ELKHART -- In the past few months, there has been a flurry of good news in Elkhart County -- an Adversity Index rating "in recovery," returning RV sales and the still dipping unemployment rate.

So as the year draws to an end, a question begs to be asked: What's the outlook for 2010?

It's a question The Elkhart Truth posed to local businesspersons during the Elkhart Chamber of Commerce's annual Biz-ness Expo, held this year at the RV/MH Hall of Fame.

From a sampling of the 100-plus businesses and organizations that attended the event, anecdotes of a recovering economy and optimism emerged.

THE UPSCALE RESTAURANTS

While the Expo featured promos and games, the smell of food also lingered in the air of the RV Hall of Fame. Several locally owned and operated restaurants set up shop around the building, handing out free samples and rebates.

At the Chubby Trout's booth, steam rose from the hot platters -- samples from the upscale restaurant's menu.

"We have a middle-class clientele and from talking to them, they're seeing a turn in the RV and auto industries and they are passing that onto us," said Chubby Trout general manager Ryan Snyder.

It's a trend Snyder believes will continue through 2010.

Stationed just a few booths from the Chubby Trout, Mad Anthony's had set up shop and was also handing out samples. Like Snyder, owner Eric Brewer cited recent trends for his optimism of the next year.

"In the fall we've seen a lot more traffic and people downtown," Brewer said. "It's going to be good year."

THE AQUARIUM PROFESSIONAL

Shawn Castaneda, president of Michiana Aquarium Professionals, also believes his business is on the upswing. He expects his customer base to double and triple in 2010.

Why? Because he's the lone provider of aquarium maintenance and set-up in the area.

"One of our main competitors is going out of business," Castaneda said. "We're going to be about the only company in the area that provides what we provide."

THE LONE CAR DEALERSHIP

The expo's coordinator, Denise Polachek, said this year brought the most diverse group of businesses and organizations. Still, there was only one car dealership at the event, Harold Zeigler Ford Lincoln Mercury.

The dealership's general manager, Nelson Neal, said sales have been up and that the local success is due to Ford's composure amid the financial meltdown.

"One of the things that we are seeing and hearing from customers on just about a daily basis is that they are coming into our showroom because Ford doesn't have any government involvement," Neal said, pointing to the corporations refusal of federal funds.

"I believe we are beginning to see signs of a recovery. I know that it has been very encouraging for us that Ford made money in the third quarter (of 2009). I think we've seen the worst of it."

THE MARKETING COMPANY

"Outlook's good, actually," answered Tom Stout, president of Burston Marketing Inc., when asked about 2010.

Stout said that in the last 60 days Burston Marketing, which provides promotional apparel, accessories and other resources, has experienced the effects of a recovering market.

"We're getting a lot of new business but it seems like smaller orders," Stout said. "A lot of companies are starting to crawl out from under the desk."

Stout said a lot of companies are beginning to see the importance of advertising, even when resources are tight.

"If you're not promoting yourself when the economy does turn around then they're not going to remember you."

THE INSURANCE COMPANY

Standing under a blue tent and around an above-ground fire pit visitors could win, insurance agents from Schultz Insurance LLC handed out information about their agency.

When asked about their outlook for 2010, the answer was multifaceted. Like other businesses at the Expo, however, it was hopeful.

"Our business is closely tied to the economy," explained Darren Goodwin, an insurance agent at Schultz Insurance. "Premiums are based on sales, so whether our prices go up or down is based on sales. We do workers compensation insurance, so if employees are getting laid off our rates are quite a bit lower. So our business is a pretty good barometer for what the economy's doing. "

So what does that barometer read? Another insurance agent at the booth, Kirk Elliot, explained.

"The consensus is it's better," Elliot said. "It's not as good as it was in 2007. But it's going to better than it was in 2008."

MOST DIVERSE EVER

The 2009 Biz-ness Expo featured 112 businesses and organizations, 18 percent more than last year according to the event coordinator Denise Polachek.

Of those, nearly a third were new.

"This is probably the most diverse show we've ever had," Polachek said.