SOUTHFIELD, Mich., Jan 24, 2011 – The City of Southfield Downtown Development Authority, commonly known as the Cornerstone Development Authority, is pursuing its Healthcare Corridor economic development strategy and is actively recruiting new development for the area.
The district already is supported by a strong healthcare infrastructure, highlighted by Providence Medical Center, a booming healthcare curriculum offered at the Oakland Community College Southfield campus, a seven floor office housing 450 Health Alliance Plan (HAP) employees, a 10,000-square-foot Northland Park Dialysis Center, a CSL Plasma Center, a soon to be announced Physical Therapy office and more.
The region’s many amenities that attract healthcare investors ranging from physician groups to outpatient clinics to medical equipment companies, include but are not limited to, available land, professional office space, proximity to Wayne State and University of Michigan medical schools, nearby roads and highways and available skilled labor.
Led by the city’s Cornerstone Development Authority, these efforts are in partnership with Oakland County’s Medical Main Street initiative, site location consultants and real estate developers to attract healthcare and other investment to the city and county. One of the selling points of Southfield being a hub of healthcare activity and investment is the available workforce that lives within a 60 mile radius of property that can be properly zoned within city limits.
“We have a huge number of residents who have healthcare and medical experience and have worked in the field living in or near Southfield,” said Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence. “These are highly educated professionals. And we have many other educated professionals who have the training needed to seamlessly work in the healthcare industry.”
Southfield’s 48034 zip code is in the United States’ top 101 zip codes for corporate employment. In addition, 14 percent of residential women in the city of Southfield are currently employed in the healthcare industry, according to City-data.com.
The city will be actively communicating with a range of healthcare stakeholders and administrators from around Michigan and the Midwest. Developers who are looking to construct medical complexes and facilities will also be targeted.
Southfield leaders feel that by attracting healthcare employers to the region around 8 Mile Road and M-10 (Lodge Freeway), there will also be opportunities to attract supporting big-box retailers and a range of restaurants to service that immediate working population.
“It has been proven that once you experience growth in job retention and creation that other retail and food service opportunities will follow,” said Al Aceves, executive director of the Cornerstone Development Authority. This is part of a coordinated effort from the mayor’s office, the city council and our team to spread the word about the opportunities Southfield provides.
Contact Cornerstone Development Authority for more information on the Southfield Healthcare Corridor by calling (248) 796-5192 or visiting www.southfielddda.com.
About the CDA
The Cornerstone Development Authority (CDA) was established in 1988 as the downtown development authority for Southfield. The CDA is charged with promoting economic growth in the city and eliminating the causes of property value deterioration. The CDA consists of a two-person staff and a 13-member Board of Directors appointed by the Southfield mayor. The downtown Southfield area is known as the Cornerstone District. For more information, visit www.southfielddda.com
