What Industry Would You Introduce to Huntsville? (Valley: buy, casino)

[A&M Bulldawg]

I would introduce the medical industry. I think Huntsville needs one or two more hospitals spreaded out in areas around A&M/Meridianville, Hampton Cove, and/or West Huntsville. I was surprised to hear that some critical conditioned people get air-lifted to UAB. Not to still Birmingham's fame in the medical industry, I truly feel that Huntsville should become a small medical mecca of its own instead of depending on Birmingham and even Nashville for certain medical attention.

I would also introduce the manufacturing industry, if not already present. I think that Huntsville's healthy growth can call for this.

There should be a tourism/entertainment industry. Huntsville needs to stop depending on Chattanooga, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville for fun. Huntsville can support its own tourism and entertainment industries. Maybe Huntsville can get that younger generation that it lacks. This can cause Huntsville not to be so boring or so uniformed when it comes down to jobs.

Any positive and healthy industry beside the military/space industry is better for Huntsville because those industries are in jeopardy. I think that the region as a whole could grow better based on a diversed economy. Most of Huntsville's population is coming from the military/space industry. I feel that the mayor should try to fix this due to the cuts that may occur.

[DavidH74]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

I would introduce the medical industry. I think Huntsville needs one or two more hospitals spreaded out in areas around A&M/Meridianville, Hampton Cove, and/or West Huntsville. I was surprised to hear that some critical conditioned people get air-lifted to UAB. Not to still Birmingham's fame in the medical industry, I truly feel that Huntsville should become a small medical mecca of its own instead of depending on Birmingham and even Nashville for certain medical attention.

I would also introduce the manufacturing industry, if not already present. I think that Huntsville's healthy growth can call for this.

There should be a tourism/entertainment industry. Huntsville needs to stop depending on Chattanooga, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville for fun. Huntsville can support its own tourism and entertainment industries. Maybe Huntsville can get that younger generation that it lacks. This can cause Huntsville not to be so boring or so uniformed when it comes down to jobs.

Any positive and healthy industry beside the military/space industry is better for Huntsville because those industries are in jeopardy. I think that the region as a whole could grow better based on a diversed economy. Most of Huntsville's population is coming from the military/space industry. I feel that the mayor should try to fix this due to the cuts that may occur.

OMG! I agree with you, Bulldawg! OMG! The end of the Earth has come. I'm not sure how possible/realistic it is to grow our medical district. I'm not that educated on how that industry works, but ALOT of what we have is a byproduct or associated with UAB-Birmingham. We don't have a medical institution like UAB is to Birmingham or Vandy is to Nashville. So, I don't know how we grow that. But, I do know Nashville's main industry is healthcare, and they are relatively strong and healthy because of it. Louisville and Birmingham also have fairly strong healthcare sectors, although, I think Nashville is the the big-dog leader in this "neck of the woods". Anyway, I don't know how we take advantage of/pull from their successes since we don't have a large medical university/hospital. But, those are indeed good jobs -- relatively safe b/c, like defense, healthcare is a matter of life. And, they are higher paying jobs, like defense. But, I don't know how "the mayor", as you say, or anyone can attract that to any significant level without an industry-leader medical university/hospital like Vandy and UAB of our own. And, a city our size won't have that for a long time. So, I agree, but I don't know that is really feasible.

[DavidH74]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

I would introduce the medical industry. I think Huntsville needs one or two more hospitals spreaded out in areas around A&M/Meridianville, Hampton Cove, and/or West Huntsville. I was surprised to hear that some critical conditioned people get air-lifted to UAB. Not to still Birmingham's fame in the medical industry, I truly feel that Huntsville should become a small medical mecca of its own instead of depending on Birmingham and even Nashville for certain medical attention.

I would also introduce the manufacturing industry, if not already present. I think that Huntsville's healthy growth can call for this.

There should be a tourism/entertainment industry. Huntsville needs to stop depending on Chattanooga, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Nashville for fun. Huntsville can support its own tourism and entertainment industries. Maybe Huntsville can get that younger generation that it lacks. This can cause Huntsville not to be so boring or so uniformed when it comes down to jobs.

Any positive and healthy industry beside the military/space industry is better for Huntsville because those industries are in jeopardy. I think that the region as a whole could grow better based on a diversed economy. Most of Huntsville's population is coming from the military/space industry. I feel that the mayor should try to fix this due to the cuts that may occur.

