Flint, MI

At one time known as "Vehicle City," the city of Flint, Michigan was once a vital center of automobile manufacturing in the United States. Today, Flint remains the world headquarters of four General Motors divisions. In recent decades, however, the decline of the American auto industry has had a severely damaging impact on Flint, driving up unemployment and poverty rates, and eroding the city's once-powerful manufacturing operations. The prolonged downturn has also caused the city's population to shrink considerably. In 2007, the population of Flint was approximately 115,000 residents, a decline of more than seven percent from 2000 estimates.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Flint has made a major push to attract new business to the area, in an effort to steer the city in the direction of a more diversified economy. As a result of these efforts, a number of small parts manufacturers have moved into Flint's vacant industrial areas. The commercial growth along Interstate 75, which is a corridor into the city of Detroit, has also contributed to economic stabilization.

Residents of Flint work primarily in the service, sales, production, and manufacturing industries. Major businesses in the area include Citizens Banking Corp., General Motors, Delphi, JP Morgan Chase, and the city of Flint.

In recent years, a number of local businesses and organizations have launched a campaign to revitalize the city's principal commercial district. As a result of these efforts, a number of positive developments have emerged, all aimed at rebuilding the city's economic foundation.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Flint has 75 neighborhoods but the city has an extraordinary plan to shrink that number by tearing down abandoned houses to make room for more productive use of the land. Downtown Flint has been helped by reinvestment, including dorm construction by the University of Michigan and an 84-acre subdivision near downtown, University Park Estates.

FAMILY FUN

• The Sloan Museum is a popular automobile history and science museum. The permanent collection includes an abundance of artifacts and photos from Michigan's industrial history, and over 80 historic Flint-built automobiles. The museum also hosts car shows and major national travelling exhibits.
• The Whaley House Museum is housed on a grand Victorian estate in Flint. It has been carefully restored and hosts tours, workshops, afternoon teas, and special events.
• The Flint Children's Museum welcomes families with educational, interactive children's exhibits. Exhibit themes include "How Things Work," "Our Town," and "Performing Arts." The museum regularly hosts tours and birthday parties.
• Atwood Stadium seats 11,000 and is the site of regular minor league and local school sporting events.
• The Flint Farmer's Market is a popular fresh and organic food market that hosts vendors from local family farms year round.
• The Stockton Center at Spring Grove is a converted Victorian house that organizes programs dedicated to promoting Flint's history. It is open for tours, houses a reference library, and puts on special events.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• The Whiting is a performing arts complex and theater that hosts lectures, entertainment acts, and community gatherings. Programs include an annual jazz series, featuring legendary artists from around the world, a spotlight series featuring major music and theater acts, and occasional special events.
• Red Ink Studios is a Flint-area art movement that works to transform unused building space into free studios for local artists. The studio also organizes and sponsors exhibitions for up-and-coming artists.
• Applewood is a historic farmhouse owned by the local Ruth Mott Foundation, an important sponsor of the arts. The farm hosts regular events such as an exhibit highlighting local sculpture, garden walks, and a sculpture festival.
• The Greater Flint Arts Council promotes and exhibits the work of area artists. It distributes a regular newsletter, maintains local artist listings, and leads several community outreach programs.

EVENTS

• Featuring over 15,000 amateur and elite runners from around the world, the Crim Festival of Races hosts a wide variety of events, including one of the country's most popular 10-mile road races.
• The Flint Film Festival screens a variety of genres of films produced by new and independent filmmakers. The festival strives to promote diversity and connect directors to their audiences.
• The "Back to the Bricks" Cruise Weekend is a major classic car event, showcasing more than 20,000 cars and hosting crowds of over 125,000. Aside from its namesake classic car cruise, the event features a large marketplace pavilion, multiple musical acts, and children's entertainment.

EDUCATION

Flint has a rapidly growing university population, and is home to more students than Princeton, New Jersey. Higher education institutions in Flint include:

• Kettering University, a top ranked Midwestern institution for math, science, engineering, and business. The school prides itself on a cooperative education program that brings together students with partner employer corporations to promote professional skills.
• The University of Michigan-Flint is a rapidly-growing campus in the University of Michigan system.
• Baker College, Michigan's largest independent college. The school focuses squarely on career development.
• Mott Community College stresses community service, diversity, and the development of career skills.

LOCAL MEDIA

• The Flint Journal
• Flint Talk
• Your Magazine