DETROIT – January 24, 2024 – The Detroit Regional Partnership released the following statement in response to Governor Whitmer’s call in her State of the State Address for an R & D tax credit to drive innovation and attract and retain businesses.

“Our lack of an R & D tax credit has been a glaring omission in Michigan’s economic development strategy for more than a decade,” said Detroit Regional Partnership President and CEO Maureen Donohue Krauss. “Companies are making historic investments in mobility, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy technology that Michigan cannot afford to miss out on. This credit will increase R &D in our state and help Michigan outcompete other states for innovative companies and expansion projects that create high-paying jobs. We applaud the Governor’s leadership and hope the Legislature will take action.”

As part of her 6th State of the State Address, Gov. Whitmer also cited three specific job-creating projects the Detroit Regional Partnership played a role in bringing to Michigan and the Detroit Region: Nel Hydrogen’s gigafactory in Plymouth Charter Twp., Scout Motors’ R & D hub in Novi, and Fortescue’s advanced manufacturing center in Detroit.

About the Detroit Regional Partnership

The Detroit Regional Partnership is a public-private economic development partnership focused on marketing and business attraction for the 11-county Detroit Region. Since 2020, the DRP has attracted more than 100 projects to the Region, which are expected to create more than 33,000 jobs and nearly $9 billion in investment once full operational.

The DRP serves as a convenient single point of contact to all regional resources and works with companies and site selectors to help manage their projects and support their transition into the region. It specializes in helping companies understand and access the competitive advantages of our region – from workforce data to state and local incentives