By By JESSICA SIEFF / Niles Daily Star
According to figures released Friday – America lost more than 500,000 jobs in December – shedding little light on the employment woes hitting cities, counties and townships nationwide.
But numbers released earlier this week in the Main Street Messenger would suggest a few positive aspects to the current state of the downtown district.
Happy news, as downtown readies itself for one of its biggest and most anticipated events of the year – the Fifth Annual Hunter Ice Festival, which runs Jan. 16-18.
"I think that this is going to be a really exciting year," Lisa Croteau, executive director of Niles Main Street, said Friday.
According to Croteau, the downtown district is home to 563 jobs – that number includes those employed by the Wonderland Cafe and movie theatre and Lakeland Hospital.
There were eight new businesses and eight buildings sold for the year – the figures of which were collected between the month of July '07 and June of '08.
But looking at this year's report compared to just four years ago seems to insinuate a sense of stability downtown.
New businesses increased by 54 since 2004, factored in with closings, the total number of businesses – which stands at 187 for 2008 increased by 22 over those four years.
Croteau agreed that businesses that have come here seem to be staying here.
There are of course closings and openings to be factored in, she added, but overall the outlook is positive.
"The community has been tremendously supportive of downtown," she said.
And exciting things are coming – she added.
"We are very grateful," Croteau said, "and we are very thankful."
For more information visit: www.nilesmainstreet.org