Economic Development Coalition Releases Report on Regional Economic Successes

The Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan (EDCSEM) today released its report of business attraction and expansion successes during the period of January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.
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DETROIT, Mich., June 23, 2009 — The Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan (EDCSEM) today released its report of business attraction and expansion successes during the period of January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. During that period, EDCSEM member agencies engaged in a total of 183 new projects representing over $1 billion in investment to the region.

The total number of jobs created and retained in 2008 was projected to be 19,688 as a result of these investments. In addition, the region’s business accelerators provided business development support to nearly 1200 companies. The report is a summary of regional business and attraction and expansion successes reported by EDCSEM agencies.  It is not intended to be a comprehensive detailing of every project undertaken in the region; but, rather a snapshot of growth and development from the region’s largest economic development organizations. Find a copy of the report at www.detroitrenaissance.com/reports.

EDCSEM was convened by Detroit Renaissance and announced its formation in November 2007. Members include: Ann Arbor SPARK, Automation Alley, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Regional Economic Partnership, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Detroit Renaissance, Macomb County, Oakland County, NextEnergy, TechTown, Tourism Economic Development Council and Wayne County. The coalition works to promote regional solutions that accelerate economic growth.

Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan
PARTNER LISTINGS/MEDIA CONTACTS

Ann Arbor SPARK
Michael Finney, President and CEO
Media Contact: Elizabeth Parkinson – (734) 821-0070
Representing all communities in Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor SPARK, a non-profit organization, is the driving force in establishing the Ann Arbor region as a destination for business expansion, retention, and location. Ann Arbor SPARK collaborates with business, academic, government, and community investor partners including the University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University, the Herbert and Grace Dow Foundation, Pfizer, Washtenaw County, the City of Ann Arbor, Bank of Ann Arbor and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.  For more information, visit www.AnnArborSPARK.org.

Automation Alley
Ken Rogers, Executive Director
Media Contact: Michelle Zellen – (248) 457-3204
Automation Alley is a technology business association driving the growth and image of Southeast Michigan’s economy through a collaborative culture that focuses on workforce and business development initiatives. Since its founding in 1999, Automation Alley has expanded to include more than 1,000 businesses, educational institutions and government entities, covering an eight-county area and the City of Detroit. Automation Alley promotes regional prosperity through business attraction services, exporting assistance, workforce development and technology acceleration.  For additional information, visit www.automationalley.com

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
George Jackson, President
Media Contact: Bob Rossbach – (313) 402-9831
The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC) serves as the lead implementing agency for business retention, attraction and economic development initiatives in the city of Detroit. It combines the power of private sector expertise with public sector tools to encourage economic growth.
DEGC works with other agencies to market Detroit to businesses and developers locally and from around the world. Its professional staff identifies potential development sites, negotiates development agreements, manages construction projects and helps eliminate obstacles that might impede the growth of new business activity in the city. The business retention and expansion team fosters good relations with corporate clients to create a community of goodwill ambassadors for the city.

Detroit Regional Chamber
Richard E. Blouse, Jr., President and CEO
Media Contact: Megan Spanitz – (313) 596-0395
With nearly 23,000 members, the Detroit Regional Chamber is the largest chamber of commerce in the country. The Chamber’s mission is carried out through business attraction efforts, public policy advocacy, strategic partnerships and quality products and services for members.  For more information, visit www.detroitchamber.com.

Detroit Regional Economic Partnership
John Carroll, Executive Director
Media Contact: Megan Spanitz – (313) 596-0395
The Detroit Regional Economic Partnership is a leading regional economic development organization representing ten counties in Southeast Michigan and focused on strengthening the region’s economy through business attraction and expansion.  Since the Partnership’s founding in 1997, it has helped bring $1.5 billion in new investment and nearly 9,000 new jobs to the Detroit Region.  The Detroit Regional Economic Partnership is an affiliate of the Detroit Regional Chamber.  For more information, visit www.detroitchamber.com.

