according to Tom Mullins, president/CEO of the Tyler Economic Development Council & Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce.  Our Smith County is one of the fastest-growing counties in East Texas, with 3,000 to 3,500 people moving here each year and Texas is growing more rapidly than any other, with an average of 1,000 new people becoming Texans every day.  Mullins said people usually don’t move unless they have jobs or businesses in the area.  Much growth in this area.  Unemployment in the Tyler area is averaging 8%, higher than Mullins wants it to be.    Still below the  state’s 8.7% andthe nations’s at 9.1%.  Tyler is regional retail hub.  Home sales have been down, but average price of homes has been up in the past 5 years.  Now the number of huses being solid trending up while HOME PRICES ARE DOWN.  People are more realistic about selling, if they need to sell.   Building permits are down.