Roger G. Hopkins, executive director of the DeKalb County Development Corporation, delivered an optimistic assessment of the c ity of DeKalb’s economic future to the DeKalb City Council Jan. 14. Hopkins acknowledged that while the recession has indeed hurt and, in some cases, closed down some local businesses, there has been an influx of new, high-end national chain stores that should help alleviate the local economic downturn.

“Housing stats have remained stable throughout the 1990s at roughly 1.8 percent, but I think we can see a change on the horizon,” Hopkins said. “The growth rate could rise to three to four percent.”

Hopkins said Kishwaukee Hospital’s board was far-sighted 10 years ago when it predicted an upsurge in the number of medical professionals who would move out here.

“Stores such as Borders are moving in to cater to this new base of upper-middle class residents,” he said.

In December the recession brought a drop in sales in Naperville and Oak Brook, but DeKalb’s sales actually increased, Hopkins said.

First ward Ald. Andy Small said companies look for unemployment in the areas they move to so that they know they’ll be able to find workers. “Do we have high enough of an unemployment rate to attract employers?” he asked.

Hopkins said although the recession did help raise the number of unemployed in DeKalb, new retail businesses were expected to continue opening in the area to serve the influx of medical professionals. These shops should help lower the number of people left unemployed because of the recession.

“In a college town, the unemployment rate should be optimally one percent less than the state average,” Hopkins said. He added the city of DeKalb had been nearing that target before the recession began.

According to the “DeKalb County Economic Profile,” produced by the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, the county’s average unemployment rate in 2001 was 4.3 percent.

In 2000, by comparison, the average unemployment rate of 3.3 percent had fluctuated between four percent in January and 3.1 percent in December, with a low of 2.3 percent in October.