Bricks & Mortar Report

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bricks & Mortar Report provides updates on major construction projects in Chenango County.

Employment stats:

• The Chenango County Office of Employment and Training reported a 5.9 percent unemployment rate in August. The figure was the same in July, but compares to a 4.1 percent unemployment rate in August 2007.

• Chenango County’s rate is lower than the nation’s, at 6.1 percent, but more than New York’s overall unemployment rate of 5.6.

• One hundred jobs were lost in the Chenango County’s professional and business services sector since 2007, according to the monthly report.

Housing Starts (modular, double wide and stick built):

• Chenango County Codes Enforcement office reported 11 housing starts in August. There were two each in the towns of Bainbridge and Afton and one each in Smyrna, Sherburne, Preston, Pharsalia, Guilford, Coventry and Columbus.

Norwich Business Improvement District:

• Facade improvements, including new windows and signage, continues in downtown Norwich’s BID District. Contractors have been on the job at the Masonic Temple, Hayes Office Products and McNeil Jewelers.

Norwich City School District building project:

• About 99 percent of the outside landscaping has been completed. Construction trailers are scheduled to move out the first part of this week. Workers will be blacktopping the back parking/driveway areas and topsoiling lawns.