Leadership & Strategy

Interim Detroit Region Aerotropolis StructureState & National LeadershipStrategy & Timeline

Interim Detroit Region Aerotropolis Structure

In 2006, Wayne County, Washtenaw County, the Wayne County Airport Authority, the cities of Belleville, Romulus, Taylor, Ypsilanti, and the townships of Huron, Van Buren, and Ypsilanti signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work collaboratively toward the development of an Aerotropolis in Southeastern Michigan.

To further the vision of the ten stakeholder entities, Detroit Renaissance, a nonprofit organization made up of regional economic leaders, selected the Aerotropolis as one of its top priorities in March 2007 as part of its Road to Renaissance plan to revive the economy of Southeastern Michigan. Wayne County executive Robert Ficano appointed a Task Force of public and private sector representatives to support the Road to Renaissance initiative. The Task Force is co-chaired by John Rakolta Jr., Chairman and CEO Walbridge Aldinger, and Joseph Palamara, Wayne County Commissioner. For a complete list of Task Force members, please click here.

Four studies are being commissioned under the Road to Renaissance initiative to:

  1. Develop a Master Plan for the Aerotropolis region
    2. (Click here to view the Plan)
  2. Benchmark the Detroit Region and its airports against other Aerotropolis developments
    3. (Click here to view the Study)
  3. Develop a marketing plan for the Aerotropolis, and
  4. Create a business attraction strategy.

State & National Leadership

In furthering the Aerotropolis effort, the Task Force has recruited the support of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Michigan Department of Transportation. State support is critical to help attract economic activity to the Aerotropolis region and in building the infrastructure needed to make the Aerotropolis a first class, sustainable, and integrated development that benefits the greater regional economy.

The Aerotropolis project has also received support at the national level from Congressman John Dingell and Congresswoman Candace Miller (see September 2007 Detroit Free Press editorial) The Task Force is grateful that these leaders recognize the opportunities the Aerotropolis presents to position Michigan as a global hub for the 21st century.

Strategy & Timeline

timeline

The goal of the Aerotropolis is to leverage the assets of the Detroit region to create a world class environment for businesses and people. The goal of the Aerotropolis Task Force is to complete all plans and studies commissioned by the Road to Renaissance by the fall of 2008. The Task Force will then determine a course of action to develop a master plan for the region, implement a governance structure for the Aerotropolis, and commence with marketing and business attraction efforts. This ambitious schedule reflects the urgency of the Aerotropolis effort as a means of reinvigorating the region’s economy. To the right is a timeline of the Aerotropolis project.