New data shows seven of Georgia's least-developed counties made fiscal improvements in 2009, while some of the highest performers saw declines.

New 2010 job tax credit rankings issued by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs rank Georgia counties in four tiers, based on unemployment rates, per capita income and residents living below the poverty line. The rankings determine the tax credit employers receive for creating jobs and reflect how economically robust a county is.

Clarke, Colquitt, Lamar, Liberty and Peach counties all rose from Tier 1 to Tier 2. Muscogee and Webster counties rose from the second tier to the third.

Oconee remained the most economically robust county in Georgia, while Forsyth dropped from second to fourth. Hancock remains the
worst-performing county in Georgia.

Tags: Georgia, economy, 2009, Colquitt County, Liberty County, Peach County, Lamar County, county wealth, job tax credit, Clarke County, Muscogee County, Webster County