SUMMERDALE, AL - One local town is trying to weather the economy and grow at the same time.

Channel Three's Jake Peterson joins us from Summerdale Alabama with more.

Leaders in this town of under a thousand want their community to grow..they just started a marketing campaign, which includes these billboards..

You'll see these signs whenever you drive on Highway Fifty-Nine.

They say Summerdale is open for business, but some established local shops are already struggling.

From the local gas station,

"We've had our good days and bad days."

To the hardware store.

"Up and down one month we didn't hardly do anything."

Business owners are noticing a trend in declining sales.

Tru Value manager George Williams says some days are ok, but most days are slow.

He had less than fifty dollars in sales by lunchtime.

"If I let it bother me I'd go into a state of depression.

A depression is what Summerdale business man Norman Dunlap is scared of.

He's afraid the actions on Wall Street will effect his bank accounts.

"I've worked all my life to have something and it looks like i may lose it all overnight unless something happens with this bailout and they secure the stockmarket."

Dunlap only has one word to describe his flea market's monthly sales.

"Slow very slow, it looks like its getting worse, I'm just paying the rent that's all im doing right now."

"The people just don't have any money that's the main thing."

Business leaders are glad town leaders are marketing Summerdale.

They hope these billboards do their job.

"I would just like to see more industry come to the area that pays more than many wage."

"I'm all for businesses moving in."

"I really think it would help to have more businesses."

Baldwin county Economic Development leaders say Summerdale does have some leads with a few small industrial companies.

The overall financial outlook for the Mobile- Baldwin County area is good.

This is expecting to be one of the fastest growing areas in the country over the next few years.Summerdale Business