The report on economic development for the Dayton Region is best summed up in the words of Charles Dickens, from A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” The Region has been struck by extremely hard economic times…and the messages have been mixed. In the span of one year, the Region was recognized as one of the 10 fastest dying cities, and then as one of the 100 fastest recovering cities and one of the top bang for your bucks cities. The Region was hit hard by the announced departure of NCR, in the same year that regional partners were recognized for top numbers of successful expansions and relocations in the country. Unemployment and foreclosure rates hit record highs while job growth outcomes were some of the best in recent history.

It is with that contrast that the report on economic development and advocacy in the Dayton Region for 2009 is delivered.