When Morgan County’s business and political leaders met for their annual review last year, the county’s unemployment rate was 5.4 percent.

According to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations, that rate is now 10.4 percent. But despite the near doubling of joblessness here, the Morgan County Economic Development Association looked back at fiscal 2009 with a positive view.

“Looking at the history of economic development in Morgan County, we have a lot to be proud of,” EDA Chairman Lynn Fowler said during the association’s annual meeting Thursday night at the Decatur Country Club.

The historical success included fiscal 2009, Fowler said. But instead of generating success through new industries, the association generated success through the expansions at those three companies produced a $450 million investment and created 102 jobs.

What fiscal 2010 holds remains in question, and forecasting future growth is close to impossible.

“We see glimmers of hope. September was an active month with talk about new projects and inquiries from industries,” said EDA President Jeremy Nails. “Then in October, everything slowed down again.”

Officials are relying on the Morgan Center Business Park on Interstate 65 in Hartselle to help spur growth. The county broke ground on the $16.7 million industrial park Nov. 4.

“It is going to get better, it is just going to be slow recovery,” said Nails.

Currently, Alabama’s unemployment rate is 10.7 percent.