The strength of a region’s future lies not just in innovation, but in each community’s ability to play an active role in that innovation. That’s why we’re proud to announce the creation of our VIP Industrial Development Toolkit, a community-driven resource for municipal leaders and decision makers. This toolkit is designed to transform how municipalities across the Detroit Region understand, prepare for and benefit from modern industrial development.
The Detroit Regional Partnership launched the Verified Industrial Properties (VIP) program in 2022 to identify, assess and ready vacant industrial land for advanced manufacturing and mobility projects. As we’ve expanded this initiative, one message became clear: communities want (and need) to be at the table but often lack the tools to do so effectively.
Local governments are often under-resourced when it comes to planning for industrial development, or have limited awareness of the benefits industrial development can bring to their community. From navigating zoning challenges to balancing community concerns, it can be daunting. That’s where the toolkit comes in.
The Industrial Development Toolkit is designed to help local governments, community leaders and private developers take proactive steps to become investment ready. The final toolkit will provide:
- Industrial site design guidelines that alleviate development concerns
- Tools for site readiness, including zoning, infrastructure, and permitting
- Guidance on aligning with regional strategies like the VIP program
- Tips for truly engaging residents and stakeholders
- Practical steps to reduce barriers and streamline development
- Clear strategies for tangible community benefits
Grounded In Regional Insight
Our Detroit Region is comprised of 348 communities across 11 counties, and every one of them has a role in shaping the future of industrial growth. That’s why the development of the Industrial Development Toolkit is intentionally grounded in regional voices, insights and experiences. Over the past several months, our team has engaged deeply with stakeholders including developers, site selectors, local officials and many more, helping us gain insight into barriers, tradeoffs and opportunities across modern industrial development for local communities, developers and end users alike.
This feedback has become the foundation for the toolkit. It ensures that the guidance we produce is not only technically sound but deeply informed by those who know the landscape best.
Our Progress So Far
We’ve recently made great progress developing our first tool – Tool 01: “Conducting a Successful (Contentious) Public Meeting”. This tool will provide guidance to communities and developers as they navigate public meetings where the issues being discussed may generate controversy, helping to reframe these meetings as critical opportunities for transparency, dialogue and trust-building.
We have also convened two Industrial Development Toolkit Advisory Committees – one for the public sector and one for the private sector. These committees are composed of experts from development firms, site consultants, municipalities, utilities and economic development organizations and will help refine and validate the tools. Their insight will be critical to ensuring the toolkit reflects both community needs and industry realities.
Looking Ahead to Regional Growth
Launching in 2026, the toolkit has the potential to change how local communities plan, build and thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. By empowering leaders with tools, real-world models and community-based strategies, VIP is laying the foundation for inclusive, sustainable and equitable industrial growth. The toolkit will serve as a resource to clarify the site readiness process by tackling common concerns about industrial development and, most importantly, giving everyone a seat at the table.
If you’re interested in learning more about the VIP Industrial Development Toolkit, or unlocking economic growth through industrial development, visit: https://verifiedindustrialproperties.com/toolkit/
Together, we can reimagine what’s possible for our region’s industrial sites, and for the communities they support.
