WHILE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE, KINGPORT ACTUALLY BUCKED THE TREND BY REALIZING 43.8 MILLION DOLLARS IN NEW CONSTRUCTION AND INVESTMENTS IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER. CITY SPOKESMAN TIM WHALEY SAID EASTMAN CHEMICAL COMPANY, FOR EXAMPLE, APPLIED FOR A 20 MILLION DOLLARS BUILDING PERMIT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PRODUCTION FACILITY IN THE MODEL CITY IN LATE SEPTEMBER. HE ADDED THAT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING CONSTRUCTION ALSO REMAINED STEADY. 96 NEW SINGLE FAMILY HOMES HAVE BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN KINGSPORT THROUGH OCTOBER. DEVELOPERS ALSO ADDED 108 APARTMENT UNITS AND 19 CONDOMINIUMS SO FAR THIS YEAR. MEANWHILE, SINCE THE END OF 2007, KINGSPORT HAS ALSO SEEN THE OPENING OF SEVEN NEW RESTAURANTS. CITY LEADERS BELIEVE THEY NEED TO CONTINUE MAKING KEY INVESTMENTS TO ENSURE THAT KINGSPORT REMAINS ATTRACTIVE AS NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ARISE.