Rosy outlook for Solano in new report

By Matthew Bunk

FAIRFIELD - Solano County will lead the nine-county Bay Area in taxable sales growth for the next two years, according to a forecast by the Association of Bay Area Governments.As the Bay Area's economic outlook improves, it's expected that business investment will rise. And Solano County is expected to lead the way.Taxable sales, a measure of economic growth, rose at an average 5.6 percent in the Bay Area in 2004 and will grow about 5 percent in 2005 and 2006, according to ABAG analysts. Solano County is expected to exceed that with 6.5 percent growth in 2005 and 6.2 percent growth in 2006.Napa County will follow with a 6 percent increase both years. Most other counties will see that figure grow by less than 5 percent.The Bay Area's recovery is "still slow, but improving," according to an ABAG report. Projections show the region will add about 40,000 jobs in 2005 and another 61,000 in 2006.

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