The economic recession got a serious grip on the precast concrete industry in 2009, with business decreasing an estimated 20 percent as construction projects stalled, funding disappeared and credit grew increasingly tight. While signs of a recovery are on the horizon, it is expected to be a long, slow climb. To see how the industry is coping with the downturn, Precast Inc. technical consultant Sue McCraven contacted a cross section of precast concrete manufacturers, who shared four primary strategies for fighting back during tough economic times.