Tim Thornton
Owner of Thornton Realty and president of Middle Georgia Association of Realtors
“We see a slight improvement. We’ve been through a historically low period and we feel like we’ve seen the bottoming out. The roadblock is financing. It continues to be challenging ... we’re seeing some improvement.”
Cliffard Whitby
Chairman of Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority
“I’m very optimistic for Macon’s outlook in 2012. ... With some of the initiatives and the vote of confidence from the community with passing the 1 cent sales tax and with the Promise Neighborhood Grant. There are a lot of positive things going on for Macon.”
Monica Smith
President and CEO of the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau
“It’s going to be a year of slow recovery for travel. The issue with the economy and job creation (impacts travel). If people don’t have a job, they’re not going to travel. Airfares are predicted to go up in 2012. People will drive more within a couple of hours so we’re going to market more regionally.”
Mike Ford
NewTown Macon, president and CEO,
“I think we bottomed out; 2012 will have some moderate growth. In the long term, we need to start more small businesses. Downtown, we’re looking to add 20 small businesses” this year.
Mark Stevens
State Bank & Trust Co., marketing president
“I think (2012) will bring more bank failures to Georgia. Unfortunately, between 20 and 30 banks will go into receivership in 2012/early 2013. We’re beginning to see some improvements in the business sector, but not much activity in the number of people borrowing money. We’re cautiously optimistic 2012 will be better than 2011.”
-- Harold Goodridge
