Video: President Obama speaks in Wakarusa, Indiana

I was in the cheering section outside the factory gates for this one. I'll be writing more about the experience, so stay tuned.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

President Obama's Weekly Radio Address

The Elkhart Project

Elkhart, Indiana is about an hour and a half East of where I live in Northwest Indiana. President Obama has made a few visits to Elkhart during the campaign, and more recently at a town hall meeting in Elkhart pushing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

My state, my neighborhood, and I just wanted to share it with you all.

As the gentleman in the first video points out, Elkhart did not diversify. It put all it's eggs into the Recreational Vehicle basket, and it is suffering with the highest unemployment rate in the nation.

The Federal, State and Local governments obviously will not be able to solve all the financial woes of people in this struggling community. Still the people are resilient and determined. There is a lesson to be taken for those whose charge it is to plan for and manage the growth of communities. Have a plan that includes more than one major industry.

For more on The Elkhart Project, click here.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Indiana: Elkhart to receive 6.4 milliion from stimulus funds

In early March, 'Feed the Children' trucks with food and other supplies were in Elkhart to help struggling families.

President Obama was in Elkhart when he was trying to garner support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. At that time the unemployment rate was around 14%, but in January it shot up to 18.3%.

Elkhart has learned it will receive $6.4 million in federal economic stimulus funding a day after Mayor Dick Moore told Gov. Mitch Daniels the city needed help fast.

The city, reeling from job cuts in the recreation vehicle industry, will receive $4.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to rehabilitate a runway at the Elkhart Municipal Airport and $2.25 million in neighborhood stabilization funding through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

"This funding is great news for Elkhart," U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly said in announcing the grant Thursday. "Fixing up the runway at Elkhart Municipal Airport will put shovels in the ground and people to work." source: Examiner.com

18% Unemployment Rate: 'Feed the Children' takes care of folks in Elkhart, Indiana

Elkhart is a couple of hours East of where I am.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

This was Elkhart, Indiana when they received President Barack Obama for a town hall on the economic stimulus plan. The unemployment rate in early February was 15.3%.

Part One

Part Two

Here's how we're doing in my neck of the woods.

According to data released on Friday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in January the unemployment rate in Porter County hit 9.2 percent, compared to the national rate in the same period of 8.5 percent. It was still marginally lower than the state rate of 9.9 percent.

Disturbingly, Porter County’s 9.2 percent unemployment rate in January represents a significant increase of nearly two full points over the 7.4 percent rate in December 2008, the greatest monthly uptick since the rate started galloping last fall (4.5 percent in October, 5.8 percent in November). And that 9.2 percent rate represents better than a doubling of the 4.3 rate in January 2008. source: The Chesterton Tribune

We're not sitting pretty by a long shot, but Elkhart has twice as many worries.

I watched the 'Feed the Children' infomercials on television before. I equate that organization with helping other impoverished nations, not the United States of America. It's good that they are here to help folks like those in Elkhart, Indiana, but it's awfully hard to think that some of our fellow citizens are in such dire straights these days.

If you've got an inkling to help out some American families, here's the link. God bless them and you.

Stimulus Allocation of Funds: Elkhart question - will funds come directly to communities for projects or through the State?

1. There will be an independent board set up of Democrats and Republicans to review how the money is being spent.
2. Recovery.gov will give a report on where the money is going in your community, how it's being spent, how many jobs are being created so that everyday people can track and report if things are not going as planned.
3. Some funding such as unemployment insurance will go directly to the State. On other community projects, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary Ray LaHood may be working directly with municipalities. Transportation and school improvements are examples where direct community interaction with commerce may occur.
   

   
   

Hoosier News: Elkhart County did not go for Barack Obama

I am listening to the live feed from the Elkhart town hall. They are chanting O Bam uh and it is strong and loud. Stronger and louder than I think I ever heard during the campaign cycle.

Go Elkhart!

Go fellow Hoosiers!

Hoosier Obama Spotting: Obama made stop at Shoops in Portage, IN - OUR own Tony Capriglione from Valpo made POLITICO!

POLITICO

By Ben Smith, August 06, 2008

Bayh, Veepstakes vet

Evan Bayh has been considered for the second slot a lot, and he's extremely good at managing the media scrum the veepstakes induce. After Obama's even in Elkhart, he dodged questions about it so effortlessly and convincingly — he said he just didn't know anything — that one of my colleagues remarked he'd given up even trying to write down what Bayh said.

And here's from the pool report at a diner in Portage, IN:

Obama and Bayh came in the front, turned right and started working the booths, ropeline style. Obama passed a table of steelworkers and reached beyond them. A bulky steelworker, a local named Tony Capriglione, shouted out at Bayh, "you get a job offer yet?"The table fell out laughing. Bayh shifted his eyes with mock stealth and discomfort. "Shhhh," he said, walking his eyebrows in Obama's direction.Then a lady in a pink shirt got in on the fun. "He your vice president?" She shouted at Obama. He chuckled and pretended like he was going to ignore her. "I haven't made a decision about my vice president yet," he said over his shoulder. more of Ben Smith here

Pondering Peon: Some folks are thinkin' Barack Obama will choose Evan Bayh as VP.

Some folks are thinking that Barack Obama is going to be Evan Bayh's (my Senator from Indiana) pick for Vice-President, and that the announcement will be made on Tuesday, August 05, 2008, or the next day. One of the reasons is that the ' ObamaBayh08.com ' website name is taken. I guess that is a pretty good indicator. Now my problem is, should I drive over to Elkhart which is about an hour East of where I live tomorrow, or should I just stay home. Something to think about.

More on the The Huffington Post about Bayh speculation.

Peace and Love,

PD