What strategic assets can the Detroit Region leverage?
As a result of Michigans strong automotive heritage, manufacturing infrastructure, and proximity to Canada, the Detroit region is already a global gateway for trade. Detroit and the surrounding southeast Michigan metro region has been a transportation hub for more than two hundred years: first via ship, then rail, then road and now air. The region is strategically positioned along the North American trade corridor, endowed with robust rail capacity and a strong roadway system, linked to the Great Lakes and the oceans via the Port of Detroit, and its airports are among the best in the world. In addition, the region has a large and extremely diverse population, labor force and skill base that can help supportand take advantage ofairport oriented development. The region has the highest concentration of engineers in the United States, is home to 80% of the worlds automotive research and development, and has several nationally renowned universities and medical institutions. The anchors of t
