When the subject of the economy comes up these days, it seems to me I’m living in two worlds. In the world reported by the popular press, the economy is still struggling, with job creation minimal and international financial crises creating uncertainty among investors worldwide.

But in the manufacturing world, many anecdotal reports indicate the economy is recovering.

In the latest sign this is the case, rapid casting producer Clinkenbeard was featured on a local news channel as a company that has been able to grow despite the flagging economy.

“We have a strategy that should work in any economy,” company Vice President Reg Gustafson told the Rockford, Ill., CBS affiliate. “We’re investing in people. People are the hardest thing to get.”

Gustafson said Clinkenbeard has added four full-time employees since October, and it isn’t the only company in the metalcasting world that has reported similar growth. We can only hope the trend will continue and our two economic worlds will realign in the near future.