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Unemployment dropped significantly in July in two northwest Ohio counties and remained unchanged in two others, according to data released Tuesday.
Defiance County unemployment dropped 1.4 percentage points, to 15.4 percent in July, partly because more workers at General Motors Co.’s Defiance Foundry were back to work. And in neighboring Paulding County, unemployment fell from 15.1 percent in June to 14.5 percent in July.
In Williams and Van Wert counties, unemployment increased a statistically insignificant 0.1 percent in July. Williams County continued to have the worst unemployment of Ohio’s 88 counties at 17.5 percent.
Van Wert and Defiance counties tied for the state’s eighth-worst unemployment at 15.4 percent.
Ohio’s non-seasonally adjusted unemployment for July was 11.1 percent. Indiana’s was 10.4 percent, and the U.S. rate was 9.7 percent.
Flagstar Bank has announced plans to close two branches in local Walmart stores. The locations are 5311 Coldwater Road and 1710 Apple Glen Blvd.
Their last business day will be Oct. 2.
“It’s all really driven by a desire to become more profitable,” spokesman Susan Cherry said Tuesday. Costs to operate the branches included rent, she said.
The Troy, Mich.-based bank, which operates 175 branches, hopes checking, savings and home loan customers will keep their accounts with Flagstar. Cherry said online and telephone banking makes it easy.
Flagstar branches typically employ five workers each. Employees who choose not to transfer to other locations will be paid severance, Cherry said.
An extensive remodeling project has begun at Bluffton’s Walmart store, company officials announced Tuesday.
Already in its second week, the work on the 152,000-square-foot location is expected to be completed in October.
The nine-year-old store, 2100 N. Main St., will receive interior and exterior upgrades. The aisles will be wider. The paint will be brighter. Flooring will be replaced. Lighting, signs and layout will also be improved, company officials said in a written statement.
The store will remain open during the project. Much of the work will take place overnight, officials said.
A corporate spokeswoman declined to provide a dollar amount for the project.
The Jefferson Medical and Business Park, 7230 Engle Road, will become smoke-free Sept. 1.
The business park’s property owners unanimously agreed to adopt the campus smoking ban, which includes the parking lots.
Property owners and Shepherd Group LLC officials will announce the designation in a news conference at 2 p.m. Monday. Shepherd Group manages the property, which includes The Allergy and Asthma Center.
Dick Conklin, executive director of Tobacco Free Allen County, said he believes it is the first business park in Indiana to designate itself smoke-free.
The executive director of Indiana Tobacco Prevention & Cessation is scheduled to speak at the news conference as well as Dr. Deborah McMahon, Allen County health commissioner.
