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GREENSBORO — Thank goodness for the new county jail.

The $85 million project helped boost the financial investment in the center city in the last fiscal year to nearly $117 million, according to a recent report from Downtown Greensboro Inc.

Even in a long, deep recession, that’s more than the previous year when investment totaled nearly $51 million.

“I think most folks had determined there would be a decline,” said Ed Wolverton, president and CEO of Downtown Greensboro Inc. “Yet the numbers point to downtown actually strengthening .... Given the economic circumstances, this is quite a feat.”

The numbers, which cover the period from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2009, are based on property transactions and building permits issued.

During that time, the DGI report also shows:

* 262 building renovation and construction projects, which generated $103.4 million in new investment. That compares to 214 projects the previous fiscal year at a value of $29 million.

* 46 property sales valued at $13.6 million. During the previous year, 77 properties were sold for $18.4 million.

* 134 new residential units. That compares to 194 new units the previous year.

* 11 new storefront businesses, compared to 12 a year earlier.

Wolverton admitted the numbers in his annual report surprised even him. But he added the center city’s performance should not be minimized because the jail project carried so much of the total value.

“Every year, there is a big project or two that dominates the numbers,” Wolverton said. “If you eliminate that one project, you are not doing a fair comparison. Granted, the jail is a huge project, but you can’t discount it because it is big.”

Other downtown leaders said they were impressed by the numbers, too.

“If it weren’t for downtown, there wouldn’t be much of anything going on in Greensboro,” said developer Milton Kern. “That’s the one bright spot. It has a glimmer of light.”

In addition to releasing development numbers, DGI also recently honored two center city advocates.

Susan S. Schwartz, executive director of the Cemala Foundation, received the Ed Kitchen Leadership Award and Jim Melvin, president of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, won the Jim Roach Person of the Year Award.

The Kitchen award goes to a person who has been a champion for the revitalization of downtown.

The Roach award went to Melvin for his influence in attracting investment and activity downtown.

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com