Tom Redmond, Carbondale Planning Services director, said a good economic climate for the past few years has helped bring new businesses to the city. Nine new businesses are under construction.

There’s been a good climate for quite awhile, he said, and they (businesses) see Carbondale as another possibility to expand their businesses.

Don Monty, Carbondale Community Service director and assistant city manager, said the good national market is not the only reason for the number of new businesses in Carbondale.

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In part, with national stores, they’ve pretty well saturated the metropolitan markets, he said. If they want to continue to grow, they need to look at secondary markets (like Carbondale).

Both Monty and Redmond said that such saturation does not concern them.

It’s not normally a municipality’s role to say who can do business and who can’t, Redmond said. If someone wants to take a chance and compete in the market, they can.

The number of new businesses being built this year is somewhat above average, but not incredibly high, Monty said.

Looking over the past 20 years, I would not say it is an unusual year, he said. It’s not a typical year, but it’s not way out of line.

Redmond said the construction being seen now is the result of several months of work.

Most of what is being seen now, he said, was approved six months to a year ago.

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Many of the new businesses are still being constructed, including the following:Lone Star Steakhouse and Saloon is renovating the old Shoney’s restaurant at 1160 E. Main St. Its owners hope to open early next year.

Office Max is being constructed behind Applebee’s Grill & Bar, 1125 E. Main St.

Hollywood Video is taking root at the corner of Main Street and Oakland Avenue.

Ramada Limited is being built behind Pier 1 Imports Inc., 1401 E. Main St.

Arby’s is constructing a new restaurant next to McDonald’s, 1396 E. Main St.

A second Saluki Bookstore is being built next to Hangar 9, 511 S. Illinois Ave.

Johnny B’s Pro Lube is being constructed west of Mugsy McGuire’s Pizzeria, 1620 W. Main St. Dirtbusters carwash will be at the same location.

BP Economart gas station is being built next to Warehouse Liquor Mart, 829 E. Main St.

A new branch of the SIU Credit Union is being built on East Sunny Acres Road off of North Giant City Road.

Redmond did not know when the businesses will open.

Several other businesses recently have opened, including:Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, 1170 E. Rendleman Rd., which opened in January; Blockbuster Video, 1330 E. Main St., which opened in February; Staples, 1325 E. Main St., which opened in April; The Hobby Lobby, 1150 E. Main St., which opened in April; Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1300 E. Main St., which opened in April; and Schnuck’s, 915 W. Main St., which opened in August.

Monty said controlling the types of businesses in the city is not necessary.

You let the free market do its thing, he said. The ones who have it figured out will survive.

Monty said although failed businesses sometimes leave empty businesses behind, they are usually filled within a year, and there is no need to limit business.

You just roll with the punches and let the businesses build as long as they meet the zoning requirements, he said. In the long run, the economic growth benefits the entire community.

An increase in the number of businesses also can attract others to Carbondale.

Business attracts other business, Monty said. A strong retail economy tends to grow on itself.

The businesses not only benefit the city through sales and property tax, but also for the state, because more people are working.

From a broader prospective, there’s a benefit to the state by virtue of more income tax, Monty said.

And a percentage of collected state income tax is allocated back to city governments.

Redmond’s office approves the development requirements for new businesses within the city.

We usually are working with businesses to meet the city’s requirements, he said. We’re not out recruiting businesses.

There’s been a pretty steady growth over the past three years.