Detroit Renaissance
Doug Rothwell, President
Media Contact: Kirsten Ussery – (313) 259-5400
Detroit Renaissance provides leadership to accelerate the economic transformation of Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Renaissance accomplishes this work through serving as a catalyst to develop growth strategies, advocating for those strategies and championing specific initiatives that accelerate growth. A 501(c)(3) organization that was formed in 1970, Detroit Renaissance is composed exclusively of the chief executive officers of the region’s most significant employers and universities that generates over $800 Billion in annual revenue, provides nearly 300,000 jobs and serves over 130,000 students in Michigan. For more information, visit www.detroitrenaissance.com.

Macomb County
Stephen Cassin, Executive Director, Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development
Media Contact:  Stephen Cassin – (586) 469-5285
The Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development (MCPED) is responsible for implementing the county’s economic development strategy. MCPED is structured specifically to create the ideal environment for new business and emerging sectors, as well as to support the breadth of business activities found across the county. The group’s functions are comprised of business attraction, business retention and expansion, and small business and entrepreneurial development.

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation
Gregory Main, President & CEO
Media Contact: Bridget Beckman – (517) 241-9446
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s one-stop resource for businesses seeking to grow in Michigan.   It was formed in 1999 through an alliance between the State of Michigan and several local communities.  The MEDC has the ability, authority and reach to serve as a one-stop resource for business retention, expansion and relocation projects.

NextEnergy
Keith W. Cooley, CEO
Media Contact: Stanton Orser – (248)-594-4488
NextEnergy, Michigan’s alternative energy accelerator, is a non-profit corporation dedicated to enabling the commercialization of energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security and the environment. NextEnergy drives technology collaborations, supplier diversification, progressive energy policy, and new business venture support to position Michigan as a leader in the emerging alternative energy industry.  For more information please visit www.nextenergy.org.

Oakland County
Doug Smith, Director of Economic Development & Community Affairs
Media Contact: Stephen Huber – (248) 858-1848
Oakland County supports a comprehensive economic development strategy that encourages business growth from within while successfully attracting companies from around the world. Our Emerging Sectors™ initiative targets high-tech and fast-growth companies for attraction and collaboration with existing firms. Oakland County’s Business Finance Corporation and Economic Development Corporation offer financing options for new and existing companies and the Business Center offers small business counseling and seminars.

TechTown
Randal Charlton, Executive Director
Media Conact:  Allison Lumb – 313-879-4478
TechTown, the Wayne State University Research & Technology Park, is a 12 block urban development focused on the economic transformation of Detroit. TechTown empowers entrepreneurs to build successful technology businesses that improve the quality of life for people across the country and around the world. TechTown provides the support and access to capital needed to build high-tech companies in Detroit.

Tourism Economic Development Council
Jim Townsend, Executive Director
Media Contact: Rene Monforton – (313) 202-1951
The Tourism Economic Development Council leads and directs programs to make metro Detroit a competitive tourism destination. It is a public/private partnership created in March 2002 to guide the implementation of the Tourism Vision of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Seated on the Council: the president of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Executives of Wayne and Oakland counties, the Chairman of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, the Mayor of Detroit, the presidents of the Detroit Regional Chamber, Detroit Renaissance and New Detroit Inc., the executive director of SEMCOG and the chairman and president of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.  The Council is led by James Nicholson, president & CEO, PVS Chemical, Inc.

Wayne County
Turkia Awada Mullin, Chief Development Officer / Assistant CEO
Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE)
Media Contact: Lynn Ingram (313) 224-0259
Wayne County’s Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) offers numerous programs that encourage economic development. EDGE strengthens our region through diversification and innovation. EDGE drives job growth and job retention by providing a supportive and team-dynamic environment for local, regional and international businesses alike. The EDGE incentives and tools to further champion your project’s success start at: www.waynecountyedge.com.