are provided below.

Question: What, if any, specific actions would you propose to increase job opportunities in the county?
Democrats
Ray Gasperson
Over the past ten years, the official unemployment rate has risen from 3.6 percent to over 10 percent in Polk County, and if the self-employed and small business owners are included, the rate would likely be over 20 percent. I believe that it is vital the BOC and Polk County Government do everything possible to increase employment opportunities.
One of the first things that I will do is to ask the BOC to support me in the formation of a task force of experienced and talented individuals who are willing to work quickly and hard toward finding short term and long term answers to our unemployment conditions. This task force, working jointly with Polk Countys Economic Development Commission must be willing to “think outside the box” while seeking the creation of stable living wage jobs that are suited to our Polk County way of life.
As a member of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission Im in a position to seek increased grant funding for local job creation. Also, as a member of the Board of Trustees at Isothermal Community College, I will advocate increasing the educational training opportunities that will help our work force “re-tool” for the economy of the future.
Margaret Johnson
We must work quickly with the Economic Development Commission to develop an updated, strong Economic Development Plan that ties into and complements the countys Comprehensive Plan. We have an excellent model to follow if we use the 20/20 Visioning Committee approach. Using the talents and knowledge of the people in our community will again be very important.
We must seek business opportunities that support our countys major assets, such as our natural beauty, our agricultural businesses, and our strong retirement, artistic and equestrian communities. I will work hard to attract sustainable, green industries that provide good jobs and will look for every opportunity to provide support to our local businesses.
I will push for help from our governor, senators and congressmen and from public and private resources to get jobs for our county. We have seen what can be accomplished when people pulled together to protect our beautiful county. While we continue our work in that area, I would like to see that same energy and drive focused on increasing job opportunities and building our local economy.
Rickie McFalls
To lure new business in the county I would talk to the other commissioners about cutting taxes to help new businesses get started. Work with ICC to help train the work force. I will look into the Woodland Mills Building, the Grover Industrial Building, and others to help find a new place to house any new industry.
Benny Smith
Polk County is situated in an area that has experienced rapid growth. We offer a diverse mix of natural assets and economic opportunity. Networking and collaborating with our Economic Development Board are essential elements in order to bring in low-impact, but high-quality and well-compensated opportunities for our citizens. The equine industry as well as travel and tourism are areas which we should promote to emphasize and showcase our beautiful community.
Republicans

Harry Denton
Polk County needs small, clean businesses, and our plans for a county-wide water system will make us more competitive in recruiting more businesses and jobs.
David Moore
We need to work with our EDC director to attract small businesses. Also we need to work with all of our state leaders as well. A good example of the type of business is James Tool in Columbus.
Ted Owens
Im hearing more and more from residents of this county for the need for jobs. We need to encourage low impact economic development and go back to the methods and plans that brought a company like James Tool to Polk County.
Tom Pack
I was a member of the board of commissioners that brought James Tool to Polk County. I believe that we can use that same strategy to attract more, small to mid-sized businesses to Polk County. The Woodland Mills building would be a perfect place to encourage someone to buy that building and divide into smaller spaces to lease to these businesses we would try to attract. The county needs to be pro jobs and not all anti-growth.