The nation is said to be on its way back up after three years of economic decline, and that rise in business is happening in Brookhaven as well.

     Downtown Brookhaven has two new businesses and one that’s relocating into a larger office.

     Hurst Testing Service, owned by Marlene Hurst Cupit since 1988, has begun renovating the former Lott Furniture building.

     The testing service offers a class to nursing school graduates in 43 states that helps them review for the national nursing exam they must take to get their registered nurse’s license. Cupit said the business had more than 24,000 students take the course last year and their pass rate on the test is around 98 percent.

     Students can choose either a three-day classroom course or an online course that they can progress at their own pace, or both.

     Cupit said the move is due to needing more space for the business.

     “We’re currently in two buildings downtown, and we’d like to get everyone under one roof and be able to add some staff members,” said Cupit.

     The testing service is going to more than double its square footage to about 18,000 in the new building.

     The renovations of the building will aim to keep its historic value, according to property manager Malcolm Cupit.

     Hurst Review will receive tax credits for keeping the historic nature of the building through the National Park and Internal Revenue services.

     The business plans to hire some additional employees once they move in. Currently, Hurst Review Services has 20 full-time employees and 130 part-time workers nationwide.

     The architect is Kelly Kavitz Johnson, originally of Brookhaven but now part of an architecture firm in New Orleans, and the construction is being done by Cupit and Cupit Construction, according to Marlene Cupit.

     Businesses that opened their doors recently downtown are Billee Goats children’s clothing and Inside Out interior decorating, both located on Chickasaw Street.

     Kayla Goodson, owner of Billee Goats, said the store has a variety of clothing for children through young adults, with children’s clothing beginning at size five.

     Goodson said the idea for the business started with her daughter, who is a 7-year-old student at West Lincoln Attendance Center.

     “It was hard to find quality clothes for her to wear to school that I didn’t have to worry about her ruining,” said Goodson. “I go to market in Atlanta and select quality clothing at affordable prices. That’s my goal.”

     Her store opened in February and she said she’s seen good interest from people locally.

     “I know this is the slow time of year for businesses, but we’re seeing a steady flow of people coming in,” said Goodson.

     Goodson bought the building in August of 2011 and renovated it right up until the store opened.

     “We were still doing last minute things when we opened,” Goodson said with a laugh.”

     Goodson’s mother, Salena Greenlee, owns Inside Out on the other side of the duplex. The business sells decorative items to add to the inside of homes.

     The store has a variety of unique items to add to a home or business, such as lamps, pottery, shelves and other decorative items.

     Elsewhere downtown the former Lofton’s Department Store and Lofton’s Flooring store remains for sale on South Whitworth Avenue, according to the building’s co-owner, Linda Ballard.

     “We’re trying to sell the building,” said Ballard. “We have it listed with Betsy Smith and we’d love to sell it.”

     Ballard said they have had some interest in it but nothing too serious so far.

     “We’re replacing parts of the roofing now to improve the building,” said Ballard.

     The building has been vacant for more than a year.

     On Jackson Street in downtown, the Presbyterian Church remains for sale. Hobbs realty is working on selling the building, which was constructed by J.M. Tedford in 1906 and finished in 1907. The building is among the oldest buildings in Brookhaven.

     Originally, the towers were used as Sunday school rooms, according to Lyle Hobbs with Hobbs Realty. There is a built-in Moller pipe organ that was put in 1947. The newest addition, which became Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall, was built in 1957.