DeKalb October Jobless Rate at 4.6%

November 24, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

Unemployment rates in most Tennessee counties including DeKalb remained below 5% in October, according to newly released county data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD).

DeKalb County’s October jobless rate was 4.6%, up from 4% in September and higher than the 3.7% unemployment rate recorded in October 2022.

The local labor force for October, 2023 was 8,174. A total of 7,801 were employed and 373 were without work.

Tennessee’s seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate in October was 3.3%. That’s just 0.2 of a percentage point above the all-time low jobless number of 3.1% which was last recorded in August.

Unlike the statewide unemployment rate, county unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted to account for different seasonal events that can impact employment.

Eighty-eight of Tennessee’s 95 counties recorded rates lower than 5% in October. The remaining seven counties had rates that were greater than 5% but lower than 10%.

Rates decreased in six counties across the state during the month. They held steady in 16 counties and increased in the remaining 73 counties.

For the second consecutive month, Moore and Sevier counties had Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rates. Moore County’s rate came in at 2.6%, which was unchanged from the previous month. Sevier County’s rate was 2.7%, which accounted for a slight increase of 0.1 of a percentage point from its September rate.

Perry County had Tennessee’s highest unemployment rate in October. Its new rate of 7.9% was 3.2 percentage points higher than its September rate. Warren County saw the second-highest rate for the month. Unemployment there increased by 3.5 percentage points from 4% to 7.5%.

As we head into the holiday season, Tennessee employers are searching for dependable employees to help with the increase in customers. Tennessee’s American Job Center Network can help match Tennesseans to new employment opportunities. An interactive locator map can guide job seekers to the center closest to them.

November 24, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

DeKalb and other county governments across the state will now be able to help their communities in the ongoing opioid crisis that has affected them in recent years with funds awarded the state from lawsuit settlements.

DeKalb County has received $119,163 in restricted funds and $99,470 in unrestricted money from a trust fund set up by the state for a total of $225,647.

All 95 Tennessee counties have received a share of more than $31.4 million in payments from the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council, which began processing the direct payments from the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund to county governments earlier this year.

County Mayor Matt Adcock, during Tuesday’s committee meeting of the whole, informed the county commission that funds from DeKalb County’s allotment of money can be made available to eligible agencies in DeKalb County who have requested funding. During Monday night’s monthly meeting, the county commission will consider allocating a portion of $146,701 to the agencies who have made requests.

“Agencies in DeKalb County were asked to submit a request for how much funding from the county’s opioid settlement funding they wished to receive to support their programs,” said County Mayor Adcock. “All of these agencies have expressed what they would like to use the funds for and how much is needed to successfully bring to fruition or continuation of their programs. DeKalb County has received $119,163 of restricted opioid settlement funds that must meet the criteria of the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council’s remediation list. Unrestricted funds of the opioid abatement settlement funding totals to an amount of $99,470. The total amount of restricted and unrestricted funding is $218,634”, said Adcock.

The agencies making funding requests and the amounts are as follows:
Sheriff’s Department’s DARE Program: $10,000
Youth and Family Resources Network (Spot Program) $22,440
DeKalb Prevention Coalition $54,261
Recovery Court $60,000
Total: $146,701

County leaders are able to select activities for these funds from a list approved by the Tennessee Opioid Abatement Council. Approved uses include a continuation of opioid use disorder treatment programs, medication assisted treatment, recovery supports, and prevention measures.

Tennessee’s Opioid Abatement Council was created by the Tennessee General Assembly in Public Chapter 491 to manage the disbursement of proceeds from lawsuits relating to opioids. The Council upholds the responsibility to ensure the disbursements of these funds go toward funding programs, strategies, expenditures, and other actions designed to prevent and address the misuse and abuse of opioid products and treat or mitigate opioid use or related disorders or other effects of the opioid epidemic.

November 24, 2023
By: Dwayne Page

A large group of caring people from the community gave up part of their Thanksgiving Day to see that hundreds of their needy friends and neighbors had a hot delicious meal on this special holiday.

In what has become an annual tradition on Thanksgiving, the DeKalb Emergency Services Association (DESA) and volunteers gathered together early Thursday morning at the kitchen of the county complex to do some cooking for others in the community who might not otherwise have had a hot delicious meal for Thanksgiving.

This year’s meal consisted of turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, roll, and a homemade dessert.

According to DESA spokesperson Blake Cantrell, more than 750 meals were served Thursday morning at stops throughout DeKalb County.

“This is definitely the biggest Thanksgiving meal delivery effort we have ever done,” said Cantrell. “We have been overwhelmed with everyone’s generosity and support. In addition to the volunteers who helped cook, prepare the food trays, and make deliveries we had many people who made donations including lots of homemade dressings and desserts. We had extra food that we were able to distribute this year. Some boxed unperishables. Liberty Star Arms was especially helpful. They did a raffle and donated all the proceeds from that to this meal,” said Cantrell.

DESA will be conducting another meal delivery on Saturday, December 23 in time for Christmas and all those who received meals on Thanksgiving will be on the list for that event”.

To get your name on the delivery list for December 23 call 615-390-0297 or 615-712-4286 or visit www.dekalbesa.com/meal.

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