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(WJZ) BALTIMORE After years on the decline, Baltimore businesses appear to be on the verge of an economic comeback. Of course, that news is evident to the naked eye with major construction and reconstruction projects occurring across the city.

"About four years ago people start to rediscover Baltimore and realize it has a lot of tremendous attributes and reasons to be hopeful for great success," Donald Fry, President of the Greater Baltimore Committee, tells WJZ's Tim Williams.

The Greater Baltimore Committee is responsible for bringing large-scale development and revitalization to the city. Fry points to renewed interest in the city which is driving the housing and business markets--much of it from people who left the city years ago.

"And when they see the activity, they see the excitement that's occurring, and they see the new projects, it makes them think, "Boy I'd better get in on this while I can,'" Fry said.

According to the committee, Baltimore lost more than 60,000 jobs and 85,000 residents during the 1990s. But since 2000, projects worth nearly $11 billion are completed or nearly finished, and 11,000 new jobs have been created.

Business leaders say Baltimore is experiencing a renaissance. While there are many economic indicators to show you how well a city is doing, Fry says one way to tell is simply by looking up.

"If you just count the number of cranes that are dotting the skyline, that will give you an indication of how healthy that city is," he said.