Kamloops has seen its highest number of business closures since 2008, with 408 shutting down compared with the five-year average of 352.

But the City has also seen construction values hit $101 million, above last year’s numbers and above the 10-year average.

City development and engineering services director Marvin Kwiatkowski mapped out those figures as part of a mid-year report Tuesday.

There were still 375 new business licences issued so far this year, which is down from this time last year but above the five-year average overall, he said.

Coun. Tina Lange was concerned about the business closure number. She has suggested doing exit interviews with those business owners to find out if there’s anything the City can do to help, and her idea was forwarded to the Chamber of Commerce.

No one at council knew if the chamber was doing those interviews, but Kwiatkowski said he’d look into it.

Other goals achieved mid-year include the finalization of the Tranquille neighbourhood plan, the draft of the airshed management plan, a pre-design on the Summit Drive crossing and Peterson Creek culvert, the beginning of installation of the transit shelters and benches, completion of the Valleyview bike/pedestrian interchange and the groundbreaking on the sewage treatment centre.