[allbusiness]

Things are not bad in Holland. We have a lot of foreclosures (maybe 400 or so) out of 9,000 households (population down from 35,000 in 2000 to about 32,000 estimate now). But the local JCI plant just made a major employment announcement, plus has another one ready to go. There are also rumors about a local fiberglass-related manufacturing plant getting into wind turbine manufacturing.

The future looks pretty bright. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!

[Bydand]

Originally Posted by allbusiness

Things are not bad in Holland. We have a lot of foreclosures (maybe 400 or so) out of 9,000 households (population down from 35,000 in 2000 to about 32,000 estimate now). But the local JCI plant just made a major employment announcement, plus has another one ready to go. There are also rumors about a local fiberglass-related manufacturing plant getting into wind turbine manufacturing.

The future looks pretty bright. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger!

Have an old friend who works at JCI in Holland and I am so glad that it is doing as well as it is down there. I can see things turning around, but it will take a while. you can kick us, but Michigan always stands back up and plods along.

[malamute]

What's better? If there are few jobs isn't it better for a town to shrink? Look at California where people are pouring into the state in spite of there being few jobs. That becomes an impossible situation much faster because the people arriving are very impoverished and coming for the welfare programs. Shrinking isn't all bad.

[scolls]

Here in Harper Woods there are quite a few vacant homes. Just across the border in Detroit, there is a lot of vacancy which wasn't normal for that part of Detroit. Just 10-12 years ago, that was actually a booming part of Detroit with no vacant homes, now I'm seeing a few boarded up houses on Kelly. Eastland Mall looks dead.

[WheredoIlive?]

Originally Posted by malamute

What's better? If there are few jobs isn't it better for a town to shrink? Look at California where people are pouring into the state in spite of there being few jobs. That becomes an impossible situation much faster because the people arriving are very impoverished and coming for the welfare programs. Shrinking isn't all bad.

I think less people isnt always a bad thing. Less crowds less traffic, less competition for the jobs there are out there.

[Swansen]

I live in Freeland which has turned into a suburb of the Tri-Cities... its horrible, suburbs were the worst idea ever. It used to be nice, cornfields and houses every so often, but its almost all completely suburbs now, and will be. One of the major farmers instead of selling/giving the land to his kids sold it to a developer... Its horrible. People move here though, the school system just did a 180, so its really nice now, and there is a crap ton of small business, so somehow were growing.

[Dexterguy]

I don't think the emptying of small downtowns can be blamed primarily on the economy. Big Box stores have also taken a huge it on the small businesses in my area Novi/Northville. Even when a small businesses tries to open it only lasts for the max. of year or so.

We have built way to many Walmarts, Meijers, Best Buys, Targets, etc.

[YAZ]

Magellan, Evart is a REALLY cool town.

Definetly the place to stop along M-10.

I also like Alpena, Mesick, and Baldwin.

I hope things turn around.

[mackinac81]

We're holding our own here in Kalamazoo/Portage. But then, our economy is based more on life sciences than the rest of the state. Still, Pfizer cuts hurt morale and there's always the nagging fear of further cuts. I'd say we're ho-hum.