As long as the capital markets are in turmoil, I don't see additional retail coming here. I'm watching with interest for that Hampton Inn and Ihop out at Triple L to begin construction. Eburg is too dependent on residential construction at the lower end, and, I believe that is manifesting itself throughout our local economy as folks hold on tight to what little cash they have. In turn, that drives people to shop out of town to make ends meet who might otherwise spend dollars here.

No matter how hard anyone wishes it to be so, retail alone will not provide living wage jobs nor substantial tax revenues without the basic realization that our economy is basically delicately balanced on the two legs of government sector jobs and the hay industry. Construction is an unstable third leg as the current facts of life demonstrate. The bottom line here is that we must bring in additional private industry that is not construction based.

I'll try to dress up a bit next time I head downtown to eat and dust the hay off hubby's jeans. Didn't know we were inadvertantly scaring people away from the eating establishments . . .