The Economic Restructuring Committee of Main Street Washington in conjunction with Main Street Iowa recently presented information to Washington business owners regarding market area within the city and county. Ed Raber, Executive Director of the Washington Economic Development Group and volunteer member of the Restructuring Committee describes the goals of the group as making information and resources available to business owners to help them find success. The information presented included ESRI population and economic figures of citizens within five, ten and twenty minute driving distances of Washington, in an attempt to help business owners familiarize themselves with their potential customer base. Raber stated some of the information they found surprising was the number of vacant homes in the area. Raber attributes that to persons moving into a retirement community and to a lesser extent foreclosure. Raber also said that the area has a higher level of outright home owners, those that no longer pay a mortgage. Raber says the next step is to make this information accessible to area business owners and all of those that can benefit from it. To view the information from the Main Street Washington Economic Restructuring Committee click here.