On behalf of Wayne County EDGE, I would like to wish you and your families a happy holiday season.
One year ago, the County Executive came to me with a challenge. He wanted to build one of the most sophisticated and aggressive economic expansion and attraction programs in the United States. And one year later, I think the results speak for themselves.
EDGE has been instrumental in retaining nearly 20,000 jobs in Southeast Michigan while attracting over $900 million in new investment to Wayne County and over 3,500 new jobs in less than one year. I commend the efforts of my staff, who have worked tirelessly with me to bring several high profile projects to Wayne County, despite the economic downturn.
In fact, according to SEMCOG's latest 2008 estimates, Wayne County leads the Southeast Michigan region with the most construction activity per square foot (10.8 million-sq.-ft.), representing over 34 percent of all activity in the region. And of Southeast Michigan's five largest development projects, three were in Wayne County.
Some of the major corporate announcements made in Wayne County this year include:
General Electric is bringing nearly 1,200 high-paying jobs to its new $100 million Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Software Center in Van Buren Twp.
Advanced lithium-ion battery manufacturer A123Systems is locating its regional headquarters and its Michigan Center of Energy Excellence in Livonia. A123's initial investment in Wayne County will be over $50 million, creating 300 jobs by 2010.
Ford Motor Company has pledged to spend $550 million to retool its Wayne plant to build the European version of the Focus, as well as the electric Focus in 2011. The project is expected to retain 3,200 jobs in Wayne County.
Pump Engineering LLC, a manufacturer of high-efficiency pumps and energy recovery turbochargers, is investing $4.2 million to expand in Huron Charter Twp. The project will create 110 total jobs, and it is estimated that the increased economic activity created by the project will create an additional 59 indirect jobs.
Unity Studios, a $55 million media production facility and media trade school, will be built in Allen Park.
In June 2009, Governor Granholm signed legislation that allowed the City of Detroit to lease Cobo Hall to a regional authority and authorized $300 million for its expansion and renovation. The expansion of Cobo Hall will create hundreds of construction jobs and retain 16,000 jobs.
2009 also brought the grand opening of The Michigan Life Science and Innovation Center (MLSIC), a partnership between Wayne County, the MEDC, and Ann Arbor SPARK to create a cutting edge business accelerator in an abandoned Pfizer facility for life sciences companies. The MLSIC connects experienced entrepreneurs such as Esperion Therapeutics to business accelerator organizations and start-ups under one roof.
And in TechTown, one of the nation's most active business accelerators, Wayne County awarded a $750,000 grant to build out space for at least nine new companies that have been on the facility's waiting lists for months. The County also announced a $500,000 training grant to TechTown to support the establishment and growth of at least 25 new logistics companies. This grant was received by the County from the federal government and constitutes part of its drive to establish an Aerotropolis.
Wayne County EDGE has also worked to provide services to citizens who are struggling through the current economic recession. The Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program (MFPP) continues to receive national attention for its work keeping more than 1,000 Wayne County families stay in their homes at no cost. The National Association of Counties honored Wayne County with a 2009 NACO Achievement Award for MFPP.
And Wayne County EDGE continues to utilize the Wayne County Land Bank's TURBO Program to spark more than $400 million in new investment in Wayne County. These projects are anticipated to create more than 4,000 new jobs and have already retained over 1,000 jobs.
In 2009, the Land Bank also administered $25.9 million in Community Development Block Grant / NSP funds as part of the Housing and Economic Redevelopment Act (HERA). The Land Bank is using these funds to place foreclosed properties back into productive use, promote private investment in Wayne County neighborhoods, reduce property vacancies, reverse the decline of neighborhood housing values, and reduce the housing stock in areas hardest hit by abandonment and population decline.
The National Association of Counties honored Wayne County with a 2009 NACO Achievement Award for the Land Bank Program.
And finally, in late 2009, legislation was passed by the Michigan House designed to advance regional projects like the Detroit Region Aerotropolis. This legislation, called the Next Michigan Development Act, would create the necessary incentives to attract companies like UPS and FedEx as well as other companies that are dependent upon freight forwarders to deliver their goods to the market quickly. The Aerotropolis is the most geographically advantageous, readily accessible, and economically significant initiative for Southeast Michigan, capable of creating more than 60,000 jobs and billions in annual economic impact. To learn more about how you can support the Aerotropolis, please visit www.detroitregionaerotropolis.com
Clearly, a transformation of our economy has begun, based on new manufacturing technology, new growth industries, and new ways for government to do business. As we move forward into 2010, my team is committed to identifying new ways to make the business environment in Wayne County more unique and more desirable than anywhere else in the United States.
I look forward to sharing our accomplishments with you in the year ahead. I wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday season.
Turkia Awada Mullin is an Assistant CEO and Chief
Development Officer of Wayne County's Economic Development Growth
Engine (EDGE)