Unemployment data released Thursday by the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services shows that over 200 new unemployment claims were filed last week. This comes as total unemployment in the county slowly drops and others who were previously unemployed begin to head back to work.

A total of 3,326 unemployment claims were filed for the reporting period ending June 6, the lowest for Muskingum County since March 28, when the shutdown began to take full effect.

Bret Crow, Communications Director for the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, said on June 4 that the state’s unemployment trust fund balance stood at $104,572,391.71, with the fund estimated to become insolvent near the middle of the month.

According to Governor Mike DeWine and verified through filings by the state of Ohio with the federal government, the state expects to borrow money from the U.S. Treasury to cover unemployment expenditures.

Currently, the additional federally-backed $600 per week those on unemployment receive will expire at the end of July with lawmakers unlikely to renew it, according to multiple national media outlets.

Matt Abbott, Director of the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, said many businesses were deemed essential and allowed to stay open during the shutdown in Muskingum County.

“As businesses have started to get back moving, we have capital investments that businesses are taking on, we have employers that are hiring,” said Abbott.

Dollar General, Bilco, AutoZone, Kellogg and Bimbo Bakery are just some of the many businesses Abbott referenced that are currently hiring.

“I think things are definitely moving in the right direction, we’ve seen record low unemployment in February and this hit and we’ve seen some record highs. The unemployment number is starting to come down which is positive, employers are investing dollars in their facilities, they are investing dollars in their people and a lot of our larger employers are hiring. It’s a positive sign and hopefully, we can steer this ship into a position of recovery in a quick manner,” said Abbott.

Dollar General recently announced it will be expanding its facility at the EastPointe Business Park by 130,000 square feet and adding 55 new jobs.

The distribution center first opened in 2001, and the expansion will allow the company to handle fresh and cold storage products.

“Dollar General is closing in on about 20 years in our community. They’ve been a great employer, they’ve been a very community-minded company, they’ve helped and benefited a lot of charities,” said Abbott.