Open jobs: JSDC delays decision on using ads, social media to recruit workers

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Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. officials delayed a decision on using online advertising and social media to attempt to recruit more workers to Jamestown.

The proposal from KK Bold was presented by Ted Hanson, business relations director for the company, to the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. Board during its regular meeting Monday.

“We propose to use the Internet and social media in a campaign to put Jamestown’s message in front of job seekers,” Hanson said. “Our goal is to target states with high unemployment within 500 to 1,000 miles.”

The campaign would target individuals searching for jobs based on the Internet search words they use. Ads for Jamestown would only be displayed to searchers in selected states with high unemployment rates.

The cost of the campaign was estimated at $20,000 for the first three months with lower costs to be determined after that.

“This is an attempt to get a list of people interested in this size of community and these types of jobs,” said Connie Ova, CEO of the JSDC. “At this point we have an available labor shortage.”

Ova said the state is running a similar campaign but many of the leads it generates are people interested in work in the oil fields.

Board members questioned the cost of the campaign.

“My concern is $20,000 per quarter isn’t sustainable,” said Todd Hudspeth, CEO of the Jamestown Regional Medical Center and a JSDC Board member. “Most major employers already are doing their own recruiting.”

Ova said the campaign was also a way to contract out some of the work done by Lindsey Larson, former JSDC marketing/business development specialist. Larson recently resigned her position.

Alex Schweitzer, president of the JSDC Board, applauded the idea of exploring options but suggested more research is needed.

The idea will be reviewed by the JSDC Executive Board before possible reconsideration.

In other business, the JSDC approved an additional $20,000 in grant funding for a feasibility study for a possible iron smelting operation at the Spiritwood Energy Park.

JSDC had granted $25,000 originally to be matched by $25,000 from Carbontec Energy Corporation. The combined local funds were planned to match a $105,000 grant requested from the North Dakota Ag Products Utilization Committee.

APUC recently authorized a $65,000 grant requiring an additional $40,000 in funds for the project to proceed. Carbontec has agreed to fund an additional $20,000 with JSDC now furnishing a total of $45,000 for the study.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, jobs