Genesee County

Genesee County, Michigan’s fourth largest, is located in southeastern lower Michigan at the intersection of Interstate Highways I-75 and I-69. The county seat is Flint and its total estimated population for 2007 is 434,715.

As the fourth largest city in the state of Michigan, Flint offers a state-of-the-art transportation infrastructure, five higher education institutions with a combined enrollment of over 26,000 college students, top-notch business services including financial packaging, manufacturing training, site selection, and government contracting assistance, as well as unsurpassed healthcare facilities.

Whether your business is located in Flint and Genesee County or you plan to locate your business in the area, the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce provides a confidential one-stop resource for local industrial clients and new business prospects.

The center of manufacturing growth in southeast Michigan is shifting north up the I-75 corridor. Not surprisingly, Flint and Genesee County are on the radar screens of companies that want a profitable piece of Michigan's booming automotive and manufacturing industries. With important new land, tax and financing developments, Flint and Genesee County are uniquely qualified to position companies for accelerated growth well into the 21st century -- at more than competitive land and building costs. Flint and Genesee County are ideally located just sixty minutes from the Canadian border and at the center of an integrated transportation network including highway systems, rail lines, airport, and fresh water ports. (Source – thrgrcc.org)

Top leading industries in Genesee County are Manufacturing; Education, Health and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data). Automobile and truck related production makes up the majority of manufacturing employment in Genesee County. 

Bishop International Airport continues to be a bright spot in Genesee County’s economic development efforts.  Southern Genesee County continues to show strong growth as people relocate from Oakland and surrounding counties.

Michigan ’s unemployment rate as of March 2007 was 6.5%. Genesee County's unemployment rate was at 10.6 as of March 2008. (Source - milmi.org)

Today, Genesee County continues to grow, with half of its villages and cities considered a part of the greater Flint area.

www.co.genesee.mi.us

Huron County

Huron County is located in the tip of the Thumb of Michigan and is conveniently located just two hours north of metropolitan Detroit. Huron County has more shoreline parks than any other county. Bordered on three sides by Lake Huron, Huron County features over 90 miles of beautiful lakeshore.

Huron County's estimated 2007 population is 33,290 and the top three work industries are Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data). The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 9.5%. Huron County's workforce development efforts are a part of the Thumb Area Michigan Works!

Huron County has lush, fertile farmland. Rich farmland inland produces beans, sugar beets and grain, including most of the world's supply of navy beans. Bad Axe, the county seat, is centrally located and has the largest and most complete shopping choices in the Thumb.

www.huroncounty.com

Lapeer County

Lapeer is a well-balanced community of farms, small industry, and urban residents, serving the heavy industry of Oakland and Genesee counties. It is a blending of the old and the new, the country and the city, the traditional with the future. What weaves these elements together is a rich tapestry of people who call Lapeer County home. Scattered among lush farmland, rolling hills and 159 lakes are pockets of people who strive to preserve the quality of life. Its estimated 2007 population is 92,012. The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 10.9%. The top three work industries include Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data). Lapeer County's workforce development efforts are a part of the Thumb Area Michigan Works!

Nestled at the base of Michigan's Thumb Region, Lapeer County is located 10 miles east of Flint, 30 miles west of Port Huron and 50 miles north of Detroit, Michigan. I-69 provides interstate linkage, while M-24 and M-53 get folks to neighboring towns quickly.

Situated north of high-density metropolitan areas, Lapeer County has attracted many people who work in the southern counties to reside in Lapeer County's peaceful countryside. Northern areas of the county are home to the Amish community while the southern portion is known as horse country with stables, a hunt club and a game reserve.

www.county.lapeer.org

Livingston County

Livingston County is centrally located within one hour of the major metropolitan areas of Detroit, Flint, Ann Arbor, and Lansing. Its estimated 2007 population is 183,194 and covers an area of 586.4 square miles. The county seat is Howell, Michigan.

The major work industries are Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data). The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 6.7%.

During the 1970's, Livingston County was the fastest growing county in Michigan, but 20,000 acres of public land were kept from development to retain the area's natural beauty. The Brighton Island and Pinckney State Recreation areas make this a great county for recreation.

www.co.livingston.mi.us

Macomb County

Macomb County is located in southeastern Michigan along the Western Lake St. Clair shoreline, adjacent to the greater Detroit area to the south. It consists of a diverse economy, strong in the area of auto-industry production. Its geographic diversity includes heavily populated urban areas to the south, to an urbanized country-like setting to the north. Its county seat is Mount Clemens.

