Recruiters often look at your area code. If you're out of the area they really aren't interested since fewer companies are paying to fly people to interviews or coughing up relocation expenses. Now, if you have some fantastic skill or experience the story is different, but if you're applying for a job that has the potential for loads of applicants in the local area, forget it.
If you're really determined....leave your address off your resume. Get a Google Voice telephone number (free) with the area code of the place you want to move. Use email and phone only (most don't write to your postal address anyhow). Spend some time Google mapping, learn about the place you applied to and where it is in relation to everything else in the area. If you have a friend (even an online friend that you half way trust) in the area you might be able to get around the address part by hinting that you're staying with friends until you get a permanent job (to cut costs...everyone understands that!).
Michigan isn't the only place going through hard times, it's all over the country. Why move? Do you have any idea what it's like to have to learn a job at the same time you're trying to figure out where to live, how to get from Point A to Point B and how long it takes? Or where to get your car worked on, what stores have the best prices, where to eat, clean your clothes, buy new ones to suit the weather and the styles, etc.? Can you cope with the lonliness or will you be calling "home" all the time just to have someone to talk to who actually knows who you are?
Start small. Try to get on with a consulting company, if there is such a thing in your line of work. Let them send you out for a while. That way you'll be getting paid to check out new locations. You'll be making connections as well.
Try going back to school, either to upgrade your current skills or to learn new ones. No matter what your age you'll be able to make some networking connections among the faculty and students. Maybe you can land a better job where you are.