"Aerotropolis" Intended As Transportation And Logistics Hub

The Michigan Legislature on Friday, December 3, enacted a major tax incentive package, the "Next Michigan Development" initiative, aimed at attracting logistics, transportation and manufacturing firms to transportation hubs and other regional facilities. The six-bill package requires local governments to cooperatively implement the tax incentives in consultation with State economic development officials.

Detroit Metropolitan Airport File Image

The Detroit Region Aerotropolis Development Corporation (ADC) and Next Michigan legislation are major policy initiatives of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano.

The ADC, a public-private intergovernmental corporation created by Wayne County, Washtenaw County, the cities of Romulus, Taylor, Ypsilanti and Belleville, and Huron, Van Buren and Ypsilanti Charter Townships, expects to employ the Next Michigan incentives to attract jobs and development surrounding Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport in southeast Michigan. The new legislation permits five "Next Michigan" corporations, such as the ADC, to be established across the state.

The tax incentive package includes a variable mixture of property and other tax abatements for qualifying businesses and the use of tax increment financing to spur infrastructure development. The "Aerotropolis" encompasses approximately 60,000 acres in Wayne and Washtenaw counties. The ADC estimates it could create as many as 50,000 jobs over the next 15 years as logistics-related companies take advantage of the incentives and the proximity to the airports.

FMI: www.detroitregionaerotropolis.com