Northwest Georgia's Business Report 

California-based Petz Enterprises, Inc. to open new regional office in Rome/Floyd County

(Media Release) Petz Enterprises, Inc. announces plans to open a new southeastern regional office in Rome and Floyd County. “We have made a strategic decision to establish a permanent presence in the Southeast to continue to serve our growing customer base.  With the experienced talent available in Rome, Georgia, we feel it is a natural fit for our company and are excited about joining the community,” said Charles Petz, CPA, Vice President of Product Development, Petz Enterprises, Inc.

Founded in 1964, Petz Enterprises, Inc. (PEI) is a family-owned business. PEI is a leading provider of technology and services for consumers and tax professionals with leadership in high-volume tax preparation, electronic filing, tax-related financial services, and electronic benefits delivery systems. Their corporate headquarters is located in Tracy, California.

“We welcome this company to Rome and are looking forward to having them come and grow in this community,” said Wright Bagby, Mayor of Rome. “These are great jobs and the types of jobs we are looking for in Rome. It is great news to have this additional business venture despite the tough economic times.

PEI’s strength is through its expertise in combining accounting, tax, and engineering with service delivery. This expertise has created an excellent reputation for delivering highly effective solutions alongside superior customer support.

County Commission Chairman Eddie Lumsden said, “With the way the economy is, these new jobs in the county is welcome news. We look forward to them establishing a presence in Floyd County and will work with them in expanding operations as they continue to grow their operations in our community.”

PEI’s decision to locate a regional office in the Rome community will continue to bolster the information technology sector in the Rome and Floyd County community.
“We are pleased to welcome Petz Enterprises Inc. to the Rome and Floyd County community. This company adds to our information technology base which has proven valuable over the years,” said Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Harry Brock, Appraisal Associates of Rome.

PEI serves tax professionals, service bureaus and individual taxpayers. Their professional software, Crosslink® is a tax software solution for high-volume tax businesses. TaxBrain®, their consumer tax solution product, is an on-line tax preparation and e-file solution for consumers.

“We are very pleased that Petz Enterprises has chosen Georgia to grow its business,” said Heidi Green, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Our business environment is an ideal fit for expanding businesses and conducive to innovative new technologies.”

Second Shorter Job Fair couldn't come at a better time

-Shorter University is bringing back a regional job fair for a second year, and the timing is critical. Unemployment rates remain in the double digits across Northwest Georgia (June stats) and with plant closings soon in Floyd (Pierre Foods) and Bartow (Mohawk), another 570 people most likely will be out of work.

-The Second Annual Northwest Georgia Shorter University Job Fair will be at The Forum from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 23. Expect around 75 employers who will be accepting applications and resumes. Attendees should be prepared to speak with employers, complete applications and turn in resumes.

-Certified resume writers will be available to give advice on resumes. Computers will be provided by the Georgia Department of Labor for job searching and completing applications. To save time at the entrance door, attendees are encouraged to pre-register and print a free ticket (click here).

-Employers interested in a free booth can register by clicking here.

-Look for the formal announcement at Tuesday's Business Before Hours at Shorter University. Click Chamber.

-Additional details: Rome Career Center at 706-295-6051.

-Federal extended unemployment insurance benefits are now being paid to 90,994 jobless Georgians, says Labor Commissioner Michael  Thurmond. Details

Ozzie's Plaza the new name as Oswalt buys former Kroger west center

(Media release) Rome businessman Randolph Oswalt completed a real estate transaction on Tuesday, July 27 to purchase the Kroger West shopping center at 2448 Shorter Ave.

The center was developed by R.H. Ledbetter Properties in the late 1980s for Kroger, with the largest space, 49,314 square feet, occupied by the grocery store.

After Kroger West closed five years ago, the center struggled to maintain occupancy in the remaining six store spaces at the center.

“I feel strongly that I can take this center over and offer a real local flavor to its development and management,” states Oswalt. “I’ve been working on this deal for months and am excited to finally get the project under local control.”

The center contains at total of 58,114 square feet and will be leased and managed locally by Howard Realty of Rome. According to Howard Alexander, “We want to turn this center back into a neighborhood center that will serve the people of West Rome and become an asset to residents in the largest residential area of Rome.”

There are three tenants at the center, K Cleaners, Sunny Nails and Great China Restaurant. These tenants will remain open at the center, continuing business as usual.

Randolph Oswalt plans to rename the center “Ozzie’s Plaza.” This name is a tribute to his father who owned a business for 25 years (in the 1950 and 1960s) called “Ozzie’s Steak House” on Martha Berry Boulevard.

