KOKOMO, Ind. -- Kokomo has earned the dubious distinction of being in the county with the largest unemployment jump in the country, highlighting difficult times in a city whose biggest employer is Chrysler.

Mayor Greg Goodnight recently returned from a trip to Italy, where he met with company officials to talk about the new Chrysler-Fiat partnership, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

With an unemployment rate of 19.2 percent, nearly one in five Kokomo residents is out of work, including Jennifer Culp, who lost her job and recently moved back in with her parents.

"I've filled out applications everywhere and called on them," she said. "There's nothing here in town right now."

Although the situation is still dire, the jobless rate should improve quite a bit when new numbers are released. Thousands of Chrysler workers have been returning to work slowly as the company emerged from bankruptcy.

Goodnight said Kokomo's four plants have not been targeted for closure, but many unknowns remain.

"They were very clear that we were part of their future, but they were also very honest and said that everything hinges on the volume of sales and the turnaround of this economy," Goodnight said.

The mayor also met with several companies in Italy who are considering investments in the Midwest, possibly in Indiana.

Two of the companies considering an Indiana investment are a light manufacturer and an alternative energy firm.