And as far as tourism, I'm not sure Huntsville can ever be a big draw. I think fixing up our downtown is our best chance. And, as many say, that does NOT involve an aquarium. Let's let CHA have that -- they deserve it. We can't copy. And, we have to remember the world's biggest and best is four hours away. We have to do our own thing with downtown. But, we can't compete with Nashville for music, and (as beautiful as HSV is), we can't compete with CHA's beauty -- it IS more spectacular, more grand, and CHA is better positioned on the river.
However, not to keep comparing to St Louis or bringing it up (that's just my point of reference), they have Lake of the Ozarks not terribly far from the city, which has grown from weed-ridden/unkempt, boating destination to an almost resort-town/city over the years. Lake Guntersville (along with downtown Guntersville) is indeed charming/pretty. But, in MY opinion, is sort of where Lake of the Ozarks was years ago -- rural and untamed and polluted unkempt.
I'm not sure what my point is other than for HSV to be "more", we (as any city) has to rely in some ways for the cities around them to be more/better. Lake Guntersville could be a resort mountain/lake town (with the word "resort" being used with some perspective -- it will never be Aspen or The Adirondacks). Relative. But, its downtown could be more charming, more artsy/boutique-y to propel it from a HSV resident's second-home or hunting and fishing-type area to a more upscale environment.
We, naturally, as people want our own city to be the best. There is pride associated where you were born, or where you call home. But, we always forget that life is about sharing. Just as no person has nothing but strengths, no one city has nothing but strengths. I used an example in my earlier post about ST Louis refusing to relocate Lambert into an Illinois county. Well, pride got in the way of momentum and success. Had they shared land/resources/titles/privileges, Lambert wouldn't have gone from top-tier airport to a really "unimportant" one. The city itself suffered.
It's a hard balance. But, as a region, we can't constantly be aspiring to be something we are not. For every cultural thing B'ham or Nashville gets, we benefit in some way -- direct or indirect. For every job they get, we benefit in some small way -- direct or indirect. Their success and proximity gives us more options and makes our region healthier.
Unfortunately, Bulldawg, alot of life comes down to money -- not ideas or vision or pride or beliefs or talking about it. It's about money. We can not escape, for the time being, that AL is very, very, very poor. Mobile has hurricanes that impact our money resources. B'ham has the largest county (population-wise and job/income-generating wise) , and it is the poorest in the country. i just posted an article from the NY Times on one of these posts where Gov Riley has been called to declare a state of emergency for Jefferson County. He doesn't want to because he thinks it should be spared for when'if another natural disaster happens in Mobile (and I'm SURE out of pride, also). Noone wants the national attention of having the biggest economic engine in the state being worse off than Detroit. Where the money comes to fix up Huntsville and our surrounding cities is going to have to come from private investors in alot of cases. We hurt because state money is very limited.
No vision, no belief, no want, no plan can replace the power of money. Money makes options a reality.
This isn't meant to be depressing. It's just reality.

[rnc76]

Huntsville Hospital is actually quite an impressive complex for a city Huntsville's size. Particularly when you consider we do not have a medical school here. Another private hospital in the area would be a nice addition for the sake of competition but I'm not sure it is really needed. Madison NEEDS a hospital but that is already in the works.

[friday13]

Originally Posted by DavidH74

I like simplicity and peace and Huntsville's natural beauty is something I never ever take for granted ( I enjoy my rides "over the mountain" every day ) BUT, I H-A-T-E my job. I am NOT a good fit for tech/defense. But, my life and my livelihood depends on it here. And it does cause me to look for other places to live. Whereas, if we had diversification, I could look for something else right here and be perfectly content.

Continental, Sanmina -non-defense manufacturing - are laying people off.
Now, that's diverse, but you wouldn't be content there.

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by friday13

Continental, Sanmina -non-defense manufacturing - are laying people off.
Now, that's diverse, but you wouldn't be content there.

Manufacturing is hurting right now but I still think it is a critical component to a diversified economy. You just don't want to be too reliant on it. In a good economy, manufucturing can provide a high volume of good paying jobs. For Huntsville though, I would like to see the high tech sector more diversified. There are a lot of smart people here that can develop technologies other than missiles.

[mm42]

Originally Posted by rnc76

Another private hospital in the area would be a nice addition for the sake of competition but I'm not sure it is really needed.

Voila!

Home - Crestwood Medical Center

[rnc76]

Originally Posted by mm42

Voila!

Home - Crestwood Medical Center

I realize Crestwood is in HSV as well, I meant another hospital.

[ionlife]

Why didn't Hville start along the river? It really is much prettier than outside river areas.... just wonderin'

[jkratze1]

More non-government industry in the communications field like Adtran and Avocent.