I pray so. Toledo is a great city only 30 minutes from Ann Arbor, ( driving 70 )

Missy Ann Arbor is mentioned in the Dispatch article.  It says "Toledo's biggest employers today are two giant health-care and hospital chains, ProMedica Health Systems and Mercy Health Partners, which combined employ about 18,400. City officials also hope that the Medical College of Ohio's merger with the University of Toledo can be connected with the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor to create a burgeoning bio-medical corridor."

I wonder how the guru they interviewed with the Brookings Institute views business corriders linking metropolitan areas.  Whether that is considered "sprawl." 

It's hard to believe when we get to Toledo from the Detroit area we are only 30 minutes to Ann Arbor! 

Actually the medical center here is about the only but definately biggest hiring employee. Mercy Health Systems is the best, Allyssa was at Mott's Children's in Ann Arbor, but I like St. Joe's the best, warmer, better systems and in my opinion it has to do with the fact their number one mission is not teaching like U.M.

Missy if you look at most of these big cities, hospitals are the major employers in most of Ohio's biggest cities. 

I think Mi and Ohio have a lot of similarities all except football. LOL

Maureen,

Thanks for posting this.  I have been trying to keep track of when stories about Toledo show up.

Toledo is a great place.  It's the 'littlest big city' in the area and has so much to offer.  Our housing prices are remarkably affordable, and overall our crime rates are low compared to cities of comparable population (+/- 300,000).  That's not to say we don't have our challenges, but I have lived in many cities (large and small) and can tell you that the same problems exist everywhere.

ProMedica is a HUGE part of the health care industry here with Mercy Health Partners nipping at their heels.  The ultimate goal of a health/technology corridor that will connect Toledo and Ann Arbor is a continuing project.  

We have just opened a new ferry terminal here and there are many things in the works to bring in passenger ships and increase freight shipping across Lake Erie.  All are positive movements.

And you are right on target.  Toledo is a HUGE union town.  That has its good and bad points, but that mindset is not one that will change for at least 25 years.  It's generational and until we progress through more technology based thinking....

And Missy is right - 30 minutes and you can be in Ann Arbor.  And I DO enjoy Ann Arbor.  Some nice restaurants up there! 

How funny Carol I just emailed you a heads up!

Carol the insights from the Brookings Institute fella in the series talk about other cities that face the same problems as Ohio's big cities.  Many cities in the mid-west and the northeastern US are going through this    same transitions. 

Someone in the Columbus Dispatch Article makes a big point of technology being used now in manufacturing.  

That is neat about the Ferry, I don't think I saw anything about that in the article.  There are interviews with each of the mayors but for some reason I can't watch them on my computer.  They're on On the  Brink: Can Ohio's big cities be Saved? 

Missy - there are lots of similarities - even the football fanaticism.  LOL  Go Bucks!

Until I started blogging I knew nothing about the 1835 war that was over the strip of land between Michigan and Ohio... I think that is funny.  They mention it at the beginning of the article in the Columbus Dispatch today...

thanks ladies for the comments.