Brunswick considered "well-positioned," according to economic update

BRUNSWICK — Locally, consumers are continuing to spend, while manufacturing companies still seek workers, according to an economic update to the Brunswick Committee-of-the-Whole on Monday. Brunswick Economic Development Director Grant Aungst said he was invited to an economic forecasting meeting, which featured professional economists. "While they do see some challenges from the consumer side, they see a lot of opportunities as well," he said. "The major takeaway is stay positive and focused on the opportunities and be strategic in your planning." There are headwinds with consumer confidence, mainly for the cost of consumer goods like food products, Aungst said. Yet, the price of oil has come down, and gas and electric are stable. "We're seeing some ups and downs out there in the community, and in the economy overall, but we are really well-positioned," he said. "We see that by what people are doing at our new (quick-service restaurants) out in the community. Whether it's at Panda Express or Culver's or anything else, people are out spending money." Many local businesses are continuing to look for entry-level workers. Aungst said he thinks that need will remain constant for a while. "Remember, we have less folks from overseas or other countries that have come in, immigrants," he said. "We have more retirees these days than before, so there's going to be a constant churn of looking for that next set of entry-level workers." There is still a need for manufacturing as companies look to come to the United States to avoid tariffs, Aungst said. "We work consistently with our schools to make sure kids are exposed to the manufacturing world and other distribution centers and skilled trades, so that the kids have a goal and objective moving forward," he said. Since the holiday season is approaching, Aungst encouraged residents to support local businesses and the Brunswick Food Pantry. "We are stable with good signs of moving forward," he said. "I would say that we need to inform strategic thoughts and take those opportunities when they're presented to us. We'll also continue to keep a close eye on the ebbs and flows regarding the overall economy." Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.