Michigan Ranks...2010

Everybody wants a piece of Michigan lately it seems.  So much so, I can't even keep up with my own growing list of places to see, taste, and experience, let alone the latest polls, awards, rankings, television media specials, conferences, and traditional media articles depicting them.  Last year, I posted 14 times with items related to statistics about Michigan including the Michigan Ranks...2009 where I compiled several rankings.  It's only April and I have amassed quite a few highlights below.  I have a feeling this label will explode on the blog this year.  Happy Reading!

• Gov. Granholm announces over 15,700 new jobs for Michigan: "The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is helping 9 companies grow in Michigan and backing a brownfield redevelopment project.  Combined, the 10 projects are expected to create 15,795 new jobs (8,133 direct), retain 1,493 total jobs and generate $128 million in new investment in the state."  See her interview here.
• The FutureMidwest Conference posted an inspiring video that was used as the opening montage.  The conference is the fusion of two successful conferences held in Michigan in 2009 – the Module Midwest Digital Conference and TechNow.  It was a two-day session focused on technology and knowledge teaching attendees how to successfully implement digital strategies into their marketing and business communication.
• America Now: City of Heartbreak and Hope, a Dateline NBC's Chris Hansen returns to his hometown (Detroit) to check in on the city's plans for its future.  This story included some interesting interviews with musician Kid Rock, Mayor Dave Bing, and political consultant Sam Riddle.  It even included some positive stories about some artists and a woman who rescues kids, but the consensus around Detroit is that this "special" covered the same stale story lines about corruption, job losses, Kwame Kilpatrick, how the city is "shell of its former self", etc. that we've heard over and over.  Even Mayor Bing, featured in the special, was disappointed that the other, more positive, side of the story wasn't being told.  While not all the clips have been released online, MLive.com did a nice job compiling the videos here.  Thanks for the tip, Christina!
• #4 Forbes' list of America's 20 Miserable Cities: While they claim that Detroit is shrinking, they also say in 2010, the economy is expected to expand.  That doesn't seem so miserable?  Cleveland and Stockton have landed tops on the Forbes' list for the past two years, however, it's still sad to see Detroit has now jumped up from #7 to #4.  
• CNN's World's Most Dangerous Cities: This wouldn't come as a surprise from Forbes, but now CNN?  Ugh.
• First-Ever Winner of ULI Amanda Burden Urban Open Space Award - Campus Martius: "The award for the park, unique in a city more often characterized by hardship than success, was based on a competition to recognize an outstanding example of a public open space that has catalyzed the transformation of the surrounding community.
• Site Selection magazine, a global business publication, has named Michigan the No. 3 state in the nation for major new corporate facilities and expansions in 2009:  More information from Gov. Granholm's office.
• Portfolio.com ranks the Best Markets for Young Adults with Detroit ranked 67 of 67 and Grand Rapids at 61.  Yikes!  Re-arrange their graphic here to display population growth, share of population for 18-34 age range, members of 18-34 age range with a bachelor's degree, etc.
• One of ten finalist for the Living Cities' Integration Initiative: "The initiative will provide a package of $15 million in grants and loans to up to five winning cities to support new, bold approaches that bring together leaders from across multiple sectors to improve the lives of low-income people in significant and measurable ways."
• Rated #1 Large Airport by J.D. Power and Associates in their 2010 North America Airport Satisfaction Study: "The study measures overall airport satisfaction in three segments: large (30 million or more passengers per year), medium (10 million to 30 million passengers per year) and small (fewer than 10 million passengers per year). Six factors-assessed through 27 specific attributes-are examined to determine overall customer satisfaction: airport accessibility; baggage claim; check-in/baggage check process; terminal facilities; security check; and food and retail services."