County Profile
Location
Shiawassee County, Michigan, is strategically located along I-69. It is about halfway between Lansing, Michigan (home to Michigan State University) and Flint, Michigan (home to University of Michigan – Flint, and Kettering University). If you continue eastward on I-69 past Flint, Sarnia, Canada, is less than 100 miles due east of Shiawassee County. Detroit is about 90 miles southeast of Shiawassee County.
Population and Workforce
- A large population base and workforce – of 879,000 and 410,000, respectively – within the seven-county I-69 Thumb region
- Median wages that are well below the U.S. average
- Talent attraction and training assistance
- Access to over 66 million people within 500 miles or one day’s truck drive
A Pro-Business Environment
- Right-to-work legislation
- Low union activity
- Significant tax reforms
- An expansive array of incentives and support, including business operations support, as well as grants, loans and other incentive programs
Transportation Infrastructure
- One Class I railroad and two short-line railroads, including Great Lakes Central Railroad headquartered in Owosso
- Three airports within 40 minutes, along with a general aviation airport; Detroit Metropolitan Airport within 90 minutes
- The Port of Lansing, which includes all of Shiawassee County in its Foreign Trade Zone
Quality of Life
- Access to local museums, theaters and arts center
- Professional football, basketball, baseball and hockey within an hour’s drive
- A cost of living that is 15% below the U.S. average, buttressed by an affordable median home cost of $114,500 which is 60% below the U.S. average