News
Welcome to the Detroit Regional Partnership newsroom
The Detroit Regional Partnership works tirelessly to market, grow, and support the Detroit Region—strengthening our economy and sharing our remarkable story with the world. We proudly offer insight into our industry community and highlight new investment and innovation throughout the region. From analyzing regional survey results to supporting new business ventures, our team is at the forefront of economic development here in the Detroit Region.
Below is an archive of our published articles, blogs, and press releases as well as relevant news stories that feature the Detroit Region and our local companies. Check back for regular updates on our initiatives, blogs from our expert team, and success stories from businesses as they invest and expand in the Detroit Region.
For media inquiries contact:
Tamekia Ashford Nixon
313.518.5600
The Detroit Regional Partnership regularly features news and updates on economic development initiatives in the Detroit Region, as well as blog posts from our team. These articles provide insight into the region’s industries and competitive strengths.
Detroit Regional Partnership press releases, blogs, and articles
In Piloting New Work from Home Model, Oregon-based FCR Taps into the Detroit Region’s Talent Pool Creating More than 300 Jobs
Detroit Regional Partnership along with Southfield and Romulus, and Michigan Works assisted project Investment DETROIT – (March 4, 2021) – Oregon-based business solutions firm FCR recently expanded its new work from home model to Romulus and Southfield as its first...
Detroit Regional Partnership Launches Interactive Smart Manufacturing Story Map
The 11-county Detroit Region is an Industry 4.0 global leader where revolutionary concepts are both developed and manufactured. The Detroit Region’s supply chain advantage, deep roots in innovation and exceptional workforce makes the region an ideal location for smart...
Lordstown Motors Establishing Research & Development Facility in Farmington Hills
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan continues to claim its position as the automotive capital of the world with the announcement by Ohio-based Lordstown Motors Corp. on plans to establish an automotive R&D center in Farmington Hills with support from the Michigan Strategic Fund, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation announced today. The project is expected to create 141 jobs.
Detroit Regional Partnership Receives Two IEDC Excellence in Economic Development Awards
DETROIT (October 20, 2020) – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) honored the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) with two gold awards during their 2020 virtual IEDC Annual Conference: Excellence in Economic Development awards ceremony. DRP won a gold...
Detroit Region in the News
TALENT ON TAP: Detroit Region’s Momentum is Powered by People
Site Selection Magazine featured an investment profile on the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) shedding light on the region’s talent resources, business dynamism and assets. The DRP is bringing together the best of programs found across the country to be a true one-stop shop for domestic and global business attraction in the 11-county Detroit Region.
The organization connects the region’s brainpower to companies who, to use real estate terminology, can put it to its highest and best use. Regional utility DTE Energy, for example, today is finding a much deeper selection of technical talent than it used to in the region.
Crain's Detroit Business Features Commentary by Maureen Donohue Krauss
President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP), Maureen Donohue Krauss recently discussed how the 11-county Detroit Region attracted “34 projects involving new or expanded corporate real estate facilities in 2020.”
Projects awarded in the region are expected “to bring $3.7 billion in investment and 6,400 jobs resulting in about 6.2 million square feet of new construction or expansion across a multitude of industries.”
Focusing on business attraction, the DRP is a single point of contact for companies looking to invest in the region.
DRP Launches Financial Services Interactive Story Map
With the long-standing financial services industry, the 11-county Detroit Region continues to grow — encompassing a variety of unique community financial districts throughout the region.
Two of the #1 mortgage lenders have their headquarters in the Detroit Region including; the #1 U.S. retail lender (Quicken Loans in Detroit) and #1 wholesale mortgage lender (United Shore in Pontiac). The “big four” accounting firms (Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers) all have a strong presence in the region and recently TCF / Chemical Bank announced plans for a new headquarters in Detroit.
Op-Ed: Economic Development Leaders for Michigan (EDLM)
We can’t lose sight of the importance of economic development.
Together, we (EDLM) have over 350 years of economic development experience. Our organizations represent 84% of Michigan’s population and 89% of state gross domestic product. We lead efforts which drive Michigan’s economic engine, generate revenue, and create quality jobs through business retention, expansion and attraction.
We connect businesses with the resources they need to grow by strengthening supply chains, supporting infrastructure improvements, launching entrepreneurs, linking talent and employers, and coordinating state and local incentives that encourage business growth.
Clearcover Selects Detroit for New Customer Operations Hub
The Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) first engaged with Clearcover as part of its Chicago Trade Mission in February 2020. This is when the DRP team learned that Detroit was going to be considered for the company’s new customer operation hub and was engaged as the lead economic development agency to support the company’s investigation of the Detroit market.
