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G ERA LD R . FO R D , JR . COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC W O R K S FIFTH DISTRICT, MICHIGAN WASHINGTON, D. C ., ADDRESS: H O U SE O P REPRESENTATIVES SRANO RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ADDRESS) 518 M IC H IG A N TRUST B U ILD IN G Congress of tfje Untteb States RALPH B. PRATT Hottde ot i&epresentatibes SECRETARY Ifeflfnston, B . C . August 17, 1949 Honorable John E# Steelman Assistant to the President The White House Washington, D. C* Dear Mr. Steelman: On August 11, 1949 a joint meeting of labor and management representatives, public officials and interested citizens was held in the city of Grand Haven, Michigan* After a thorough review of the unemployment conditions in the community, it was determined that action should be taken to have Grand Haven designated as a distress area# A few weeks ago Muskegon, Michigan was determined to be in a critical situation economically speaking* Grand Haven is only twelve miles south of Muskegon and the industrial activities of both communities are closely related* Conse quently, if Muskegon is adversely affected from an employment point of view, Grand Haven immediately and directly feels the impact and, conversely, favorable employment conditions in Grand Haven help to alleviate the unemployment problems in Muskegon* The Michigan Unemployment Compensation Commission in September, 1943 reported only 90 compensable claims in the Grand Haven area* For the next eight consecutive months the claims mounted steadily* At the present time 526 individuals are unemployed in the area, of which 68% are from Grand Haven proper, 21$ from Muskegon, 6% from Grand Rapids, and 5% from Fruitport, a town approximately midway between Muskegon and Grand Haven* A total unemployed force of 526 in a city the size of Grand Haven has created an extremely serious situation, particularly with the added effects of Muskegon’ s dire economic condition just a few miles away* 1 believe that a thorough investigation of the problem will reveal that the unemployment exceeds 12% of the labor force* To date nine distress areas have been selected, in cluding Muskegon. It seems to me that Grand Haven should be included within the Muskegon area because of its close geographi cal proximity and the direct relationship of the two communities industrially* I have noted that in the New Bedford, Massachu setts area nine communities in the immediate vicinity were included as a unit for federal assistance purposes* Providence, Rhode Island has also been so designated as an acute area and the entire state has been included* In the case of Waterbury, Connecticut, eleven nearby towns are considered in the same category. 1 only cite the above to indicate past precedents for the expansion of an acute area beyong the territorial limits of a particular community* On the basis of the above facts I urgently request that an immediate investigation be made to determine if Grand Haven can be designated as a distress area so that it may qualify for all federal assistance in these critical times* The citizens of that community and I will be Indebted to you for aid in this important matter* Gerald R* Ford, Jr. GRFJrsbb
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