Besides operating Warehouse Beverage for over 30 years, Oswalt was in the grocery business for many years as owner of the Red Diamond neighborhood grocery stores. At one point, he operated six of these stores throughout Floyd County. He sold the last of these grocery stores in 1982.

-See the previous listing on LoopNet. Click Here

June's jobless rate: Up from May, down from a year earlier

Source: Georgia Department of Labor. Click

Yet again, another mixed report on local employment.

-On the plus side: the jobless rate dropped in June in our five-county market when compared to June 2009.

-The big negative: The unemployment rate climbed vs. May 2010 reports.

-Also of concern: This caveat was included in the state Labor Department media release: "The U.S Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Georgia lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any other state but California." Ouch.

-What's ahead: Floyd County is about to be hit hard as 350 jobs are lost when Pierre Foods closes next month. Another 230 jobs will leave Bartow County as Mohawk closes the spun yarn plant. And none of that counts nearly 400 jobs at CCH Small Firm Services as the company moves to Kennesaw this month and next.

Labor Dept.: Ga. 'lost more jobs ... than any other state but Calif.'

-(From a media release) The state report: The number of payroll jobs in the state in June decreased 9,400, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,838,400 in May to 3,829,000. And, the number of jobs remains less than in June 2009, when there were 3,878,600 payroll jobs, 1.3 percent, or 49,600 more than this year.

-In metro Rome, the number of payroll jobs decreased 100, or three-tenths of a percentage point, from 40,400 in May to 40,300. The U.S Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Georgia lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any other state but California.

-Says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond: “This latest federal report further emphasizes the severity of the crisis facing Georgia’s economy, as our job market shows signs of renewed deterioration. A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs, and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam.”

-More stats: Also in June, 741 laid off workers in metro Rome filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, a decrease of 69, or 8.5 percent, from 810 in May. Statewide, 64,794 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, an increase of 6,875, or 11.9 percent, from 57,919 in May. However, there was a decline of 23,962 initial claims, or 27.0 percent, from 88,756 filed in June 2009. -Job loses: Most of the first-time claims were filed in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction, and administrative and support services.

First-time unemployment claims drop again in June . . .

Source: Georgia Department of Labor

. . . while Rome's labor force climbs by 1,400 vs. June '09

You'd think two scoops of positive employment reports would satisfy Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. Instead, he issued the following comment as the department released preliminary June numbers: “Georgia’s job market is showing signs of renewed deterioration. A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam.”

Economic forecasters have warned about job losses continuing in 2010 before rebounding next year. You can add Thurmond's name to that list.

But for the short-term, the June reports show:

-Rome's overall labor force grew by 1,400 jobs to 40,300 in June 2010, up from 38,900 a year earlier. One note of caution: A 100-job dip from May.

-First-time unemployment insurance claims dropped in all five counties--and around the state--by significant percentages.

-Floyd claims were down almost 50 percent compared to June 2009, from 1,453 to 730. But brewing out there: Pierre Foods' shutdown and the loss of CCH Small Firm Services to Kennesaw.

-Bartow and Gordon counties also saw big drops but, again, a note of caution: Mohawk's spun yarn plant in Cartersville closes next month, idling 229 employees.

GA's June jobless rate drops to 10%; 'renewed deterioration' forecast

(Media release) The Georgia Department of Labor reports the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 10.0 percent in June, down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.1 percent in May. This is the 33rd consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is now 9.5 percent.

“Georgia’s job market is showing signs of renewed deterioration,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs, and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam.”

Georgia’s labor force shrunk by 17,953 in June, as long-term unemployed workers lost hope for finding new jobs. This is the largest over-the-month decline in the labor force since May 2001.

The number of payroll jobs in June decreased 9,400, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,838,400 in May to 3,829,000. And, the number of jobs remains less than in June 2009, when there were 3,878,600 payroll jobs, 1.3 percent, or 49,600 more than this year.

In June, there were 230,000 long-term unemployed Georgians (those who have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer). This represents an increase of 123,900, or 116.8 percent from 106,100 long-term unemployed in June 2009. And, it represents an increase of 4,300, or 1.9 percent, from 225,700 in May. The long-term unemployed now account for 49 percent of the 469,022 jobless workers in Georgia.

Also in June, 64,794 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, an increase of 6,875, or 11.9 percent, from 57,919 in May. However, there was a decline of 23,962 initial claims, or 27.0 percent, from 88,756 filed in June 2009. Most of the first-time claims were filed in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction, and administrative and support services.