By The Center for Michigan - September 10, 2007
Volkswagen execs said a strong customer base, good schools, and skilled workers were the main reasons they were bolting from Oakland County to a new HQ in Fairfax County, Virginia. Consider the decision by the numbers. Virginia ranks well ahead of Michigan on various standardized school test scores, college affordability, college completion rate, entrepreneurial and small business activity, unit labor costs, and business tax structure, according to the Michigan Entrepreneurship Score Card. But also consider this long-term saving grace for Michigan... Median home values in Fairfax County were $517,000 in 2005, compared to $228,500 in Oakland County. How would you like to be among the hundreds of VW workers who now need to find affordable homes in Virginia?
Photo credit: Slugbug by Andy McFarlane
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