Thursday evening the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce hosted its monthly business mixer at Loudoun Country Day School.  Professionals in the room shared a collective vision: 2011 is going to be a year full of high expectations, growth and optimism.

The downturn in the economy two years ago may have hit businesses hard,, but most business owners present at the mixer saw significant growth in 2010, in terms of both clientele and profits. 

“Our membership grew last year,” said Tony Howard, President of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.  “That’s indicative that businesses are doing better; they’ve started marketing more aggressively.”

Even the real estate market in Loudoun County, one of the markets most affected by the economic downturn, is growing again.

“The market was up 8 percent in sales prices in 2010,” explained Dave Jones with Long and Foster.  “There was pent up demand,” and that has worked in everyone’s favor over the past year.

Janet Hanchuck, owner of Loudoun Home Consulting which specializes in organization and home staging, more than doubled her business in 2010.  During the real estate crisis she actually shifted her focus to home staging to accommodate the overwhelming number of foreclosures and desperate homeowners trying to sell.  The average number of days that her homes stayed on the market: 7.9. 

“As business owners we need to be able to adjust to the economy and make it work for us,” Hanchuck explained.

Small business owner, Jim Huber of Huberspace Web Design, is optimistic about the future of his business.  In 2010 he doubled his number of clients from 2009.

“My business is affected by the economy when small businesses choose to cut back on marketing in bad times,” he said.  Now that his numbers are on the rise again, he’s concluded that businesses are not making the same cut backs that they made two years ago.

Even the school in which the mixer was held has seen growth.

“This week we enrolled 2 new students, bringing our current enrollment to 294 students.  We now have the highest enrollment in the history of the school,” said Amy Warner, Communications Director for Loudoun Country Day School.

Although the future of the economy in Loudoun County is unclear, one thing is: business owners are enthusiastic stepping into the New Year. 

The Chamber’s President, Tony Howard said it best, “The strength of the workforce is what it’s all about and Loudoun County has a smart population.  We’re a knowledge economy and that won’t change anytime soon.”