The DRP aligned with the MEDC and DEGC to support the location search, including an impactful one-day market visit to Detroit in March 2020.
Detroit Regional Partnership Announces Leadership Change; Maureen Krauss Named New CEO, Replacing Barry I. Matherly
The Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) announced Maureen Krauss will become its new CEO. Krauss replaces Barry I. Matherly, who will be leaving the region due to family relocation requirements. Matherly will continue with DRP through the end of July as an advisor to Krauss, ensuring a smooth transition.
Matherly, who joined DRP in November 2018, was DRP’s first CEO and was hired to establish and staff the newly formed organization and develop an economic development strategy.
DRP Launches Research, Engineering & Design Interactive Story Map
There’s nearly 100,000 people employed in the research, engineering & design (RED) industry in the 11-County Detroit Region, with jobs growing 8.1% from 2015-2019. Metro Detroit is #1 for engineering talent density and employs more industrial and commercial designers than any other metro in the United States.
The industry is supported by the third largest R&D university hub in the U.S. with more than $2.3 billion spending annually, clearly demonstrating the region’s strong and growing creative talent to support a hub of innovation.
Excel Engineering Opens Engineering and Testing Facility in Detroit Region
Excel Engineering announces the acquisition of the former Ricardo test facility in Van Buren Township, as its second U.S. engineering and testing facility, creating an estimated 28 jobs and investing $3 million in the 11-county Detroit Region over the next 12 months.
Excel Engineering was initially discovered through the research conducted by the Detroit Regional Partnership’s (DRP) Business Intelligence Team that identified the company as a potential target. DRP Business Development Manager Carlotta Gmachl lead the project.
Detroit Regional Partnership Launches Interactive Mobility and Automotive Industry Cluster Story Map
The Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) has identified seven targeted industry clusters, incorporating 22 sub clusters, that will diversify the region’s economy, while ensuring access to jobs for all in Southeast Michigan. The Detroit region is globally known for being the motor city and the birthplace of the automobile, making the automotive industry a pillar to the region.
Covid-19’s Impact on Detroit: A Q&A with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago – Detroit Branch's Paul Traub
In May 2020, Angela M. Ladetto, Vice President of Business Intelligence and Research, Detroit Regional Partnership, asked Paul Traub, an economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s Detroit Branch, a series of questions about how Covid-19 has affected the Detroit region, Michigan, and the U.S. and what may be in store in the coming months
Detroit Regional Partnership Shares Results from Talent Insight Survey
The Detroit Regional Partnership’s Business Intelligence Strategy & Development Intern Josh Carter, shared the findings of the recent DRP study focusing on the state’s current students & recent college graduates’ career plans (ages 20–30). His findings revealed that although “Brain Drain” is a perceived issue in the 11-county Detroit Region, the state of Michigan actually falls in the mid-range among all the 50 states.
Detroit Regional Partnership Makes Statement on Racial Injustice and Discusses Deep Prosperity Initiative
Like millions of Americans, the Detroit Regional Partnership is deeply disturbed, saddened and frustrated by the racially motivated murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery – who we’ll never forget. As our hearts and condolences are with the families and community, we must truthfully confront our history of racial injustice before we can take the necessary steps to repair its painful legacy.
Twenty Percent of the Detroit Region’s Residents Work in Industries Impacted by COVID-19
According to an analysis conducted by The Brookings Institution, there are 63 industries that are suffering immediate effects from the economic shutdown as a result of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Annually, these industries contribute more than $32.5B in GRP and generate more than $21.8 billion in earnings and pay taxes in excess of $5.4 billion.
DRP Launches Digital Technology Interactive Story Map
The 11-county Detroit Region is known for powering innovation, whether that’s through automotive and mobility or advanced manufacturing, the landscape has always elevated technology.
The digital technology niche of the much broader technology industry is essential to powering the next generation of most businesses. Those industry subclusters in the Detroit Region are defined as software development, systems Ddsign & data storage – all which are growing strongly throughout our region.
‘The Motor City’ Partners with ‘Space City’ to Heighten Awareness for NASA’s Mission to Build the New Lunar Rover
The Detroit Regional Partnership steps up to support NASA by providing a key listing of Detroit automotive leaders, outreach efforts along with RFI distribution.
The RFI presents a winning opportunity to partner with the Houston, Texas community – a leader in energy, and aerospace offering strong infrastructure and support.
What Are The Talent Clusters in a Talent-Focused World?
