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More information: www.detroitregionaerotropolis.com
Aerotropolis
An Aerotropolis is an emerging type of urban form comprised of aviation-intensive businesses and those businesses that need to be readily connected to their customers. These businesses, and related enterprises, extend outward from a major airport. Aerotropoli have emerged across the globe in the 21st century as air transportation has become a vital component of business operations.
Our Advantage
Because of Michigan’s strong automotive heritage, manufacturing infrastructure, and proximity to Canada, the Detroit region is already a global gateway for trade. Detroit and the surrounding southeast Michigan metro region has been a transportation hub for more than two hundred years: first via ship, then rail, then road and now air. The region is strategically positioned along the NAFTA corridor, endowed with robust rail capacity and a strong roadway system, linked to the Great Lakes and the oceans via the Port of Detroit, and its airports are among the best in the world.
Geographic Scope
The Detroit Region Aerotropolis is planned to encompass 25,000 acres of underdeveloped land in Wayne and Washtenaw Counties. The anchors of the Detroit Region Aerotropolis are Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport (YIP). Located just seven miles apart, there are approximately 25,000 acres of developable land both within and outside the airport boundaries. The local communities of Romulus, Taylor, Ypsilanti, Belleville, Huron Township, Ypsilanti Township, and Van Buren Township have partnered to advance the development of the Aerotropolis.
Leadership & Governance
The Aerotropolis initiative began under the leadership of the Wayne County Executive, Robert A. Ficano and the Wayne County Department of Economic Development. The County formed a partnership with the local communities to further this regional initiative through the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2006. To further broaden the base of support, the CEO partnered with Detroit Renaissance in 2007 to create a Task Force, which added several private sector actors to the interim governance structure, and which helped secure financial support to commission four studies that have helped to formulate a strategy for implementation. These four studies – Benchmarking, Strategic Master Development Plan, Business Attraction, and Marketing - are scheduled for completion during 2008.
The partnering entities have also agreed upon a conceptual organizational structure that they believe is needed to make the Aerotropolis a reality. This metro-area organization encompasses all aspects necessary to provide one-stop shopping and attractive incentives to potential Aerotropolis business partners. The proposed structure entails the creation of an Aerotropolis Development Corporation through an interlocal agreement among participating governmental entities. The Corporation will be designed to provide strong and consistent leadership, unified marketing and branding, and one stop shopping for land, incentives and permitting. It is anticipated that the board will include local government and private-sector representatives.
Economic Impact
Jones Lang LaSalle completed an economic impact study as part of its comprehensive strategic development plan for the Detroit Region Aerotropolis. The analysis indicates that with the proper business attraction effort, the Detroit Region Aerotropolis has the potential to bring in 64,000 additional jobs to the region with wages of $3.8 billion per year and more than $10 billion of additional annual economic activity and production upon full build out of thirteen primary development sites covering approximately 5,000 acres after an estimated 25 years of construction.
The Detroit Region Aerotropolis will be far-reaching. In addition to the economic impact identified above, the following are among the anticipated outcome.
- A solution to the much publicized brain-drain in Michigan -- attractive and secure Michigan career opportunities will be created for the imaginative and productive talent who graduate from the State’s internationally recognized educational institutions and professional/trade schools.
- An education infrastructure that is enhanced through the training and continuing education required by these new economy businesses.
- A more diverse industry base that will stabilize the value of personal and commercial investment assets.
- Enhancement of Michigan’s export markets
- A greater draw of tourism to Detroit and other Michigan destination
Goals
The Aerotropolis aims to create jobs and a better quality of life for the residents of Wayne County and the Detroit region. The Aerotropolis can truly be an engine for economic development in Michigan in the next century and beyond. The partnering communities see an opportunity to set a new precedent in regional collaboration, and to plan a region together to create a sustainable and business friendly environment. For more information, go to www.detroitregionaerotropolis.com.
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