The Chamber Passed the Gavel. Cool. What Does That Do for Somebody Making $18 an Hour?

You ever read one of those announcements about how much the local economy is growing, then look at what jobs around here actually pay? That's the disconnect I want us talking about. Not another ribbon cutting. Not another photo of everybody smiling around a podium. What is all this progress doing for the person who has to clock in tomorrow?

The Washington County Chamber of Commerce says more than 160 people went to its September 23 annual meeting. Chuck Eichelberger of Tele-Plus took over as incoming board chair from Abraham Perez III of Middletown Valley Bank. Congratulations to both of them. But a new person holding the gavel isn't the part of the story I'm most interested in.

Growth isn't just something you announce. People gotta feel it.

The Chamber says its more than 660 member organizations represent over 40,000 local jobs. That's a significant footprint. Important distinction, though: those are jobs represented by member organizations, not 40,000 new jobs the Chamber created. And the count doesn't tell us if those jobs pay enough, come with decent schedules, or have any path to something better.

If somebody is making eighteen dollars an hour and trying to keep a roof over their family's head, 'strong economic development' can sound like a damn slogan. I'm not saying every business can double its payroll tomorrow. I'm saying that when we measure success, wages, advancement, benefits, and access need to be part of the numbers.

Who actually gets invited into the opportunity?

What about the small businesses that don't know the right people? What about somebody qualified for a better position but can't afford to take an unpaid internship? What about workers whose schedules make going back to school nearly impossible? Those are practical obstacles. You can't fix them with another banquet.

I respect that the Chamber's recap recognized people working in education, small-business support, and community organizations. That's often the unglamorous work behind economic mobility. But I'd like more follow-through the public can check: open training opportunities, clear hiring pathways, realistic salary ranges, and an explanation of which local investments actually change life for residents.

None of that is an accusation that the meeting accomplished nothing. It's a standard I'd use for any business group, regardless of party or politics. It's easy to celebrate a successful year in a room full of successful people. I want to know whether the people outside that room had a successful year too.