According to January unemployment data, Montgomery County's Rates went down from last year, but continue to be among the worst in the state. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released the February results for Illinois. The state unemployment rate dropped from 7.9 percent in February 2014 to six percent for this year. Montgomery County's unemployment rate fell from 11.5 percent last year to 7.9 percent, but is still one of the worst in the state. (You can find that data here: IL February Unemployment Rates

Montgomery County Board Chairman Roy Hertel says the county needs jobs.

"Jobs are created by private business. Government is not the answer to employ people, it's private business and the creation of jobs. Montgomery County has been lagging behind and it has for quite some time and we are trying to change that."

Hertel says some of the changes include the county coming up with a list of things to offer a business.

"In other words, if you want to come to the city of Hillsboro, you're going to get X, Y and Z. I think Litchfield has that kind of a list and the county needs to have that same kind of a list - what can we offer."

To hear the full interview with Roy Hertel, you can listen to The Forum.3/31/15 Thomack