Despite the gloom and doom stories being reported, Michiana is surviving the tough economic times. An entire website is devoted to the area’s economic health, especially that of Elkart, IN after the so-called collapse of the RV industry. Although Indiana and Michigan are in the red on every site that mentions foreclosures, job loss, and unemployment, we aren’t all standing in Depression Era bread lines.
Although many communities in the area have been hit hard by the economy, there are just as many pulling through with little damage. A few are even thriving! Furthermore, despite the dramatic push to paint Indiana and Michigan as destitute victims of fading industry, there are a number of bright spots that show Michiana pulling out of this slump.
3 Places Where Michiana is Showing a Comeback
1. Tourism
Tourist towns are thriving. For example, the small town of New Buffalo, Michigan, the population of 2,200 recently received a portion of a six million dollar revenue share from the hometown Four Winds Casino owners. That share was only two percent of the profits from the Four Winds. In addition, the town is a tourist magnet for its beautiful Lake Michigan coastline. New Buffalo is best known for its vacation rentals, pleasure boating and boutique shopping.
Although tourism is taking a hit in this economy, my recent weekend in New Buffalo and the small Michiana communities around Lake Michigan revealed a tourist town that is still bustling. There are several other Michiana towns experiencing a similar tourism boost.
2. Industry
Daniels Governor Daniels announced the arrival of seven companies to the Northern Indiana area silencing the talk of Indiana’s dying manufacturing sector after the RV industry collapsed. These companies include a plastics molder, a casting maker, a bathroom fixtures maker and a wire and cable manufacturer. These companies will come to the area with over 500 news jobs and over $22 million in investment dollars. Soon, Northern Indiana will be knocking the rust off its section of the Rust Belt.
3. Restaurants and Retailers
Despite the bleak economic outlook, some major restaurant and retail chains are expanding into Michiana. Red Robin, known for its specialty burgers, is opening a restaurant in Mishawaka in 2009. Olive Garden and Dunkin Doughnuts also expanded (into Michigan City) in 2009. The retailer Big R Stores is developing an abandoned Michiana building while mega-retailer Wal-Mart has plans to add jobs to its stores in Michigan. In May 2009, the chain showed its support for the state by launching its 90-day, $10 prescription supply program there.
Some Encouragement
The sectors discussed above are not in the clear just yet, but there’s no reason to abandon ship. For many in the area, such encouragement means that reality in the rust belt is much less bleak than that posed in the media.
