JUDGE: Milam County unemployment rate remains low
Our unemployment rate in Milam County is now at 5.2 percent which is just under the overall State unemployment rate of 5.4 percent. This is an historic 1 percent drop in the number of those unemployed in Milam County.
Our civil labor force in the County is now at 9,741 and our unemployment count is at 503 individuals.
The drop is due in part to higher wages being paid to get employees back in the workforce and the discontinuance of some unemployment benefits.
Remember those that are looking for work should contact our local Workforce Solutions office at (512) 446-6440 as they are the very best at finding training and employment. There are still a lot of good jobs to be had right here in Milam County!
Employment in the County
According to our Texas Workforce Solutions, between 2015 and 2020 jobs in Milam County declined by 8.2 percent. This was due in large part to the closing of Luminant in 2018.
As of 2020 our Milam County population increased by 344 individuals or 1.4 percent. In the next 5 years population is expected to increase by 720 individuals or 2.9 percent.
As of 2019 265 individuals had migrated to Milam County from Williamson County and 213 Milam County residents had moved to Bell County for a net loss of 63.
Monoclonal antibody
Infusion Clinic
Our Milam County infusion clinic is in operation in Rockdale at the former hospital, located at 1700 Brazos. The clinic is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday.
It is available to those who reside in Milam County and those who reside outside the County. To be eligible for an infusion, a person must test positive for the COVID-19 virus and have some symptoms.
Infusions have been proven to be about 70 percent effective to prevent hospitalizations and serious symptoms if given with 4-5 days of the onset of symptoms. The clinic is being paid for by the State and administered in part by the Texas Department of Emergency Services and we thank them for their help and support for this much needed service.
Generator Grant
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, we submitted a grant request for generators to assist our public water systems in the county.
This is the first time in the history of Milam County that county government has gone to bat by filing a grant for a public entity operating in the County. The grant request is for $2,619,242 that will pay for 10 portable generators.
The generators will keep the water pumps running during periods of service disruptions.
The generators will provide service to Southwest Milam, North Milam Water Supply, Marlow Water Supply, Minerva Water Supply, Gause Water Supply and Bell Milam Water Supply.
We thank Mr. Ken Hall of Southwest Milam and Roby Jekel of the other water supply companies for their invaluable assistance in preparing the grant.
Ambulance Update
We continue to make progress with our ambulance issues in the County. Next week AMR will unveil new tracking software for the ambulances that operate in the county. The software will be made available to the 911 operators and those in emergency services, including our fine Volunteer Fire Departments.
This provides real time service which will allow us to know when an ambulance is dispatched, the ETA of the ambulance and the disposition of the event.
American Statesman Glove
The nitrile glove company is still in the works. The company is in the final stages of funding and hopes to finish in the next couple of months. While no final decision has been made as to location, we continue to think the company will locate at the former Alcoa site.
Moot Court
Our 2021 County wide Moot Court event will be held next week at the Milam County Courthouse on Dec. 14 and 15.
This is the only event in the County where all of our high schools will compete. Each school has several teams and they are all practicing and working hard. This is truly a big event and the public is invited to attend and watch our leaders of tomorrow compete in this exciting event.