The dirt piling up on building sites around Hall County is a signal the construction business that began a slowdown in 2008 is picking up. “Companies are dusting off plans from 2007, 2008, and it’s finally nice to see the confidence in some businesses that need to invest in real estate construction projects,” said Perry Barnett, partner at Rushton and Co. Barnett, who advises construction firms in Gainesville, saw firsthand what the slowdown did to local companies.