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KIRKSVILLE,MO. -- Carolyn Chrisman has now been the K-REDI Director of Job Creation for a week.

There is a lot of work on her plate for 2012.

There is good news to help ease her into the transition.

The state of Missouri is looking at unemployment rates at its lowest in 34 months.

Carolyn hopes to bank on that statistic this year.

"We don't want to bring in just retail because it takes an economic base for people to buy at those retails places.That's not my focus at all even though people tease me about trying to bring a restaurant or two in.The focus is more a move on technology, service and then as the economy gets better manufacturing," Chrisman said.

Missouri added almost 11,000 manufacturing jobs in 2011 and the number is looking to rise in 2012.

The numbers not only make Missouri look attractive, but northeastern Missouri as well.