Two year ago we lost 14 businesses in town and a major manufacturing firm in the county seat.
Last year the rate of business closings slowed considerably but being there are so few left this is not a reliable indicator.
We could have kept our businesses going by more investment and adding employees but with the Sword of Damocles/Obamacare hanging over our heads and all the other crap Big government is talking about we just didn't see the point. So we are winding it down and now it just gives my 84 year old Father a reason to get up in the mornings. He still enjoys the work but he was dead set against doing anything more than we are doing.
He lived through the Great Depression and he claims it is worse now because there is no feeling of the country getting better.
I know it has never been this bad in my lifetime and the Carter years sucked balls big time.
I know of no reason anyone would open a business around here. We have an epidemic of pillbillies and heroin addicts. I would gather over half the population is on the full government dole with most of the rest getting a government check of some sort. All our city schools are now on full Free Lunch. (Apparently once you pass a certain percentage they just throw in the towel and make everyone on the free lunch dole)
Its like I woke up one day and my town was gone and it was replaced by an inner city ghetto.
Sorry for your family business, your town , and most of America.
Things will likely get even worse.