[Daytonnatian]

Mnay cities in this nation, especially in the Great Lakes Region, face many image problems, along with other problems. I was just wondering if there was some kind of alliacne between the cities of:
Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Albany/Troy/Schentandy and Buffalo in New York,

Erie and Scranton in Pennsylvania,

Akron, Cleveland, Youngstown, Toledo, Springfield, Mansfield, Hamilton/Middletown and Dayton in Ohio,

Gary/Michigan City, South Bend and Fort Wayne in Indiana,

Champaign, Peoria, Bloomington, the Quad cities, Rockford, East St Louis, and the South Chicago suburbs in Illinois,

And

Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek, Port Huron, and Benton Harbor in Michigan?

If there isn't there should be (cities that I am not so sure about their economic state I Italicized) and fast. In this economic climate, we need it.

[suydam]

What would cities gain from such an alliance?
Especially cities that are nearly 1,000 miles apart from each other? (Albany -> Rockford is 900 miles)

I'm confused what this would gain for any of the cities you mentioned that aren't anywhere near each other.

I think a far more practical idea is the concept of regional alliances as put forth by the West Michigan Strategic Alliance. I'm sure it's being tried elsewhere as well, but I happen to attend these meetings, so it's the org with which I'm most familiar.

[Bluefly]

There is actually an effort underway to "re-brand" the Great Lakes. Suggested titles have been the "blue coast", the "fresh coast", the "north coast"...

I don't know how successful it has been, but there has been talk that the entire region has to shake its industrial past and try to play up the natural and cultural beauty of the region.

I believe the "Pure Michigan" tourism campaign is part of this vision.

[flyingwriter]

What's wrong with "Great Lakes?"

[suydam]

Originally Posted by kazoopilot

What's wrong with "Great Lakes?"

Call me crazy, but I think you're onto something!

I'd guess that the "Third Coast" re-branding effort is to portray the region as another coast...

People I've known from the left and right coasts always look down at the Great Lakes. Their vision of "lakes" is little ponds.

[Bluefly]

Because there's a stigma held over from the industrial era. If you've ever lived away from the Great Lakes region, you find quite quickly that:

1. When people hear "the Great Lakes", they still think burning water in Cleveland in 1969. Many people think they are cess pools of pollution.

2. People have no idea that there is more coastline to the Great Lakes than the Atlantic Coast, or that there are beaches and rip tides and 20 foot waves. People are perplexed when they hear that you can't see across them.

Now, I live on Lake Superior and, to me, it's a paradise of natural beauty. Most have no clue, though. The re-branding is an effort to make people say, "Coast? What are those simple Midwesterners up to now.... Oh. Maybe they're on to something..."

[baystater]

OK guys.

I'm basically at ground zero in the financial crisis right now (N. NJ) and I see an great opportunity for the great lakes states to capitalize on the situation. I know what your saying. What the hell does the financial meltdown have to do with revitalizing the Great lakes states?
Look right now half the people are worried about their retirement and the other half worried about their future economic growth. The great lakes states can easily offer a retiree a affordable retirement. Overall your much cheaper than the coast for housing, You already have the infrastructure in place, and you have plenty of entertainment and possible activities for retirees to enjoy. The only thing you don't have that is seem what the retirees want is great weather all the time. Those I really think a lot of folk from my original (home to me) area of New England like the change in seasons. So you guys still have that. I think you guys should really think about hammering advertisements for "Affordable" retirement on the east/west coast. I believe you can get people come if you do that especially those who may be on fixed incomes of some sort.
Now as for younger folks. Well that tougher. Even with the economic meltdown. You guys have to create a really strong small business friendly environment out there. But I think you could kick start a promotion of the great lake state by approaching this with the old messages of " Go west (Midwest) young man/woman!"

Look I had the warm and fuzzies about the future of the great lakes states, particular Michigan for some time now. But there's a lot of people out there don't see the potential for you guys. You have to, have to, have to, hammer home why your a better deal than the coasts. To all people of America and you also have to fight the negative shorterm bullcrap the media is spilling all over you guys. And yeah I know you guys are hurt'in in some places right now. But that doesn't mean that there absolutely no opportunities out there. As I said earlier there are plenty of opportunities. But the words got to get out!

[Bluefly]

^^
You make a very good point.

It is odd that New England winters are romanticized and Midwestern winters are demonized.

I've lived in both and I can't tell much of a difference.

[suydam]

Originally Posted by Bluefly

^^
You make a very good point.

It is odd that New England winters are romanticized and Midwestern winters are demonized.

I've lived in both and I can't tell much of a difference.

Midwestern winters are demonized because our own residents (at least a vocal group of them) demonize our own winters for us.

New Englanders by and large seem proud of their region. Michiganders have a knack for complaining about the same weather.

All that said, I have friends who moved from Boston to Grand Rapids last year. Their take on our winters is that West Michigan winters are harder than Boston. We have "a couple inches of snow almost every freakin' day" while Boston would get 18" in a big storm and then it wouldn't snow again for 2 weeks.

That's their take. I think it's more about attitude.

[baystater]

Originally Posted by suydam

Midwestern winters are demonized because our own residents (at least a vocal group of them) demonize our own winters for us.

New Englanders by and large seem proud of their region. Michiganders have a knack for complaining about the same weather.

All that said, I have friends who moved from Boston to Grand Rapids last year. Their take on our winters is that West Michigan winters are harder than Boston. We have "a couple inches of snow almost every freakin' day" while Boston would get 18" in a big storm and then it wouldn't snow again for 2 weeks.

That's their take. I think it's more about attitude.

Oh...no, no, no. We New Englanders complain just about everything under the sun. Especially weather.
But you are correct that most of us do have a lot of pride in where we come from. Actually it's funny, you have to understand that we are a all or nothing society. Well I guess there some moderation...but not much. Basically it love, or hate it.
Some that leave are very glad to be gone and are making wonderful lives for themselves elsewhere. But most love there home state and do wish to return for family and cultural reasons.
But........right now it very expensive and with the economy the way it is. Many folk ain't going to make it. In fact look at this article any you can see that it just too much.

Economy creates surge in homeless Mass. families - Yahoo! News

Like I said this just maybe an opening for you state to get people from faltering states. And Yeah I know your individual state economies are faltering like a lot of others. But the cost of living makes it seem much more attractive to people that are having a hard time making it on the coasts.