Macomb County grew rapidly during World War II, with Selfridge Air Base expanded to train pilots and a tank plant built by Chrysler in Warren. After the war, the area boomed, especially in auto and steel production; it now has become the third most populated county in the state. Its estimated 2007 population is 831,077 and the leading work industries include Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data). The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 8%.

www.co.macomb.mi.us

Oakland County

Long before the automotive industry became rooted in Oakland County, enterprising professionals and business people had discovered the natural resources and inherent potential in what was to become Oakland County. The county seat is Pontiac.

The 2000 U.S. Census reports an estimated 1,206,089 persons living in Oakland County for 2007, which is the highest population for counties in the state. The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 6.6%. The leading work industries include Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Professional, Scientific, Management, Administration and Waste Management Services (2000 census data).

The excellent agriculture of Oakland County has been overshadowed by its industrial and residential growth. The result is a mixture of big city, suburban, and rural lifestyles. A superior system of parks includes six state recreation areas, three state parks, and two metro parks providing Michigan's second largest population with an abundance of leisure opportunities.

For more than 175 years, Oakland County has served as an example of the pioneering, entrepreneurial spirit. This spirit informs Oakland County's past and inspires its future.

www.oaklandcounty.com

Sanilac County

Sanilac County is located in the Thumb of Michigan on the west shore of Lake Huron, two hours drive from Michigan's main metropolitan areas. The county covers 972 square miles or some 622,000 acres of some of the richest farmland in the Midwest. Its estimated 2007 population base is 43,640. The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 11.1%.

Some say the name "Sanilac" means "without lake" and it's true that Sanilac County hasn't one natural lake. However, the Black River runs through the entire county from north to south and 40 miles of Lake Huron shoreline forms the eastern boundary of the county.

This unique region offers many interesting sights. Its leading work industries include Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data).

www.sanilaccounty.net

Shiawassee County

Shiawassee County is named for its principal river the Shiawassee River. Shiawassee is thought to be an Indian word meaning "river that twists about."

Today Shiawassee County is a prominent agricultural county with over 2,000 farms producing soybeans, beans, oats, winter wheat, corn, hay, peppermint, dairy herds, and poultry. Manufacturing concerns are diversified, including a vitrified tile plant at Corunna, one of a few in the state. The leading work industries include Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data) with an estimated 2007 population base of 71,753. The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 9.9%.

www.shiawassee.net

St. Clair County

St. Clair County is known as the Blue Water Area. The St. Clair River is one of the heaviest traveled rivers in the world. It is part of the world's longest shipping canal, the 2,347 mile St. Lawrence Seaway. It leading work industries are Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data) with an estimated 2007 population base of 170,119. The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 10.1%.

Another interesting attraction is the Second Blue Water Bridge, which was opened in 1997. This international border crossing is a major trade and transportation link between the United States and Canada.

www.stclaircounty.org

Tuscola County

Tuscola County's top leading work industries include Manufacturing; Education, Health, and Social Service; and Retail Trade (2000 census data). Its estimated 2007 population is 56,805. The unemployment rate as of March 2008 was 9.9%. Tuscola County's workforce development efforts are part of the Thumb Area Michigan Works!

Two areas of Tuscola County - Caro's and Cass City's Industrial Park have been designated a Renaissance Zone by the State of Michigan. Renaissance Zones are an economic development breakthrough that originated in Michigan. In three years the initial 11 zones have spurred more than $315 million of private investment in 126 projects and creation of 3,612 jobs statewide. (Source: Tuscola County Economic Development Corporation)

• Cass City Industrial Park
  The Village of Cass City offers unequaled location within the Thumb Region, its industries and markets. Cass City enjoys unparalleled accessibility. Michigan Highway M-81 directly crosses Cass City as its Main Street and M-53 is two miles east. County mile roads provide all season access to these State Road Systems. With several hundred acres of developable land with the community, Cass City is truly the premier location site with the Thumb Region.



• Caro Industrial Park
  Caro has 55 acres designated as a tax-free Renaissance Zone through the year 2009. Caro's Industrial Park offers excellent advantages for companies in its centralized location. The park is located on state highway M-81 with water, sewer, and plenty of room for expansion. It is just one mile northeast of Tuscola Area-Caro Airport. State Highways M-81 and M-24 intersect interstate highway I-75 25 and 60 miles, respectively, from site. Tuscola County also has two additional industrial parks that are Non-Renaissance, Millington Industrial Park and Vassar Industrial Park (Industrial Hub of the Thumb).