The Economic Development Coalition of Southeast Michigan (EDCSEM) today released its report of business attraction and expansion successes during the period of January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007. During that period, EDCSEM member agencies engaged in business activity expected to yield a total of 177 new projects representing an astounding $4 billion in investment to the region.

The total number of jobs created in 2007 was 16,610 with an additional 9,552 jobs retained as a result of these investments. The report is a summary of regional business and attraction and expansion successes reported by EDCSEM agencies. It is not intended to be a comprehensive detailing of every project undertaken in the region; but, rather a snapshot of growth and development from the region’s largest economic development organizations.

EDCSEM was convened by Detroit Renaissance and we announced its formation in November 2007. Members include: Ann Arbor SPARK, Automation Alley, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit Regional Economic Partnership, Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Detroit Renaissance, Macomb County, Oakland County, NextEnergy, TechTown, Tourism Economic Development Council and Wayne County.

Download the full report by clicking here.

2/27/08

Daniel Howes, columnist for the Detroit News wrote a piece called: "Granholm struggles as vision hits reality" that talks about Detroit Renaissance's State Structural Reform Agenda. Here are the first few paragraphs:

She wouldn't be mistaken for a Republican, but Gov. Jennifer Granholm is striking a decidedly business-friendly tone in year six of her administration.

Detroit Renaissance, the coterie of southeast Michigan CEOs pushing its own agenda of structural reform, might be pleased to know she embraces its laundry list of reform which, in what felt Tuesday like a previous political life, she expended political capital to quash late last summer.

With the business group's revived reform agenda in one hand, she goes through its points one at a time. Match any increases in state spending with budget cut? "We're doing it," Granholm tells me during an hourlong chat in the boardroom of what was the General Motors Building and now is Cadillac Place...

Read the rest of the story here.

This report addresses how successful life sciences regions have organized their life sciences development efforts, with an emphasis on how medical, education and research institutions can combine effectively to support growth in this sector.

The objective is to provide Detroit's leaders with a framework for considering opportunities to enhance cooperation to expand the region's life sciences sector.
Regions studied include:

• Baltimore-Washington, DC
• Boston
• Cleveland
• Los Angeles
• New York
• Philadelphia
• Raleigh-Durham
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• Seattle

A series of brief case studies reveal strengths, weaknesses, key initiatives and lessons learned.

Download a PDF of the report here.

The Panel on Medical Education and Research was formed by the Detroit Regional Chamber and Detroit Renaissance in cooperation with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm in May 2007.

The panel assessed the medical education and research capabilities of Southeast Michigan as well as the indigent health care needs in the region.

The Panel was chaired by the honorable Joseph Schwarz, MD, and former U.S. Congressman and State Senator.

The Panel was charged with reviewing and providing recommendation on the following:

• Identify opportunities to maximize graduate medical education programs to meet the region's need for more doctors;
• Identify recommendations to support and grow the region's medical education and research cluster;
• Identify recommendations to increase collaboration throughout the region among health care providers, systems and education and research facilities; and
• Identify recommendations to address primary care issues for the uninsured/indigent.

Read the Panel's report by downloading the PDF here.

Erik Lundberg, chief investment officer of the $7.1 billion University of Michigan endowment fund, joined a roster of prominent Southeast Michigan business leaders on the board of directors of the fledgling investment fund at Detroit Renaissance.

For three decades, the Detroit Renaissance group of chief executives of the region's largest companies has wielded influence in a patrician, behind-the-scenes manner.

Government doesn't run like a business because politicians run government, not business executives. The business leaders of Metro Detroit don't want to run state government, but they would like to bring some common-sense business principles to the operations of the state.

Detroit Renaissance's Perspective

Detroit Renaissance believes bi-partisan, strategic efforts are needed to move Michigan forward.

Detroit Renaissance has received a $282,000 federal grant to help develop A Creative Corridor along Woodward Avenue.

"Impressed" wasn't the first word to come to Mike Bernacchi's mind when he moved to Detroit. In fact, the only way he would use that combination of letters was if a "u" and an "n" preceded them.