[ironlady]

Hey all! I saw this clip profiled on the Today show this morning and thought it was really, really cool. Grand Rapids getting some national exposure!

Earlier this year, Grand Rapids was listed as #10 in a top ten list of America's dying cities (America's Dying Cities - Newsweek). The residents of GR responded like this: Grand Rapids Lip Dub Goes Viral [YOUTUBE VIDEO].

How cool is that???

[Z3N1TH 0N3]

I love it!

[actinic]

Great PR for the city but how many jobs did it permanently create?

[magellan]

Originally Posted by actinic

Great PR for the city but how many jobs did it permanently create?

Ha! Exactly.

[313 TUxedo]

Miserably amateurish article, many mistakes:

Using 2009 population figures that were really nothing more than guesses. Detroit's population was overestimated by nearly 200k and Detroit really takes #1 on the list (yes, it lost a larger percentage of its population in the 201st decade than New Orleans).

Eastman Kodak, despite being much smaller and weaker than it was a decade ago, neither went out of business nor left Rochester.

The factor of family maturation was not taken into account. In fact, a city that keeps its under 18 population may be more of a dying city than one that loses it - if the economy stinks, the unemployed can't leave the parental home. If the economy is good, they have jobs and move to the suburbs or another area.

[ironlady]

Originally Posted by 313 TUxedo

Miserably amateurish article, many mistakes:

Using 2009 population figures that were really nothing more than guesses. Detroit's population was overestimated by nearly 200k and Detroit really takes #1 on the list (yes, it lost a larger percentage of its population in the 201st decade than New Orleans).

Eastman Kodak, despite being much smaller and weaker than it was a decade ago, neither went out of business nor left Rochester.

The factor of family maturation was not taken into account. In fact, a city that keeps its under 18 population may be more of a dying city than one that loses it - if the economy stinks, the unemployed can't leave the parental home. If the economy is good, they have jobs and move to the suburbs or another area.

Yeah, I think that's why Newsweek distanced themselves so quickly. Shoddy methodology. But I thought Grand Rapids had a great response--even if it didn't create a lot of jobs. It took a lot of spine to do that and it created a national conversation about standing tall when times are tough.

[beachmouse]

And besides the usual Michigan potholes that could swallow a Yugo whole, the city looks like a vibrant and well-kept place, even when they upll back and show the big panorama of downtown at the end.

[green_mariner]

Grand Rapids dying? Not something I'm inclined to believe. There are alot of places in much worse shape than Grand Rapids.

[magellan]

Originally Posted by beachmouse

And besides the usual Michigan potholes that could swallow a Yugo whole, the city looks like a vibrant and well-kept place, even when they upll back and show the big panorama of downtown at the end.

One of the biggest jobs of Grand Rapids' Downtown Alliance is to go around and pick up trash. I mean, a crew of guys out EVERY DAY sweeping up things as small as cigarette butts into dustpans, just like they do at Disney and Cedar Point. I heard once how much trash they pick up every year and it was astounding.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by magellan

One of the biggest jobs of Grand Rapids' Downtown Alliance is to go around and pick up trash. I mean, a crew of guys out EVERY DAY sweeping up things as small as cigarette butts into dustpans, just like they do at Disney and Cedar Point. I heard once how much trash they pick up every year and it was astounding.

It sounds like there are many people who care about Grand Rapids and see it as their community, and all the more willing to make sure it's clean. I wish some people would do that in Kennesaw. Maybe I wouldn't run over broken glass and other debris on my bicycle.