The Rust Belt which has also been known as the Manufacturing Belt are different states in the Northeast, the Mid-Atlantic and the Upper Midwest. The Fox Valley area is included in this area where a Fox Valley handyman operates his Fox Valley bathroom remodeling. This whole region got that name for the different kinds of manufacturing plants that were scattered particularly in the steel industry. Much of this took place in Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Indiana and upper parts of New York. The factories are located near lakes in the area. The term, Rust Belt became well known in the 1970’s when the industry had trouble and several factories were closed. Rusted gates are the only thing left from these factories.

This area became the main area for industry and manufacturing for it’s proximity to navigable waters and access to various resources. There was an enormous population explosion that occurred bringing many immigrants to these areas for work and using the rivers, lakes and the railroad proved to be all good for shipping purposes. Things for a long time flourished in these states that were part of this manufacturing belt.

Some of the difficulties began happening when other countries such as China were able to produce itmes for much less by paying their workers much lower pay . This produced enormous competition for the US and we were not able to accomplish the same things for such a small amount as China could. This created outsourcing where companies started to pay people in other countries to do the work for less than American workers could. The outsourcing work overseas have resulted in jobs lost for Americans.

Free trade has caused the factories to struggle financially in this area. Companies in industry learned that steel could be made for a great deal less in 3rd world countries than in the US so they started to get it from there other than in this country. By getting the supplies through free trade from other countries it has completely changed the supply and demand factor. With little supply of steel here in America, there is no demand for it either and the cycle goes on to where we must rely on other countries for certain items. This also, has created struggles on this region.

A lot of people have also been spreading out from the bigger metropolitan areas that are in this Rust Belt such as Chicago, Duluth, Philadelphia, Buffalo and Pittsburgh deciding to go out into the suburbs where it is more affordable than in these downtown cities. This has made less work and jobs in the downtowns and more employment in the suburbs that have no relation to industry as it had always been before. This rust belt area has recently seen an increase in jobs since 2008 with some new industries coming in. They are dealing with biotechnology IT and hydrogen cell development in addition to some other newer businesses. This has been a great boost for this area and the people here are hopeful that it will prosper again like it did prior to the 1970’s.

Connor Sullivan has been interviewing a fox valley handyman company to do some work on his mothers home. He has been getting estimates from a fox valley bathroom remodeling company to update his bathroom.