"The towns of Aberdeen and Hoquiam are dying."

TC added this comment to News Roundup: Grays Harbor Paper and I want to make sure it is easily accessible.

I wonder what the answers are for Grays Harbor County. Tourism and service industry isn't going to be enough.

From TC:

Its just sad. The towns of Aberdeen and Hoquiam are dying.

I've lived in Aberdeen for 41 of my 42 years, and am hoping to relocate after this summer.

I can remember a time (way back in the crazy 70's) when I was in grade school. I befriended two different kids whose families relocated here in hopes of finding work. My stepfather and his friends all worked in various mills locally (Evans Products, Weyco, Rayonier, Mayr Bros etc), and literally after making a couple of calls they had both fathers set up with jobs at Mayr Brothers, and Grays Harbor Veneer.

Those days are literally gone forever, along with the good wages. Now Aberdeen is just one big service industry shithole.

Enough whining, back to looking for work.