ALLENDALE, MI (WHTC) - The economic prospects for the Lakeshore and West Michigan aren’t that promising.

So says Dr. Brian Long, director of Supply Management Research at Grand Valley State University. In his monthly survey of 70 purchasing managers in the greater Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo market, he’s predicting new orders to remain positive, but at a level more than half of what was seen in June, while the production index remained virtually unchanged, and only seasonal hiring has more than doubled the employment index. Dr. Long says that, despite efforts to diversify the economy, the auto industry continues to be this region’s and Michigan’s financial engine, and those improving sales figures from the Detroit three won’t last.

Dr. Long is being pessimistic because of what he sees beyond the dealer showroom, but one thing he sees that he does like is that the urge for workers to seek greener pastures beyond Michigan is abating.