As I return to authoring this page, I expect that most of us in this industry are ready to turn the page on the calendar and put 2009 behind us – forever.

It has been a difficult year for many. What most people outside of the land development industry may forget is that we started experiencing and feeling the tough ­economic times before the bulk of the country. It was late 2007 that we started seeing a change in attitude and actions among professionals in this industry. No doubt that October 2008 was the decisive month that doomed the economy, with the formal but the precursors started a year earlier.

The theme for 2009 was survival. Many individuals and businesses in the industry did not. It was a painful and frustrating year. We continually hear about the increase in foreclosures and unemployment statistics, but it is the hidden numbers that we do not hear or see.

Our industry is comprised of ­thousands of self-employed builders, developers, contractors, design consultants, and other ancillary professionals. These folks are not eligible to collect ­unemployment and often have their personal property and assets as guarantees for their professional debts. I have heard from many – and read the stories of others - that the homes, ­savings, and retirement funds that they had accumulated and saved over the years has dwindled.

In addition to dwindling assets, the noose around the credit markets has provided another ongoing challenge. President Barrack Obama recently urged the banks that have initiated paying back the government bailout funds following their successful recovery to make sure they assist small businesses by opening up credit ­options.
The upcoming year is ­critical for many. There are many theories as to what the pages of 2010 will have on them. Some say that a recovery in imminent; others that we are still a year away. Most industry insiders and experts concur that the worst is behind us. The rate of recovery is the real question and it results in a diverse set of answers.

While there have been many ­incentives to spur the rebirth of the land development industry – actually, the housing market to be more specific – they have resulted in a myriad of ­results. Ironically, some may have helped the sort-term with little long-term benefit, and others have yet to show benefits yet. Some of these will be detailed in our annual industry outlook that is featured in this issue.

Also featured in this issue is the first Land Development Buyers Guide. It is a compilation of many of the top product and service providers – who have also been through a difficult period. Many have been loyal to this publication and to SLDI for many years. As you begin experiencing a rebound and the return to development activity, we encourage you to turn the pages of this magazine and the buyer’s guide to find the businesses that understand sustainable ­development is a balance between ­people, planet, and profit.