BluegrassForeclosure.com

Kentucky’s seasonally adjusted preliminary unemployment rate increased to 10.3 percent in December 2010 from a revised 10.2 percent in November 2010, according to the Office of Employment and Training (OET), an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

The December 2010 jobless rate is .3 percentage point lower than the 10.6 percent rate recorded in December 2009 for the state. The 10.3 percent rate recorded in December 2010 is the highest rate since May 2010 when it was 10.4 percent.

“Kentucky’s economy continued to struggle in December 2010. The unemployment rate increased to 10.3 percent as weakness in the residential construction industry and extremely cold and wintry weather caused construction jobs to plummet. Contraction in the financial activities sector provides additional evidence of the slowdown in the housing market,” said Dr. Justine Detzel, OET chief labor market analyst.

From Kentucky.gov.

Unemployment rates fell in 68 Kentucky counties between November 2009 and November 2010, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 7.4 percent. It was followed by Fayette County, 7.8 percent; Oldham County, 8 percent; Calloway County, 8.1 percent; Carlisle and Larue counties, 8.3 percent each; and Franklin, Hopkins, Jessamine, Madison, Robertson and Warren counties, 8.4 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 18.3 percent. It was followed by Jackson County, 16.5 percent; McCreary County, 14.6 percent; Powell County, 14 percent; Menifee County, 13.9 percent; Clay County, 13.8 percent; Grayson, Lewis and Wayne counties, 13.7 percent; and Leslie County, 13.5 percent.

From Kentucky.gov.

Unemployment rates fell in 113 Kentucky counties between October 2009 and October 2010, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.6 percent. It was followed by Webster County, 7 percent; Fayette and Livingston counties, 7.2 percent each; Carlisle County, 7.3 percent; Calloway and Oldham counties, 7.4 percent each; Larue County, 7.5 percent; Franklin County, 7.6 percent; and Caldwell, Rowan and Shelby counties, 7.8 percent each.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 16.8 percent. It was followed by Jackson County, 14.9 percent; Menifee County, 13.9 percent; McCreary County, 13.4 percent; Powell County, 12.9 percent; Clay and Grayson counties, 12.8 percent each; Wayne County, 12.5 percent; Wolfe County, 12.4 percent; and Leslie County, 12.2 percent.

From Kentucky.gov.

If you’re looking for a deal on a house, the Tri-State is a great place to buy.

Listing firm RealtyTrac, Inc. says the average sale price for a foreclosed home from July to September in Ohio was less than $80,000.

That is a 45 percent discount from the average selling price of properties that are not distressed, the highest in the country. Foreclosed Kentucky homes offered a 41 percent discount.

The average foreclosure discount nationwide during the quarter was 32 percent.

From Kypost.com.

Gov. Steve Beshear today unveiled a new small business specialty license plate design, created to bring attention to the major role small businesses play in Kentucky’s economy.  The design was selected by the Kentucky Commission on Small Business Advocacy, in cooperation with Partners for Entrepreneurial Advancement in Kentucky (PEAK), following a statewide license plate design competition launched last fall.

“Small businesses power our economy, from main street to the farm and everywhere in between,” said Gov. Beshear.  “We want Kentucky to be known as an entrepreneur-friendly state, and this is just one way for us to demonstrate that message.  I’m committed to helping small businesses grow and thrive in the Commonwealth.  Whether it’s through our recently enacted small business tax credit program, our new minority and women-owned business enterprise certification program, or the numerous other programs and services Kentucky offers, we’re rolling out the red carpet for small businesses in Kentucky.”

Read more.  Or click here to see the new license plate.

I hope everyone reading this, will get one of these license plates to support small business initiatives.  I’m certainly going to when it is time to renew my license plate.