Detroit Regional Partnership

What Detroit Regional Partnership does

The Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public-private economic development organization founded in 2019 and headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the single point of contact for domestic and international companies and site selectors evaluating the 11-county Southeast Michigan region, providing confidential no-cost concierge services including market intelligence, workforce data analysis, site selection assistance, and incentive negotiation. Its core product assets are the Verified Industrial Properties (VIP by DRP) portal — a catalog of 91+ development-ready industrial sites backed by over $5 million in due diligence investment (environmental assessments, wetland delineations, floodplain analyses) — and the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) initiative, a $52.2 million U.S. EDA-funded program engaging a 136-entity coalition focused on electric, autonomous, and connected vehicle innovation. Supporting service lines include Talent Solutions, Business Intelligence and Strategy, Mobility and Automotive Industry Services, and an Industrial Development Toolkit for municipal planning.

The organization's revenue model is non-commercial: it is funded through annual contributions from corporate partners (including Fortune 100 companies such as GM, Ford, DTE Energy), foundation partners (W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Mott Foundation, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan), and public sector partners (Michigan Economic Development Corporation, county governments, and local EDOs across the 11-county region). Services are delivered free of charge to companies, with the economic rationale that DRP's funded mission is to attract jobs and capital investment to the region rather than to generate fees. Its go-to-market is sales-led (business development team conducts outreach), event-driven (SelectUSA, XPONENTIAL, MDEX, Korea and Europe trade missions), and channel-partnered (site selectors, consultants, and regional EDOs position the Detroit Region on company shortlists).

Since 2019, DRP reports its business development pipeline has engaged over 1,200 global companies, with 140+ selecting the Detroit Region for major investments. Through 2026, cumulative reported outcomes under former CEO Maureen Donohue Krauss include $10.8 billion in regional investment and 42,000+ new jobs. The organization operates with approximately 30 professional staff across business development, real estate, marketing, operations, talent solutions, business intelligence, and GEM divisions, with Justin Robinson succeeding Krauss as President and CEO effective June 2026. In March 2026, the Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership (DRWP) consolidated under DRP, extending the organization's mandate to include workforce development.

Name

Detroit Regional Partnership

Legal name

Detroit Regional Partnership

Website

https://detroitregionalpartnership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Detroit Regional Partnership is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit economic development organization providing no-cost concierge site selection, workforce data, and incentive negotiation services to domestic and international companies evaluating investment in the 11-county Southeast Michigan region, funded by corporate, foundation, and public-sector partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341)

SIC

Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Site selection consulting
• Business attraction services
• Regional investment promotion
• Workforce development solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public-Private Partnership Funding: DRP is funded by joint public and private sector organizations across the 11-county Detroit Region, including corporate partners (Fortune 100 companies), foundation partners (Kellogg Foundation, Mott Foundation, etc.), and public sector partners (local governments, economic development agencies).
2. Investor Contributions: Corporate, foundation, and public partners contribute financially to support DRP's mission of attracting jobs and investment to the Detroit Region. Investors receive engagement and visibility benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Detroit Regional Partnership is a nonprofit public-private economic development organization that serves as the single point of contact and concierge for companies and site selectors evaluating the 11-county Southeast Michigan region. It provides confidential, no-cost services including site selection assistance, verified industrial property data (VIP portal), workforce and talent analytics, incentive negotiation, business intelligence, and project management support to attract business investment and jobs to the Detroit Region.

Product overview

The Detroit Regional Partnership is a public-private economic development organization that offers a portfolio of interconnected services centered around business attraction and regional growth for the 11-county Southeast Michigan region. The core offerings include Verified Industrial Properties (VIP by DRP), a property portal for development-ready sites, and the Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) initiative for advanced mobility sector growth. Supporting services include Talent Solutions for workforce recruitment, Business Intelligence for market research, Site Selection assistance, Incentive Negotiation support, and an Industrial Development Toolkit for community planning. The organization operates as a single-point-of-contact concierge for companies exploring the Detroit Region, with a recent Community Engagement Playbook product to help inbound companies connect with local communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM): Initiative to accelerate the growth of the Detroit Region's advanced mobility sector, fueled by a $52.2 million grant from the EDA.
• Verified Industrial Properties (VIP by DRP)

