Leaving Michigan (Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint: house, rent, lease)

[southernlady5464]

My parents have lived in Greenville since 2001. The moving of Electrolux to Mexico could have devastated such a small town, but instead of ending up a microcosm of MI as a whole, they are the shining exeption to the general rule of the MI economy.

Jeff, that was what I was trying to say. I grew up in Greenville. My Mother worked for the Chamber of Commerce so I was VERY aware of what was going on in the business division to woo new business to the upstate and to Greenville in particular.

Another thing Greenville did right back in the 60's was to re-new the use of Donaldson Center. Donaldson was an Air Base that was build in the 40's, closed, used again during Korea and could have been left as an eyesore after that. It wasn't. It was put to good use as an Industrial park.

As a unique 2600-acre business and industrial air park located in one of the top ten growth markets in the United States, Donaldson Center offers an attractive mix of industrial, distribution and aviation facilities.

Strategically located in Greenville, South Carolina along the I-85 corridor, Donaldson Center provides accessibility, convenience and a pro-business attitude. It’s this attitude that supports an ideal climate to compete in today’s global market place.

Other things that are working....

Greenville's unique reuse of old malls.

Bell Tower mall: Bell Tower Mall was built in the late 1960s. In the late 1980s and the mall was largely converted into government offices. The theater part of the mall is a family courthouse.

McAlister Square: McAlister Square was built in the late 1960s. Now the mall has been converted to The University Center

600 courses. 76 degrees. Days, evenings or weekends. From seven accredited South Carolina universities:

* Clemson University
* Furman University
* Lander University
* Medical University of South Carolina
* South Carolina State University
* University of South Carolina
* University of South Carolina Upstate

Through one convenient location.

Yes, I am proud of Greenville...but I also am proud of MI...I just wish MI would get the message. The state needs to learn from others about how to deal with this. Sticking our collective head in the mud isn't going to make it go away. Liz

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

Jeff, that was what I was trying to say. I grew up in Greenville. My Mother worked for the Chamber of Commerce so I was VERY aware of what was going on in the business division to woo new business to the upstate and to Greenville in particular.

Another thing Greenville did right back in the 60's was to re-new the use of Donaldson Center. Donaldson was an Air Base that was build in the 40's, closed, used again during Korea and could have been left as an eyesore after that. It wasn't. It was put to good use as an Industrial park.

Other things that are working....

Greenville's unique reuse of old malls.

Bell Tower mall: Bell Tower Mall was built in the late 1960s. In the late 1980s and the mall was largely converted into government offices. The theater part of the mall is a family courthouse.

McAlister Square: McAlister Square was built in the late 1960s. Now the mall has been converted to The University Center

Yes, I am proud of Greenville...but I also am proud of MI...I just wish MI would get the message. The state needs to learn from others about how to deal with this. Sticking our collective head in the mud isn't going to make it go away. Liz

My entire family has fallen in love with Michigan. All of us are transplants, except my 11 month old, born here in August of last year. She's our first Michigan native! We got here about 3 weeks before she was born!

Greenville is wonderful. My wife and I prefer a bigger town/city enviroment, or we would move there. That, and my wife and her mom won't live that far apart, LOL.

My parent's church along with several others hosted a little carnival with rides, games, face-painting, music, food and drink, all free and open to the public this weekend. We drove over and helped out. The weather was perfect and it was small-town wholesome fun!

[magellan]

I think Southernlady is talking about Greenville, South Carolina, and Jeff, I think you are talking about Greenville, Michigan. No?

ScrantonWilkesBarre, you raise a good point. In fact, the Colorado River runs dry at a point far upstream from the Gulf of California, where it used to empty into a large delta (now dried up), thanks to water diversion throughout the late 20th century:

Colorado River Delta: Information from Answers.com

At some point, water shortages and droughts in the Southwest will push the cost of living and development costs to highs that can't be sustained. People will only tolerate desert living if there is ample water and A/C, and if prices are dirt cheap. The desirability drops dramatically without those three things. As desirability drops, so does growth and so does job opportunities (that right now are 80% population growth driven).

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by magellan

I think Southernlady is talking about Greenville, South Carolina, and Jeff, I think you are talking about Greenville, Michigan. No?

OMG! Seriously?

[southernlady5464]

I think Southernlady is talking about Greenville, South Carolina, and Jeff, I think you are talking about Greenville, Michigan.

Well, I know I've been talking Greenville, SC...I think I mentioned it somewhere about four or five posts back. It started yesterday at 08:27 PM when I posted a list of corporate headquarters in Greenville, SC because I was hunting corporations headquartered in the south. I ran across that particular list. I mentioned Spartanburg in the same post.

