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Show Page 12 The Ogden Valley news Volume XVII Issue XXI April 15, 2010 ZIONS BUSINESS cont. from page 8 A Cup of Kindness Contributed by Martha Schickedanz The man rummaged through piles of rubble—rubble that had once been his home. “It rained three days straight,” he mumbled. In a daze he wandered from pile to pile, not knowing where to start to bring his life back together. The flash flooding of areas surrounding Cusco and the Sacred Valley in the high Andes of Peru leveled over 5,000 homes and buildings. Residents of those areas were isolated as roads were washed out, and their villages nearly destroyed. Machu Picchu is the most popular tourist attraction in this part of Peru, and at the time of the flooding there were over 1,500 tourists stranded in the mountains. The raging Urabamba River had taken out several sections of railroad tracks, causing panic among the tourists as they tried to find a way to leave the devastation. Their plight captured the imagination of the world, and the Machu Picchu airlift was well covered by the media. It took over four days to airlift the tourists out by helicopter since only four passengers at a time could be airlifted. At the time of this disaster, I was far away in Utah, riveted to the media stories of the flooding and hardship. My phone rang incessantly as friends and supporters of Hope Projects called to find out the status of the 137 villages where we have ongoing projects. Our greatest concern was for the welfare of the thousands of people living in those high Andes villages. I was finally able to reach our project supervisor in Cusco by phone, and he urged me to get to Peru as soon as possible to assist him in determining what our foundation could do to aid our villagers and others who were in dire straits. Traveling to Lima was not an issue, but due to the heavy raining still drenching Cusco, airplanes were grounded from flying there. For twelve hours we argued, pled, and begged at the airport to be allowed to fly on the earliest flight available. We finally booked passage on a flight that was going to attempt to make it to Cusco. At 12,000 feet, this Cusco airport is challenging in the best of conditions, let alone in the midst of torrential rains, black clouds, and lightening. Before we boarded we were told that if the conditions at Cusco were too bad, we would have to turn around and return to Lima, and that there would be no refunds or re-issuing of our tickets if the plane could not land. This discouraged most, so there were only twenty people (of 350 waiting passengers) willing to take the risk. The ride was as bad as I have ever experienced, and I have logged over 8,000 hours in my own airplane as a private pilot. The pilot was flying totally on instruments for the last third of the hour long flight, but as we were making the final approach to Cusco, the dark clouds parted and we could see the carpet of green mountains of the Cusco Valley. I was not adequately prepared for the destruction that came to view. For the next several, days we visited as many of our villages as we could get to, trying to assess what Hope Projects Foundation could do to be of the greatest assistance. Several of our villages were completely inaccessible due to the flooding. Sadly, other than the tourist “airlift” from Machu Picchu, the Peruvian government leaders were not present in the villages. They had assisted during the airlift while the media photographed and reported the evacuation, but they had not ventured into these poor villages so terribly devastated. As we went from village to village where we could, it was apparent that the people just wanted someone to listen to them, to hear about the terrible losses they had suffered. They knew there was little we could do instantly to help them, but many just needed to talk to someone who cared about their situation. Utah was 95.9 during March 2010, up from a I wandered through the villages, mentally revised 91.6 during February 2010. The Index piecing the broken homes together. Here was a measures business conditions from the viewpoint bed mattress, there some broken kitchen dishes, of the Utah small business owner or manager. A higher Index number is associated with more favorable business conditions for Utah’s small businesses. The Index uses 100.0 for calendar year 1997 as its base year. The Index includes revisions to various historical and new forecast components as they become available. Utah Employment - The Utah unemployment rate—the most heavily weighted component of the Zions Bank Small Business Index for Utah—was estimated at 7.1% in the latest month, up from a revised 6.9% during the prior month. The 7.1% rate compares to a 5.1% rate during the same month one year ago. A higher Utah unemployment rate is a positive contributor to the Index as a smashed guitar lay on the ground next to a it implies increased access to Utah labor. Utah’s unemployment rate averaged 5.7% crushed chest of drawers. A teddy bear, soggy and half-buried in mud, seemed so out of place. during 2009, 3.4% in 2008, 2.7% in 2007, and “Would you like something to eat?” A 3.0% in 2006. These rates compare to an aversweet and calm