Welcome to Wayne County, Michigan

Wayne County houses a number of development corporations and works with several more to encourage greater representation by Wayne County businesses and community leaders in our economic development activities. Wayne County also partners with the City of Detroit in the administration of the Port Authority and the Stadium Authority. Below is a list of key entities involved with economic development in Wayne County.
 
   

Development Corporations

The Development Corporation of Wayne County (DCWC)

The Development Corporation of Wayne County (DCWC) is a non-profit organization that was created to implement economic development initiatives that will assist in the stabilization of neighborhoods and improve affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate-income families in Wayne County.
 

Metropolitan Growth & Development Corporation (MGDC)

Wayne County contracts with Metropolitan Growth & Development Corporation (MGDC), a non-profit Board of Directors, to deliver this program to borrowers. The MGDC Board is made up of local leaders from the following membership groups: government organizations, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, colleges and universities, small business development centers and businesses in Wayne County.
 

Economic Development Corporation of the Charter County of Wayne (EDC)

The Economic Development Corporation of the Charter County of Wayne was established for the purpose of issuing tax-exempt bonds for qualified industrial and non-profit projects. Today, the EDC Board of Directors assists the County Executive by facilitating special projects like the management of the Guardian Building and First Street Parking Garage.
 

Greater Wayne County Economic Development Corporation (GWEDC)

The GWEDC is the creation of the Wayne County Executive and private sector leaders who envisioned a private-sector board that would lead the County’s economic development initiatives. Formed in 2004, the GWEDC Board of Directors is involved in facilitating projects such as Aerotropolis, International Business Development, and Pinnacle Development.
 

Wayne County – Detroit CDE, Inc. (CDE, Inc.)

Wayne County-Detroit, Inc is a 501(c)3 established to administer the federal New Markets Tax Credit porgram for the purpose of revitalizing low income communities by attracting private and/or public investors who will rebuild neighborhoods and create jobs to benefit low income communities and individuals.
   
 

Authorities

Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority

The mission of the Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority [DWCPA] is to plan, develop, and promote Detroit as a freight transportation and distribution hub for U.S. Midwest and southwestern Ontario businesses and their customers and vendors, for the purpose of fostering economic growth in the City of Detroit, Wayne County, and the State of Michigan
 

Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (WCBRA)

The Wayne County Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is dedicated to the redevelopment of abandoned, blighted and environmentally-contaminated sites. The role of the WCBRA is to facilitate the approval of Brownfield plans for projects in Wayne County communities that do not operate their own authorities. The WCBRA also manages several U.S. Environmental Protection Grants to facilitate assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites.
 

Detroit -Wayne County Stadium Authority

Wayne County has played an active role in seeing that stadium development occurs in downtown Detroit through its participation on the Stadium Authority. This politically appointed body holds the right to assemble and, if needed, condemn land required for the economic development activity that will be generated through the construction of two side-by-side stadiums in downtown Detroit. Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, was completed in 2000 and Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions, was completed in 2002.
 

Greater Detroit Foreign Trade Zone

Companies that handle cargo destined for or from foreign countries can save on federal taxes when located within Foreign Trade Zones. In Wayne County, the international market is easily facilitated due to linkages to Canada and the world through the waterways and international airports. As a result, 6 Foreign Trade Zones have been created under the umbrella organization, the Greater Detroit Foreign Trade Zone, Inc., attracting businesses that create employment and economic activity in Wayne County. Greater Detroit Foreign Trade Zone, Inc. is one of the largest zone programs in the United States in terms of the value of products leaving the zones and the number of zone sites. In recent years, local firms have annually shipped more than $34 billion in goods from GDFTZ facilities. These goods have typically included automobiles, trucks and auto parts. At the same time, more than $2 billion in goods have been exported annually from the zone
 
 

Foundations

Wayne County Regional Jobs and Economic Growth Foundation

The Wayne County Regional Jobs and Economic Growth Foundation is a 501(c) 3 foundation established to assist Wayne County in facilitating economic development programs and projects.
 
 

Other Development Organizations

The Downriver Community Conference

The Downriver Community Conference Partnership provides leadership in establishing common, positive goals and strategies to develop the human, social and economic assets of the Downriver area; enhance the quality of life for area residents, workers and businesses; shape public policy at federal, state, regional, county and local levels; and identify, obtain and responsibly manage the necessary financial resources to successfully implement this vision.
 

Detroit Economic Growth Corporation

The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation is a private non-profit organization that is dedicated to creating new investment and jobs in the city of Detroit by providing technical, financial and development assistance to the city and the business community, from the start-up entrepreneur to the multinational corporation. By combining public sector policy and direction with private sector leadership, we are able to actively strengthen Detroit’s economic base.
 

Conference of Western Wayne County

The Conference of Western Wayne or CWW is a consortium of 18 western Wayne County communities which meet monthly to discuss issues such as legislation, transportation, public safety, substance abuse prevention, community and economic development, employment and the environmental health of the region.

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