Like many places, Albert Lea saw its share of ups and downs in the economy in 2019.

While the community saw some business closures, it also saw a significant number of business openings and renovations.

After many years stagnant or even on the decline, South Broadway is now seeing renewed interest and life with new businesses popping up throughout the corridor — and more are expected in the future.

The downtown is continuing to experience a rebirth with more expected to come in 2020 with Albert Lea now being part of the Main Street Minnesota program. Other communities that have been a part of the program have seen positive growth, improvement in their Main Street district and increased foot traffic and activities. Adding these things to the success that’s already been seen downtown, and it should be an exciting time for the community.

While some of the negative things in the community are unavoidable and happen because of national decisions or other factors, there are many things we can do as a community to move forward with hope — not only for the new year but also a new decade.

The question is, will you jump on board and help that growth?