Where’s the talent? Ask a corporate executive or a site selection consultant the number-one factor driving location decisions and the response will be skilled labor. If talent is the number-one factor, why do so many economic development strategies focus on clusters of companies versus clusters of talent?
Detroit Regional Partnership targets issues that keep companies away
It’s inviting groups from higher education, government and the nonprofit and business sectors to participate in solving the issues it’s hearing about from the companies that got away.
Detroit Regional Partnership to recruit companies in industry and talent clusters
The Detroit Regional Partnership has solidified the types of industries it will proactively target as it moves full force into marketing and recruitment efforts in the coming year.
Industries are based on the region’s existing strengths, rather than on aspirations. Not surprisingly, several focus on key strengths developed to serve the automotive industry.
From crime capital to America's most exciting city – the remarkable reinvention of Detroit
The great transformation: From analog to digital, Detroit Regional Partnership leads new business
New regional economic development nonprofit gets a name, starts meeting with leaders in 11-county area
Economic development professionals named to Investment Advisory Council
IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle, CEcD, board member Chris Camacho, and 2016 board chair Barry Matherly, CEcD, FM, HLM were appointed to the 25-member body, with Finkle and Camacho both serving their second term.
New regional economic development group, Detroit Regional Partnership, is up and running
A new organization dedicated to spurring job growth in Southeastern Michigan is up and running. The newly-named Detroit Regional Partnership is charged with creating a world-class marketing and attraction economic development arm for the 11-county region – sending a message to the world that Southeast Michigan is a united region with strong assets.
Led by CEO Barry Matherly, the group kicked off a 30-day listening tour with stakeholders across the 11-county region to learn more about each community’s economic development programs and priorities
'Jobs for all' goal drives Matherly, Detroit Regional Partnership
There, in the front cover, were five phrases or aspirations, as he called them, to ground him and his team as they work to develop economic development strategies for Southeast Michigan. Among them was the simple phrase “jobs for all.”
VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GURU TO HEAD NEW SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN BUSINESS ATTRACTION GROUP
The regional CEO group led by among others DTE Energy Co. and its top executive, Gerry Anderson, has been planning to launch an economic development organization. The group made news for its regional transit push in the spring and its assertions that Southeast Michigan is lagging behind other regions that have concerted, united attraction efforts in place.
Nameless regional economic group launches, selects CEO
A group of 15 CEOs from Southeast Michigan and the Detroit Regional Chamber have launched an unnamed regional economic entity dedicated to spurring job growth.
Barry Matherly, who heads a similar organization in Richmond, Virginia, will serve as the nonprofit’s CEO starting Jan. 3, working to attract out-of-state and international companies to the 11-county region. The organization will fill a need to attract new businesses to the region and create a single point of entry to connect businesses interested in opening up shop with the right resources.
New Regional Economic Development Group Launches, Hires CEO and Forms Board
A new organization dedicated to spurring job growth in Southeastern Michigan has been launched and has hired its first CEO. Barry Matherly will join the group, transitioning from his role as president and CEO of a similar initiative in Virginia, and will lead the effort to ensure that Southeast Michigan’s 11 counties are served by a well-funded, world-class business attraction initiative.
Justin Robinson, SVP of the Detroit Regional Partnership Joins the Conversation with Crain’s: How Metro Detroit is Ripe for Business?
Justin Robinson, senior vice president, business development at the Detroit Regional Partnership, points out a large labor pool and workforce of approximately 2.65 million people, meaning this region’s workforce is larger than 28 other states
New regional economic development group gets name
The Detroit Regional Partnership is up and running in its charge to market the 11-county region of Southeast Michigan and attract out-of-state business investment here, the nonprofit said in a news release Thursday after it kicked off a 30-day listening tour with stakeholders in the region.
Detroit Regional Partnership, region's new business attraction entity, launches website
The newly-formed Detroit Regional Partnership has launched a website along with its brand and logo.
The idea to create a business development and attraction program began in early 2018 by a group of regional CEO’s, including DTE Energy Chairman Gerry Anderson and General Motors CEO Mary Barra, in partnership with the Detroit Regional Chamber
Worth Cities 2018
For about three-quarters of a century after it was built in 1912-1913 for the then-daunting sum of $2.5 million, Michigan Central Station, just west of downtown Detroit, was one of the grandest train stations in the nation. A hub of travel throughout the Midwest during World War I and World War II and the arrival point for thousands of immigrants to Detroit, the magnificent Beaux-Arts building also made a statement about the stature of the city itself.
