In Michigan, Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation is reshaping the landscape for businesses and communities. Covering a region that includes Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport — the 18th busiest airport in North America — and Willow Run Airport, home to a high-value cargo hub, Detroit Region Aerotropolis represents a groundbreaking approach to regional economic development.
Its mission is to bring high-value, large-scale businesses to this interconnected corridor of opportunity.
What is the Detroit Region Aerotropolis?
The Detroit Region Aerotropolis region is a unique economic development district that spans two counties: Wayne And Washtenaw, and four municipalities: Romulus, Taylor, Van Buren Township and Huron Township . It’s a region with strategic advantages — from proximity to two major airports to access to world-class transportation infrastructure, including rail lines and highways.
“So when you look at post-Great Recession, the state of Michigan was thinking to itself, ‘what are high value growth engines in the state that could create jobs in the future for Michigan residents so we don’t continue to lose population to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida?” said Christopher Girdwood, CEO of Detroit Region Aerotropolis.
The initiative was born when state and local leaders recognized the untapped potential of the area between Detroit and Ann Arbor, an area rich with land, infrastructure and talent pools.
“We’re about regionalism,” Girdwood said. “A win in one city is a win for the Aerotropolis region.”
This regional approach eliminates the competitive, “zero-sum game” between cities, allowing local governments to work together to attract large-scale, job-creating investments.
Rather than focusing on pulling businesses across city lines, the Detroit Region Aerotropolis model focuses on creating a unified business environment where success in one city directly benefits the entire region.
Three companies making a mark in the Detroit Region Aerotropolis
Several high-profile businesses have already recognized the potential of the Detroit Region Aerotropolis region, with major investments that are already making an impact on the economy and local communities.
Here are three examples:
Kroger: In a significant move, the grocery giant opened one of its most advanced customer fulfillment centers in the Detroit Region Aerotropolis, investing $95 million in the project. This facility represents a major step forward in automating Kroger’s logistics operations, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area and enhancing the region’s reputation as a logistics and supply chain hub.
Beta Technologies: This electric air cargo aircraft manufacturer is bringing new technology to the region by building a Level 3 charging station at Willow Run Airport. This investment is especially significant because of the way it highlights the future of mobility and sustainable technology in the region. Beta’s arrival in the Detroit Region Aerotropolis positions the area as a leader in advanced aerospace technologies and a key player in the growing electric air cargo sector.
Our Next Energy (ONE): A new player in the clean energy space, ONE is building a state-of-the-art battery manufacturing facility in Van Buren Township. The company’s investment represents one of the first large-scale battery OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to choose the Detroit Region Aerotropolis as its home. This project promises to create high-tech jobs and contribute to the region’s growing focus on sustainable, advanced manufacturing.
The impact on local communities
The success of these companies isn’t just measured in dollars and square footage. The real impact of the Detroit Region Aerotropolis is the way these investments are transforming local communities. As part of a unified region, each city benefits from the larger projects that are driving economic growth across the board.
“The investment into these properties really stimulates growth in the community of the local neighborhoods around us,” says Tim Woolley, mayor of the city of Taylor. “We find if you take care of the pocket parks, you take care and invest in the infrastructure, people will invest back into their homes and the community around them.”
Other mayors say the focus on collaboration and shared success is not only fostering new business but also creating long-term value for the entire area.
“Romulus is special for a lot of reasons, [like] our geographic location; 20 minutes from Detroit, 20 minutes from Ann Arbor, home to I-94 and 275, and also DTW Airport,” shares Bob McCraight, mayor of the city of Romulus. “It’s been a great draw for us to bring in industry and commerce as well.”
The Detroit Region Aerotropolis is looking ahead
As the Detroit Region Aerotropolis region continues to evolve, its focus on innovation and infrastructure is paving the way for even more business opportunities.
“We’re creating public infrastructure to allow mobility to happen in new ways,” Girdwood says.
The region is making significant strides in creating the public facilities needed to support these industries. A key area of focus is low-altitude airspace, which could revolutionize how high-value cargo is transported. Through investments in drone delivery and other technologies, the region is positioning itself as a leader in connected infrastructure.
The Detroit Region Aerotropolis is not just about attracting business — it’s about creating a sustainable, interconnected ecosystem that drives innovation, creates jobs and benefits the region as a whole.
This forward-thinking approach is set to make the region even more attractive to Fortune 500 companies and innovative startups alike, as they look for the next great place to scale their operations.
For more information on the Detroit Region Aerotropolis, visit https://detroitaero.org/.
