Well done
It's been a good year for the City of Hillsboro.
Despite a state budget crisis that has sometimes filtered down to the local level, the city's organizations have, for the most part, remained strong.
The school district has weathered budget cuts and months when the state didn't send the whole check.
The city now faces a cut in its state aid, courtesy of the governor's attempts at budget slashing.
That's at the state level. But locally, things are looking up.
Here are a few reasons why.
In 2002, we got a new furniture store, new photo developing business, a new fitness center, and a new real estate business. A bank moved into a new building, and several other businesses moved into new office space.
A record crowd of 60,000 people attended the September Arts and Crafts Fair, bringing their sales tax dollars to the craft booths and stores all across town.
Various sports tournaments and meets brought even more visitors to town.
A new county microloan program enabled a local woman to start her own Main Street business.
More local companies celebrated decades of successful business — places like Irv Schroeder County Motors, Greehaw Pharmacy, and the Donahue Corporation.
The local medical clinic hired another top-notch physician.
The city bought the former AMPI building at an amazing price — and now, the police force will take advantage of the much-needed space.
This list is by no means exhaustive. I apologize if I left anyone out — which I probably did.
But this is just a brief sampling of some of the goings-on that have boosted the Hillsboro economy.
The future looks bright.
— JENNIFER WILSON
