Charting Columbia’s economic indicators
While nearly all of Columbia’s economic indicators declined in 2008 compared with previous years, two categories show healthy increases: utility customers and airport traffic.
Population: 102,169
There has been steady growth in water and electric customers, with about 2 percent growth every month, which generally parallels population growth.
The latest population estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau was 99,173 as of July 2007. Columbia’s population has grown about 2 percent per year since 2000. (It’s no coincidence, which is why CBT tracks utility hook-ups) So if you assume that the 2 percent growth continued, the city’s population is now slightly above 102,000.
Airline passenger target: 30,000
While national figures show fewer people are boarding passenger airplanes during this economic downturn, boarding at Columbia Regional Airport has more than doubled in late 2008. An average of 2,000 passengers a month boarded Mesaba’s Northwest Airlink flights in the past three months, and the airport’s goal is to have 30,000 passengers in 2009, which would match the usage before the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks caused widespread reductions in traffic.
Mesaba started offering three flights to and from Memphis on Aug. 19. Mesaba recently informed the city that the Columbia airport was among the top five of the 56 cities where it provides air service. Passengers filled an average of 70 percent of the seats on the 32-seat planes, which gave Columbia the distinction of having the highest load factor in Mesaba’s service area.
City construction permits Applications issued in December for valuations above $50,000
Mike Keevins
906 Woodon
$1,209,564
New multi-family, five or more units
Tompkins Homes and Development, Inc.
6210 Bridle Bend
$861,765
New single family detached
Don Houser
5609 Saddle Ridge
$425,000
New single family detached
David Parmley
1219 Fellows
$269,711
New commercial amusement and recreation
John Hansman Construction
6705 Chelan
$230,000
New single family detached
Mays Medical Properties
105 N. Keene
$227,736
Commercial alteration, nonresidential
Blair Construction
3204 Cannery Row
$190,000
New single family detached
Lifestyle Homes, Inc.
1012 Marcassin
$185,000
New single family attached
Lifestyle Homes, Inc.
1014 Marcassin
$185,000
New single family attached
John Hansman Construction
403 Stallworth
$180,000
New single family detached
Ryan Clifton
4309 Orrine
$166,000
New single family detached
Homestyles by Boyer, LLC
4905 Rainbow Trout
$165,000
New single family detached
Dixon Builders
2501 Vandiver
$130,000
Commercial addition, nonresidential
Professional Contractors & Engineers, Inc.
1907 Gordon
$122,374
New commercial stores and customer service
L&J Development, Inc.
2011 Corona
$96,000
Commercial alteration, nonresidential
CMK Partnership, LLC
1603 Chapel Hill
$84,903
Commercial alteration, nonresidential
Professional Contractors & Engineers, Inc.
4800 Paris
$74,138
Commercial addition, nonresidential
General Growth Properties
2300 Bernadette
$55,000
Commercial alteration, nonresidential
General Growth Properties
2300 Bernadette
$52,040
Commercial alteration, nonresidential