The Lawrence County Port Authority took time to discuss new parking-related projects and the need for more skilled workers during their regular meeting on Tuesday morning, before entering into an executive session.

Dr. Bill Dingus, executive director of the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation, said that with the expansion of Care 24/7 and other expected growth in the downtown, the city is reaching a “crisis situation in the courthouse area.”

He said that they are currently looking at two different locations that could be used to increase parking in the area, particularly around the Care 24/7 building, where that company hopes to add up to 80 new employees in the coming months.

However, he noted, the company was having some issues with finding enough skilled talent to fill the roles. The company employs nurses and medical professionals to provide follow up and support services for those recovering from hospital stays.

“It’s sad when you have so many people out of work,” Dingus said, “but can’t find people with the skills (to fill jobs).”

The lack of adequate skilled talent and negative perceptions of the area, he said, work together to discourage some companies from locating in the region.

“It’s hard to recruit, too, because businesses view the Huntington metro area as drug-central,” Dingus said.

“I think that, a lot of times, that perception has been pushed all over the country,” he continued.

He explained that the Huntington/Ashland metro area was “not necessarily any worse” than other regions, “we just talk about (the drug problems) more.”