Bringing investment home: marketing the Detroit Region to cities across North America to attract new business and capital investment.

In an effort to attract new business and capital investment to Southeast Michigan, the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership's North American Program recently called on companies and visited trade shows in Atlanta, Denver, Toronto and Las Vegas. The purpose of these trips was to promote Detroit to strategic industries as an excellent place to do business.

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In Atlanta, Partnership investors Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Oakland Country Planning & Economic Development Services called on select companies in a targeted industry, advanced manufacturing, during the Automation Technology Exposition.We also called on a prospect company in the telecommunications industry that is planning a major presence in the Detroit Region.

I attended the CORENET Conference, a gathering of the nation's leading site consultants, and made crucial contacts with real estate professionals. I had the chance to explain Detroit's business and investment climate to them, laying the groundwork for the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership's site consultant's event, which will be held in Detroit during the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. I called on clean technologies companies with Partnership investor Genesee Regional Chamber during a separate conference in Denver. One prospect company, a manufacturer of advanced technology engines, plans to open a research and development center and a manufacturing facility in the Detroit Region.

The next trip took us to the Automotive Manufacturers' Association Conference in Hamilton, Ontario. Detroit was well represented at Canada's most important automotive gathering. Team members included representatives from Oakland Country, Macomb County, Comerica, Miller Canfield, Paddock & Stone and Barton Malow. The Partnership was fully engaged at the conference, staffing a booth, attending sessions and making contacts with hundreds of Canada's top automotive executives. Prospect companies in a variety of industries were visited in the Toronto area, representing a variety of investment opportunity for the Detroit Region.

After Hamilton, I traveled to Las Vegas to attend the International Council of Shopping Centers Conference to assist the City of Detroit's effort to attract retail downtown. The Partnership provided information about Detroit's retail environment, staffed the city's booth and called on targeted retailers. During this conference, contacts were made with key executives, and we were able to explain the unique opportunity downtown Detroit represents. Several companies agreed to visit, further investigating how a Detroit location can beneficial.

Mark Denson is the director of North American Marketing for the Detroit Regional Economic Partnership.