voice broke into my thoughts. age Utah unemployment rate of 5.0% during the I turned around, and there was the woman who 2001 to 2005 period, and an average 3.5% rate owned the destroyed home I had been survey- between 1995 and 2000. Total Utah employment fell by an estimated ing. She had made a little fireplace from some adobe blocks, in front of where the house must 27,700 jobs (down 2.3%) over the past 12 have been. Ingeniously, she had taken a small months. This decrease compares to a loss of piece of metal and built a make-shift roof to 33,400 jobs in the prior year-over-year period. cover her outdoor kitchen. Now she was cook- Utah added 1,900 jobs in 2008, 49,600 jobs in ing a soup of mashed corn and stale bread over 2007, 55,700 jobs in 2006, 43,700 jobs in 2005, and 30,200 jobs in 2004. a fire she had built on the adobe blocks. These totals compare to gains averaging She repeated, “Would you like to have something to eat with us?” I was incredulous 38,000 new jobs annually during the 1994-2000 that this pleasant woman, smiling in the face of period and a net loss of 1,300 jobs in 2001 disaster, was inviting me to dinner. I could see through 2003. More recently, job losses, leadher husband eating the soup from an old can, ing to lesser income creation and softer retail seated on an abandoned table, beckoning me to spending, have a negative impact upon Utah’s join him. These two people had lost everything small businesses…and therefore, the Index. Local Performance - Weber County expethey owned, but were willing to share what little they could scrape together. She took a very dirty rienced a decrease of 2,700 jobs (-2.9%) from a cup, filled it with hot corn mush and offered it year ago. Joblessness registered 7.6%, up from to me. I drank it quickly, praying that these dear the 7.1% unemployment rate one year ago. people would be able to endure this overwhelm- Utah County employment declined by 4,000 ing challenge. She smiled as she watched me jobs (-2.3%) over the last 12 months. The drink the soup, pleased that she had offered area’s jobless rate was 6.8%, up from the 5.7% sustenance to a visitor in her home, and that the rate of one year ago. Cache County employment decreased by gift of hospitality had been accepted. My journey to these villages had been to 900 jobs (-1.7%) in the latest 12-month period. provide comfort and support to some of the The area’s jobless rate was 5.1%, up from the poorest people on the face of the earth. As 4.6% rate of one year ago. Davis County payrolls increased by 500 I personally grieved over the magnitude of the devastation, it was those dear people who jobs (+0.5%) in the past year. The unemployreached out to me to give comfort. This ter- ment rate was 6.5% in the latest month, up from rible flood could not wash away their ability 5.4% one year ago. Salt Lake County employment fell by to love, and to share what little they had with a total stranger. This woman had no idea who 13,900 jobs (-2.4%) over the year. The county’s I was, or who I represented, but I know that unemployment rate was 6.9% in the latest month, Hope Projects will become a blessing in her up from 5.7% last year. Washington County payrolls declined by life. She will receive our encouragement and our support as she and her husband rebuild for 1,700 jobs (-3.6%) in the past year. The unemployment rate was 9.1% in the latest month, up a better future. If you and your family would like to join from 8.3% one year ago. us in helping people who have lost most everyThe April 2010 Zions Bank Small Business thing they own, please log onto our website Index for Utah will be released on May 11, www.hopeprojects.com, or call us directly at 2010. Additional information is available at (800) 394-3448. <www.zionsbank.com> >EC; ;GK?JO 9H;:?J B?D; ?JÊI B?A; =;JJ?D= 7 H;<;HH7B F7OC;DJ <EH H;<;HH?D= OEKHI;B<$ Gold Checking Online Bill Pay Ultimate Savings Give us your loan. We’ll give you a $50 Gift Card. A compelling story needs a great beginning. And Zions Bank can help you get started with a compelling offer. For a limited time, close any personal home loan at Zions Bank and receive a $50 Visa Gift Card. It’s just our way of saying thanks for closing a loan with us. To learn more about our personal, car and mortgage loans—as well as home refinances and credit lines, simply drop by your local Zions Bank branch or visit zionsbank.com, or call 1-800-789-BANK. Ask about our home refinance loans with no closing costs. Visit our EdEn branch today, or call EilEEn sawyEr at 801-745-0835. o^dchWVc`#Xdb All loans are subject to approval. Restrictions apply. Ask branch for details. Rates are variable and subject to change monthly and are based on the Prime Rate. If line is closed within the first three years, a $350 Early Closure Fee will be applied. Property value determined by lender. Rates subject to change without notice. Receive a $50 Visa Gift Card at loan closing. One Gift Card per loan closed. Minimum commitment amount is $25,000. Contact bank for loan types eligible for the offer. Offer expires July 2, 2010. Offer does not apply to all personal home loans. Terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Contact branch for details. BZbWZg ;9>8 |