As the recession wanes, Columbia seems to be emerging from the economic downturn in relatively good shape. The long-awaited transformation of Shoemaker School into the Monroe County Welcome Center was completed this year, part of an expansion of local tourism. There has been some new commercial development (a Dollar General store and a new building for Quality Collision & Towing), more than forty new home starts, little increase in commercial vacancies and an upswing in the number of new businesses opening, including several along Main Street, which is developing a stronger identity through joint promotional efforts. Sales tax collections are at a five-year high.
Even more important may be the foundation Columbia is preparing for future economic growth. A county-wide tourism effort focused on the historic Cahokia-Kaskaskia Trail is gathering momentum and producing results. Locally, Columbia is finally moving ahead with locating and commemorating Piggot's Fort, the largest fortified American settlement in the American Bottoms of the late 18th Century. City leaders are beginning a marketing effort to retailers and other developers that may begin to pay dividends by matching businesses pursuing expansion plans (like ECF, Inc.) with developable parcels. City government is also pushing ahead with updated planning and a long-awaited investment strategy for Main Street. Economic development professionals from both the City's Community & Economic Development Department and the Monroe County Economic Development Council will be renewing efforts to support growth of small entrepreneurs in every way possible--both will be using the newly-developed strategic plan (completed in 2011) as a guide.
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