Is economy gaining traction in Walworth County?
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Tractors are lined up last year in the village of Walworth for Mecum's tractor auction. The company is relocating its operation to Walworth, a sign that the economy may be starting to improve.
WALWORTH — When I was 15, I bought a 1959 Corvette, which we brought home by dragging it behind a pickup using a chain,” Dana Mecum says in talking about one of his favorite memories. “Somehow, the hood came off the Corvette and ended up in front of the pickup truck and we ran over it. I traded it to a high school chum for a ’56 Chevy that did run, and the last time I saw that Corvette my friend was standing in his garage with fiberglass all over him and the car.”
Mecum’s automobile collection has grown substantially since then, and he’s turned that wheeling-and-dealing passion into Mecum Auctions, a company he started in 1988.
(Read all of this week's stories from Walworth County Sunday HERE. )
And because of a 250-percent sales explosion the last four years, Mecum moved his operation in October from Marengo, Ill., to the former Spiegelhoff’s Pick ’n Save on Main Street in Walworth.
Mecum’s move is one of several signs that an economic upturn is under way in Walworth County. Tourism and small manufacturing have long been part of the economic backbone here, and both areas have seen growth this spring.
In February, the village board approved bonding for the $26.5 million project, which calls for the purchase and extensive renovations that will double the site’s square footage, and adopted a resolution waiving public bidding requirements as an inducement to bring a new tenant into a building that had been vacant for five or six years.
“After being in Marengo for so many years, Dana needed a much larger building to host shows and to house all of his employees, and he was attracted to Walworth County because this place fits perfectly,” said Christine Giovingo, presentation coordinator. “We hope to have everything renovated and open to the public by sometime this fall.”
In the meantime, Mecum hopes to draw thousands of people to its second annual vintage tractor auction, which will be held on the grounds April 14.
For the full story, see HERE.
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Apr 13, 2012 at 11:33 p.m.
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I STAND WITH GOVERNOR WALKER
Apr 13, 2012 at 7:52 a.m.
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So you think nothing on your table is better then romin noodles!
If we all think starting from nowhere will get you somewhere, where do you think we are going!!!!!!
Apr 9, 2012 at 6:44 p.m.
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Hey DavidG ... thanks for the glowing endorsement of Walker's pro business initiatives. =-)
Apr 8, 2012 at 1:33 p.m.
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Of course the economy is gaining traction in Walworth Co. Contrary to the information provided by speechwriters for Republican presidential candidates, things are going much better over the whole country.
There is a reason that this last recession will go down in history as the Great Recession. Had our federal government and, more importantly, the Federal Reserve, not taken prudent steps to stabilize our economy, we would be talking about the Second Great Depression. While we just touched 10% unemployment in this most recent recession, certain groups (Blacks, Hispanics,those without HS diplomas) faced unemployment rates far higher.
Today, the most recent March data shows a national unemployment average at 8.2%. Back in late 2008, we were losing jobs at a record rate. Today, the rate among those with some college is under 7.5% and way down at 4.2% for those with college degrees.
The problem is that when businesses cut back, they also automate and trim excess positions. Manufacturing and Construction, the areas where most of the above groups traditionally found employment, have and continue to be hit hard. Machines and robots are doing these jobs now. There is NO shortage of skilled jobs or jobs requiring a college degree.
Are we coming back. You bet we are.
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