CHENANGO COUNTY – Economic development officials are currently working with nine prospective companies that are interested in locating or growing in Chenango County that, if successful, could land more than 200 jobs here.

The potential jobs are in a variety of sectors, including 60 with manufacturing/processing companies and 45 in the restaurant business.

Commerce Chenango President Maureen Carpenter told members of the Planning & Economic Development Committee Tuesday that there are numerous job openings already.

“I want to clarify any misconception out there. Despite higher prices for fuel, and it’s impact on the economy, there are a lot of jobs here,” she told members of the Chenango County Planning and Economic Development Committee on Tuesday. Carpenter specifically highlighted between 10 to 20 current openings in manufacturing.

More than 100 positions are posted in this week’s Norwich Sidney Pennsysaver editions and on the Pennysaver website. While General Manager Eric Brightman couldn’t confirm a higher than normal number of display and classified ads, he said the Pennysaver’s online employment pages have been receiving about 20,000 hits per month over the past few months.

“The amount of traffic we get on the web site to look at help wanted ads is very impressive,” Brightman said. The Pennysaver and The Evening Sun are publications of Snyder Communications, Inc. of Norwich.