Products and services

• Verified Industrial Properties (VIP by DRP) A portal cataloging 91+ development-ready industrial properties in the Detroit Region with pre-funded due diligence, providing up to $216,000 in value per site and reducing development timelines and risk for companies evaluating the region.
• Global Epicenter of Mobility (GEM) An initiative accelerating the growth of the Detroit Region's advanced mobility sector, focused on electric, autonomous, and connected vehicles, fueled by a $52.2 million EDA grant and involving a coalition of 136 entities.
• Talent Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• $10.8 billion in investment and 42,000+ new jobs created (2019-2026)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• LISC DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Local Initiatives Support Corporation Detroit collaborated with DRP to develop the Community Engagement Playbook for inbound companies, helping employers connect with Detroit's workforce ecosystem and community-based organizations.
• SER Metro DetroitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Workforce development organization partnered with DRP on community engagement playbook and talent solutions, helping connect employers with diverse talent pools.
• MiSidecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 April 2026Workforce ecosystem partner collaborating on the Community Engagement Playbook to help employers build connections with Detroit's workforce and community resources.
• Packard Development Partners, LLCmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Private developer partnered with City of Detroit, DEGC, Albert Kahn Legacy Foundation, and DRP for 28-acre redevelopment of the Packard Plant site into Packard Park mixed-use project creating 300 manufacturing jobs.
• Great Lakes Economic Development Council (GLEDC)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Cross-border economic development organization hosting inaugural conference in Detroit to promote U.S.-Canada economic development and investment, highlighting clean energy, digital infrastructure, and mobility initiatives.
• Detroit Regional Defense Coalition (DRDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 August 2025Coalition launched by DRP in collaboration with county executives of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties and DEGC to strengthen Southeast Michigan's defense and aerospace sectors.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019State-level economic development agency that collaborates with DRP on business attraction, incentive programs, and regional economic development initiatives. DRP works with MEDC on state funding priorities and Michigan Business Development Program incentives.
• Detroit Economic Growth Corporation (DEGC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Detroit's primary economic development organization working with DRP on business attraction, real estate development, and city-level initiatives including the Packard Plant redevelopment project.
• Henry Ford HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019DRP Board Chair Robert Riney serves as President & CEO of Henry Ford Health. The organization represents major healthcare sector in the regional economic development ecosystem.
• General MotorscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Major automotive employer and investor in Detroit Region, represented on DRP board through David Massaron (VP Infrastructure & Corporate Citizenship). DRP supports GM's manufacturing and EV investments in the region.
• DTE EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Major utility company and DRP investor with Jerry Norcia serving as Chairman, President & CEO. DTE Foundation provides funding support to DRP initiatives.
• Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Founded DRP in 2019 and Detroit Regional Workforce Partnership (DRWP). Nicole Sherard-Freeman led incubator phase of DRWP before consolidation with DRP in March 2026.
• Oakland CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019County Executive Mark Hackel serves on DRP board. County collaborates on defense coalition, industrial site development, and regional business attraction.
• Wayne CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019County Executive Warren Evans serves on DRP board. County partner in defense coalition and major industrial development initiatives.
• Macomb CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019County Executive Mark Hackel serves on DRP board. County collaborates on advanced manufacturing, defense, and aerospace sector development.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greater Houston Partnership: Regional economic development organization serving the Houston metro with similar business attraction, site selection, and talent-development functions. Comparable in scale, public-private funding model, and concierge-style services for corporate prospects.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Cleveland-area regional EDO focused on business attraction and retention with a strong legacy-manufacturing rebrand narrative, similar to DRP's automotive-to-mobility positioning. Operates with a comparable mix of corporate, foundation, and public funding.
• Greater Phoenix Economic Council: Regional EDO providing confidential site selection, workforce data, and incentive-negotiation services to companies evaluating Greater Phoenix — a near-functional analog to DRP's service portfolio and target customer (corporate site selectors and expanding enterprises).
• Greater MSP (Minneapolis Saint Paul Economic Development Partnership): Twin Cities regional EDO marketing a multi-county region to corporate prospects, with similar data-driven business intelligence, talent attraction, and concierge services — directly comparable in scope, funding model, and customer segments.
• One Columbus (Columbus 2020): Central Ohio regional EDO operating a public-private partnership model to attract corporate investment and jobs. Its concierge site-selection services and focus on advanced industries closely mirror DRP's core service offering.
• Indy Chamber: Indianapolis regional chamber and EDO that combines business attraction with workforce and talent development — a comparable integrated model to DRP's post-DRWP-consolidation structure.
• World Business Chicago: Chicago's public-private economic development organization offering business attraction, retention, and inclusive economic growth services. Operates at a larger metro scale but is functionally analogous to DRP across services, funding mix, and customer segments.
• Pittsburgh Regional Alliance: Regional EDO serving western Pennsylvania with business attraction, site selection, and data services — comparable in operating model and target customers, especially for legacy-manufacturing regions pivoting toward advanced industries.
• St. Louis Regional Business Council: Regional business and EDO in St. Louis providing site selection, workforce data, and incentive guidance to prospective corporate tenants — a structurally similar Midwest EDO with overlapping target industries.
• Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber: Regional chamber/EDO for the Cincinnati metro offering business attraction and retention services with a public-private funding model — comparable operating scope and customer profile to DRP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DetroitRegional
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo5psSccvs4EyC_WXNx1OSQ?disable_polymer=true
• Facebookfacebook.com/detroitregionalpartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/detroit-regional-partnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/detroitregionalpartnership/?hl=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Detroit Regional Partnership