Decline, Part III

"We didn't quit. You quit."
--Steffan Djordjevic (All the Right Moves)

While it is too early to draw definitive conclusions regarding the recent acquisition of my former company's assets, it's pretty safe to say that secular conditions in the industry have not materially improved.

Meanwhile, the central Wisconsin communities in which these operations reside continue to deteriorate. I try to return to the area every year or so, and it's pretty easy to notice change when you're not dipped in the perpetual motion of daily life in a locality.

Overall census pops appear to be stabilizing after taking a 20-40% hit earlier in the decade. Would guess that unemployment is about 20%, although many of those looking for work have already left the area.

I've seen less homes for sale this time around. Can't say the same for commercial real estate, as the number of empty store fronts and office buildings seems to be significantly higher.

There is a palpable bitterness about the original company sale to the Europeans. Some say the family owners sold out the community. Others blame the unions. As of now, however, even the bitterness seems to have stopped escalating compared to the last few times I was here.

My saddest experience this time around was cruising down to Wisconsin Rapids to check out the old Main Office where I worked and the River Block staff building across the street. Both of them are virtually empty. Paint peeling off the walls, felled trees on uncut lawn, empty parking lots. Vacant and in some cases demolished storefronts adjacent to the company properties. Had that ghost town feel. Couldn't help but think back 15-20 years when this was one bustling and vibrant district. Now...nothing.

Which brings me to the thing that stuck out most this time around. And that is the effect of spillover from a healthy corporate enterprise, and the emptyness that creeps in when that spillover is removed. The parks, nature preserves, community service and other outreach. Also, all of the jobs that were dependent directly or indirectly on a company--in this case literally thousands.

When companies get in trouble, the spillover to the community stops spilling. Sadly, removal is necessary in order to fully appreciate the salience.

It's easy to point finger about who is to blame for this situation. The media has picked these types of situations apart with predictably similar and in my view shallow and unsatisfactory conclusions.

That'll be the subject of our last installment...