I know there is a Greenville in almost every state in the union but I forgot about one in MI. Liz

[magellan]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

Well, I know I've been talking Greenville, SC...I think I mentioned it somewhere about four or five posts back. It started yesterday at 08:27 PM when I posted a list of corporate headquarters in Greenville, SC because I was hunting corporations headquartered in the south. I ran across that particular list. I mentioned Spartanburg in the same post.

I know there is a Greenville in almost every state in the union but I forgot about one in MI. Liz

Two ships passing in the night

I hear Greenville SC is pretty nice, considering they are right smack between and competing against Charlotte and Atlanta for business and relocation. Having BMW doesn't hurt either.

and Greenville, MI, despite losing a ton of manufacturing jobs several years ago from Electrolux and Tower Automotive, is on the rebound with 6 new United Solar Ovonics plants under construction (two are open now I believe).

[southernlady5464]

I hear Greenville SC is pretty nice, considering they are right smack between and competing against Charlotte and Atlanta for business and relocation. Having BMW doesn't hurt either.

Actually being almost between the two is an advantage. It's 3 hours to Atlanta and 2 to Charlotte and both are on I85 (straight shot). It's like being in a swing position between two giants. You actually come out ahead of the game.

And to top it off, it's a good size city in it's own right.

It use to be extremely heavy textiles. Now it is very diversified. So if an industry does outsource overseas, it doesn't hurt it badly at all.

And that is why I was using it as an example. Detroit is still very heavily into the auto industry. It IS beginning to get the message but not fast enough.

I wish I knew the answers. I just know that what is there now in MI isn't working well. Not even sure it's working at all. Liz

[jeffncandace]

Originally Posted by southernlady5464

Actually being almost between the two is an advantage. It's 3 hours to Atlanta and 2 to Charlotte and both are on I85 (straight shot). It's like being in a swing position between two giants. You actually come out ahead of the game.

And to top it off, it's a good size city in it's own right.

It use to be extremely heavy textiles. Now it is very diversified. So if an industry does outsource overseas, it doesn't hurt it badly at all.

And that is why I was using it as an example. Detroit is still very heavily into the auto industry. It IS beginning to get the message but not fast enough.

I wish I knew the answers. I just know that what is there now in MI isn't working well. Not even sure it's working at all. Liz

Why Detroit didn't get the message ages ago is beyond me, but then again I just moved here. Let's all applaud the politians and heads of the Big 3 starting several decades ago for thinking ahead!

I totally missed that you were talking about a different state! Again, !

Regardless, they are both doing better though! LOL

[magellan]

I've heard from several people, and have to agree, that Greenville (South Carolina Jeff) is a lot like Grand Rapids, MI. The city of Greenville is a lot smaller at only 50 or 60,000 (GR is 200,000), but the CSA population is around 1.2 Million like Grand Rapids' CSA. Both were historically manufacturing (or textiles) but have done a good job of diversifying into other industries. Both have pretty healthy population growth and decent job growth, despite both taking big hits in the economic downturn following 9/11.

Greenville, South Carolina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Grand Rapids, Michigan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bureau of Labor Statistics Data
Bureau of Labor Statistics Data

..for those leaving Michigan (trying not to stray OT)

[gnu2u]

I can only choose one?

Let's start with jobs. Can't find one, no matter how hard I try. The last interview I had here was for a $30k/yr job; over 70 people applied. Two years of unemployment - thank God my spouse has a decent job, but with two kids in college, we're barely making ends meet. I sent three resumes to out-of-state jobs in June; as a result, I've had two phone interviews and I leave on the 5th for an on-site interview in Arizona.

I am sick of the irresponsible mess in Lansing and Detroit. The automakers and the unions have done this state a great disservice; I can't think of any other industry that pays 80% of your salary to you if you are in a job bank. We have an incompetent Governor and an inexperienced legislature - a bad, bad combination. They're all more concerned about being the party in power and getting reelected that doing anything positive for this state.

I've lived this nightmare before. It took Michigan YEARS to recover in the 80's. I simply don't have that long before I retire and I need to sock away some money. My business is circling the drain; "hoping" things will turn around will not keep it alive. I don't for a minute believe the 1.6% increase in population means that people are not leaving Michigan - I'm betting that the birth rate has simply exceeded the emigration rate.

I have one kid that will graduate next year from WMU; she has no plans to stay here. The other one will be a sophomore; he's planning on leaving, too. Both of them had to leave the state to find jobs this summer.

I don't know what else we're supposed to do. I can't wait any longer.