The City of Sterling Heights recently celebrated a host of economic development successes with a special presentation to City Council on Oct. 15. The information was presented by the City’s Senior Economic Development Advisor Luke Bonner.
Bonner’s presentation highlighted the City’s economic development successes since 2015 including $2.1 billion in investments, $7.8 billion in Gross Regional Product, 850 approved housing units and $64 billion in imports/exports representing roughly 15% of Michigan’s overall import/export activity.
Bonner noted the City’s ongoing infrastructure investments including the Mound Road, Van Dyke and M-59 corridors, as well as investments in technology, business incubation, talent development and even public art and recreation have all played a strong role in the city’s business attraction efforts.
“The success of our economic development doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” said Mayor Michael Taylor. “It takes our entire team from planning and zoning to assessing, our building engineers and our site selection experts to make this happen. It also takes strategy. The City has been very intentional with our quality public investments over the past several years, which has had a strong impact on creating a desirable community where businesses simply want to be.”
As a result of the City’s efforts, Bonner featured several recent private projects including HTI Cybernetics, FCA, Christian Financial Credit Union, Holiday Inn, BJ’s Brewhouse, Urban Air Adventure Park, the new Robotics Collaboration Center @Velocity and new development at M-59 and Mound as well as 18 ½ Mile and Mound.
“We’ve been very successful in attracting private investment over the past several years,” said Bonner. “But we still have many developments on the horizon as well. We’ll be working to re-purpose the Target at 15 Mile and Van Dyke, re-imagine the future of Lakeside Mall, welcome additional advanced manufacturing to the Sterling Innovation District and highlight Corridor Improvement Authority projects like the new Chaldean Community Foundation housing and the Van Dyke streetscape enhancement project. Our future is bright.”
For further information, contact Sterling Heights Community Relations Director Melanie Davis at (586) 446-2471 (o) or (586) 303-0923 (m) or mdavis@sterling-heights.net.