KOKOMO, Ind. -- While unemployment numbers fell statewide Friday, nowhere was the news more celebrated than in Howard County, where hundreds of autoworkers are now back on the job.

Howard County enjoyed a huge drop of more than 2 percent, from 14.7 percent to 12.6 percent, due in large part to Chrysler calling back workers after the struggling automaker emerged from bankruptcy, 6News' Renee Jameson reported.

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"I wasn't sure I was going to be able to see a retirement out here," said Rick Ward, the chief steward of United Auto Workers Local 685. "And it looks like we're really close to having new product brought here … a new front-wheel-drive transmission that we'll work with the Fiat."

The more than 3,700 workers employed at four Chrysler facilities in Kokomo have had a rocky road this year, along with the businesses they frequent.

"Yeah, since Chrysler, I'd say my business has increased about a third from what it was," said owner of Jim's Pizza, Jim Clark. "There's a lot of places that went under, and there's maybe more that will go under, but somebody's going to have to survive."

Kokomo Mayor Greg Goodnight said he is pleased with the progress and the overall drop in unemployment, and said he hopes they've seen the worst.

"I'm not going to be satisfied until everybody that's looking for employment has found employment, but the fact is, 2 percent in a month's time, that's something to be excited about," he said.

Goodnight said there is also a potential non-auto industry-related deal in the works that would bring a fair amount of jobs to Kokomo. He said he would know more in a month.