The Detroit Regional Partnership today announced its launch. The organization is dedicated to spurring job growth in southeast Michigan by creating a marketing and attraction economic development arm for the 11-county region it serves.
The organization started a 30-day listening tour with stakeholders across the region to learn about each community’s economic development programs and priorities.
“I spent my first few days with community leaders in Monroe, Lenawee, and Washtenaw counties, and I’m excited to meet with the remaining eight counties over the next few weeks,” says Barry Matherly, CEO of the new group. “This region has so much potential, and I’m excited to build on progress to date and help take it to the next level.”
Matherly transitioned from a role as president and CEO of a similar initiative in Virginia.
The organization will build upon the people and assets of the business attraction group that was formerly part of the Detroit Regional Chamber. The new group also will respond to request for proposals by national and international businesses and organizations looking to establish an office, a headquarters, manufacturing operations, and other investments that generate jobs.
“Having an organization dedicated to marketing our region and attracting investment is such an important step forward in our region’s momentum and recovery,” says Gerry Anderson, chair of the partnership and chairman and CEO of DTE Energy in Detroit. “This group is exactly what its new name reinforces: a partnership — by the region and for the region — to attract investment and jobs that will add vitality to our communities.”
The group is based in Detroit and was founded by a group of business and philanthropic CEOs, partly due to a request for proposal by Amazon to establish a second headquarters outside of Seattle. Detroit’s bid was passed over in favor of what turned out to be two headquarter locations — Long Island City, N.Y. and Arlington, Va.
