A small wave of economic optimism seems to have washed over Elkhart County recently in the form of RV shipment numbers released by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
We’re all for optimism.
THIS PAST APRIL the RV association reported 13,300 units shipped. In May that number held steady, fueling speculation that we are on an RV industry turn around.
We hope so.
Still, that 13,300 is a far cry from the peak of 31,400 units shipped in April 2008 before the recession began weighing heavily on American consumers. However, that 13,300 is significantly better than the 5,600 units that were shipped in December 2008, according to the association’s numbers.
MASS LAYOFFS ensued at local RV plants during the back half of 2008 and first months of 2009. The uptick in orders has allowed some RV companies to hire back some production workers in order to keep up. Executives at Keystone RV, for example, say about 150 employees have been rehired.
Dealers are reporting an increase in foot traffic, even if customers are more frugal with their purchases, opting for small RVs rather than larger ones. We’ll take baby steps.
Obviously it is too early to start doing somersaults. The unemployment rate in Goshen and Elkhart still ranks as the second highest annual increase in the country at 17.5 percent, but it is beginning to trend downward.
We are far from being out of the woods, but it sure is nice to see a few glimmers of hope.
Opinion
Good news in RV shipments
- Opinion
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13 turnarounds we can admire
Before trustees of Goshen Community Schools met this past Monday night, a reception was held to honor 13 deserving students. They weren’t valedictorians or salutatorians. They weren’t class presidents or all-state student-athletes.
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Recognition as bicycle-friendly city appreciated
Goshen is in the second year of its four-year designation by the League of American Bicyclists as a bike-friendly community. We congratulate city planners and bicycle advocates for this continuing recognition.
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A message that all children need to hear
Gayla Konanz is giving girls the message they need to hear — fitness begins early in life and is the foundation that self-esteem and confidence are built on.
Konanz is a fitness advocate for children and works through the Girls on the Run program. The Goshen News told readers in the May 2 edition how Konanz is working with girls at Bristol Elementary School and is encouraging them to get fit and stay fit. -
We’re No. 12, and No. 1,268! Way to go GHS
This has become a popular space for singing the praises of our local school corporations in recent years. That’s because we believe in the quality work and effort our educators and students are putting forth on a daily basis in and out of the classroom.
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Bill Bloss was a superb servant
Bill Bloss, a man who was always willing to step up and help his hometown of Goshen, died Wednesday. We know that everyone who had met Mr. Bloss and got to know him, will miss him plenty.
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Voters and candidates deserve a 'thank you'
In light of Tuesday’s primary election, we’d like to take a moment and thank two groups of people.
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A portrait of success this past Friday
Goshen’s First Fridays has garnered its fair share of headlines since March when the City Council began considering ordinance amendments geared toward youth attending the monthly festival.
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Time not always on public’s side
One candidate was asked whether or not he was a socialist. Others discussed funding priorities, and even braved the tricky topic of where Goshen’s “south link road” should or shouldn’t go.
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Good news in local education
Public schools — especially diverse urban districts — often get a bad rap by those who choose to look through the narrow telescope of standardized test scores. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Standardized tests are a wonderful tool for educators, but not the end-all, be-all of gauging achievement and effectiveness.
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Gang 'talk' is what we need
Business owners see the evidence on their store fronts. Teachers see it sitting in their classrooms. Police officers see it in their daily reports. Graffiti. Clothing. Violence. While the term “gang” can conjure images of crusty inner-city slums, it is not a term that is lost any longer here in Elkhart County.
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13 turnarounds we can admire
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