2008.12.22
Southwest Virginia layoffs: Nearly 1,000 and counting
Since the already shaky economy began to rattle to pieces in October, about 1,000 people in Southwest Virginia have been laid off by 16 companies across 32 locations. See the shape of where jobs are disappearing on our layoffs map. Get the number of jobs lost, the number left, and links to stories in The Roanoke Times about the layoffs.
Click the map to go to the interactive layoffs map.
I put the map together after watching — with horror, like most people — the rash of layoffs being reported in The Roanoke Times. I thought it would be useful to track the job losses, and see what it looks like when you plot them on a map. What areas are getting hit the hardest?
WVTF, our local public radio station, ran a story on the map Friday. Rick Mattioni did the interview and put together the story. He was also gracious enough to send over the audio. Here it is if you want to give a listen:
I know the economy is shaky but the citizens of VA need to look at the politicians that have been voted in office and the ones that keep getting re-elected in the state. VA is loosing companies because the state “leaders” are not willing to negotiate tax breaks, etc.. to give incentives for these companies to stay in VA. Surrounding states (TN for example) is/has given great benefits for companies to come to their state. Why doesn’t VA do this? Look closer residents! Southwest VA is becoming such a retirement area you’ll have to leave that particular area for jobs. Uproot! Move! Relocate! VA gets better tax revenue off wealthier folks who have migrated from the North and purchased all those poor farmers’ land, built large homes, added land restrictions to ensure property value remains high, etc…(No mobile homes in their neighborhoods). Do not re-elect the same people over and over people! Vote people in who will bring jobs and stand up for VA’s working class citizens! There are companies out there who would move to VA and provide jobs but VA has to make the first move. Other states do! I knew when VA started promoting the old slogan “VA is for lovers”, it showed where the eyes of the VA Gov’t were. Beauty, serentiy, peace…not industries, jobs, etc.. Retirees! Retirees! Retirees! (VA’s tax cow)
Comment by Travis Burcham — December 31, 2008 @ 8:02 am
The job loss is not shown on the preceding map for Carroll and Grayson Counties. We are part of SW Virginia.
Not too long ago the little county of Carroll had a number of textile and furniture industries and an electronic plant. There were a number of small farms and those who raised cattle to support the farms. Wages were low, but the hard working people had jobs and wages to support their families.
There is little left now. Another industry will be closing this month.
Our taxes have gone out of sight due to outsiders moving in and paying outrageous prices for land and the loss of our tax base with the industries.
It seems our county officials want this to be a retirement community and hope to attract tourist dollars. The jobs brought in by tourist trade will be unskilled, low paying jobs. Those jobs depend on the tourists even being interested in Carroll.
A route 58 bypass is being built around Hillsville. This by-pass will destroy Hillsville.
This Rt. 58 project was held up for years because no funds available. As soon as the present governor took office the by-pass was restarted. Where did he get the money if it wasn’t there before? I do not see any benefit to Carroll County with this by-pass. I have never seen any benefit to anyone with the four laning of Route 58. It has destroyed homes, small farms, at least one church and some beautiful scenery.
It appears many of the men working the Rt. 58 project are from out of town, so even those jobs are not of benefit locally.
Southwest Virginia has always been treated like a step-child. Where do we go from here? We send our kids to university, knowing they will not return. There is nothing to return to, unless they are lawyers. We do have an abundence of them.
Comment by MsMary — January 1, 2009 @ 9:25 am
I think the 58 bypass is primarilly to help the ports in Hampton Roads by giving them a better ability to connect to I-77 and eventually I-81 with a 4-lane 58. Having those additional connections boosts the overall state economy, but definitely won’t do much for the town of Hillsville, except lead to truck stops, restaurants, and hotels along the bypass when it’s built. One thing that’s missing off the map are the layoff’s that I’ve heard about in the retail side of things. I found out that my local Lowe’s store has placed on leave or laid off nearly every part time employee, around 40 in all, and are also looking to lay off some full-timers.
Comment by Other John — January 5, 2009 @ 1:09 pm
Seven out of ten Virginians now live in Northern VA, Tidewater or Richmond. The state has become mostly an urban state. Other than Rick
Boucher there is very weak leadership in Richmond from southwest VA.
If southwest Virginians do vote, then tend to ignore the real issues and vote Republican. I have never understood why the less fortunate among us believe the Republican party is doing anything to help the working man.
Tax cuts for the wealthy don’t translate into jobs for southwest VA. I believe more government involvement is needed like during the ’30′s depression to put people to work building roads, schools, bridges, rail.
Yes the government is finally spending money that helps us here at home.
Spending money on jobs and vital improvements is not a waste of money.
Sure the wealthy folks will object to anything that benefits the poor as their stock portfolios suffer but without the working man what will become of the U.S.?
Comment by Joe — January 27, 2009 @ 1:43 pm