Danville's population took a hit when companies like General Motors, General Electric and forklift maker Hyster shut their plants in the 1990s -- and it has stagnated ever since.
And while new manufacturers -- including Alstom and ThyssenKrupp -- have replaced the old factories, many local workers don't have the skills to fill the new jobs.
Danville's unemployment rate climbed to 11.8% in January, even though there are currently 1,700 jobs available in the area, according to Vicki Haugen, CEO of Vermillion Advantage, a private association of local companies working to further area development.
Hoping to reverse their losses, the association is working with employers and Danville Area Community College to train workers for those positions.
