Well, son," my dad said, "Young people down home used to say that they were going to Michigan because that was where the good-paying jobs were."

Growing up in Lafollette, Tenn., my father migrated north to a state booming with manufacturing and the need for more employees. Moving to Monroe in the mid 1950s, he found jobs plentiful and started working for Ford Motor Co. He was a proud UAW member and appreciated everything that Ford provided for him and his growing family. Michigan provided a great place to work and raise a family, and our population was booming.

Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.

According to the 2010 Census, Michigan registered a population loss.

Instead of being an economic refuge for other Americans, Michigan has been sending our young people south to other states to find jobs. However, due to "relentless positive action" and responsible legislation in Lansing recently, Michigan's economy is beginning to heal.

Gov. Rick Snyder frequently says that Michigan needs to "create the environment to create jobs." It's a great sound bite, and really is a goal worth attaining.

A new tax plan and business-friendly legislation has put our state back on track.

With a surplus of underutilized skilled-trades workers, and an engineering base just waiting to explode with new technology and ideas, Michigan almost has everything in place to become an economic powerhouse once again.

But another disaster looms on the horizon.

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