DETROIT, March 31, 2015: Today, the Detroit Regional Chamber and 11 economic development organizations representing Southeast Michigan signed a protocol agreement to continue to collaborate on business attraction efforts designed to bring increased national and foreign investment to the region.
“Economically successful regions collaborate and work well together to market themselves to the world,” said Sandy K. Baruah, president and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber, who previously led the U.S. Economic Development Administration. “Detroit’s brand is still very strong, and with the increased attention stemming from its successful exit from bankruptcy, we have an opportunity to tell a great story. By presenting the region as a whole, we are able to paint a much more compelling picture of what Southeast Michigan offers.”
The protocol recognizes that regional messaging and coordinated outreach adds value and impact to business attraction efforts and strategies – ultimately creating more awareness, deal flow and investment. In signing the protocol, the regional partners agree to work closely and collaboratively with the Chamber’s Business Attraction staff and with each other.
Over the past several years, there has been increased collaboration between the partners on trade missions and in hosting site selectors and foreign delegations. Examples of previous successful collaboration include a European trade mission in April 2014 the Chamber helped lead to Germany and Italy with Gov. Rick Snyder and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. The trip led to several wins including Brugola OEB Industriale S.p.A.’s investment of $19.6 million to create up to 58 jobs in Plymouth and Eissmann Group Automotive’s investment of $13.55 million to create 233 jobs in Port Huron.
The regional partners signing the protocol are comprised of the economic development organizations and units of government throughout the region including: Ann Arbor SPARK, Detroit Economic Growth Corp., Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, Lapeer Development Corp., Lenawee Economic Development Corp., Macomb County Department of Planning and Economic Development, Monroe County Business Development Corp., Oakland County Department of Economic Development and Community Affairs, Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership and Wayne County Economic Development.
“Together, we represent 315,000 companies and 5.3 million people who provide a very dynamic and cost-competitive environment capable of supporting businesses looking to compete anywhere on the planet,” said Paul Krutko, president and CEO, Ann Arbor SPARK. “Rallying around these assets makes the business case that much stronger and we look forward to working together with our partners to bring more jobs and investment to Southeast Michigan.”
As outlined in the protocol, the Chamber’s Business Attraction program is designed to assist the public partners in marketing and promoting the region’s high value assets to attract new foreign and domestic investment. The signing of the protocol reflects two of the Chamber’s top strategic priorities: economic development and regional collaboration.
“Economic development is a team sport, and we’ve seen the benefit of these organizations working together over the past few years,” said Maureen Krauss, vice president of economic development-business attraction, Detroit Regional Chamber. “Investors view markets in terms of the opportunities and assets available in that particular region. When you package everything Southeast Michigan has into one cohesive pitch, it’s a strong value proposition and one we need to continue to share around the world.”