Canadian-based companies are looking to expand into the United States, and our economic development team is working hard to make sure they choose Macomb County as their new home.
This fall, Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Senior Economic Developer Curt Chowanic joined the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) in an international business attraction mission to Montreal. And in October, Project Manager Todd Seibert joined the DRP on a visit to Toronto. The pair spoke with Canadian-based companies looking to expand into the United States, and promoted the county as a desirable place to do business.
Chowanic met with 12 companies across various industries, with the goal of attracting new business investments to Macomb County and the metropolitan Detroit region.
“Our discussions highlighted the strategic advantages of Macomb County – especially its skilled workforce, advanced manufacturing capabilities and prime logistical location,” Chowanic said. “These attributes, paired with a collaborative local ecosystem, make Macomb County an ideal hub for growth and innovation.”
By establishing these connections, Chowanic said, Macomb County is setting the groundwork for potential partnerships that could bring jobs, innovation and economic vitality to Macomb County and the metropolitan Detroit area.
Seibert joined the DRP for the Toronto international business attraction mission, in which the group met with 13 companies over five days that were looking to expand into the United States. Seibert said the DRP selects the companies based upon previous interest that they had shown in expanding to the United States. The companies are in the automotive and mobility sector – both manufacturing and assembly.
“When we meet with these companies, we discuss investment incentives like the Michigan Business Development program, access to the market, the skill of our workforce, quality of life in the area, local resources (who’s already here) and the strength of our infrastructure,” Seibert said.
Macomb County has many programs in place to assist foreign companies looking to land here, including its International Landing Zone in Sterling Heights, which offers a multitude of benefits to companies arriving here from outside of the country.
Those benefits include:
- Modern office space at no cost for six months.
- Access to business acceleration programs.
- Consultation with legal and accounting firms.
- One-on-one consulting by Macomb County economic development specialists.
- Proximity to existing and potential customers and suppliers - such as Army Ground Vehicle Service Center, TACOM, and 10 Defense PRIME contractors as well as hundreds of suppliers.
- Educational institutions, mentors and industry experts nearby.
- Access to The Michigan Office of Defense and Aerospace Innovation
- Introduction to Michigan Economic Development Corporation.
- Invitation to Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) matchmaking events, connecting purchasers with suppliers.
If your company is interested in expanding to Macomb County, contact our economic development team at 586-469-5285 for free, confidential assistance.
Don Gardner is a communications specialist for Macomb County Planning and Economic Development.
