Since 2020, the DRP has secured more than 100 project wins that are expected to create nearly $9 billion in investment and 33,000 jobs in the 11-county Detroit Region. Looking back on its first five years, below are five project storylines that reflect the breadth and impact of the DRP’s work to help companies locate and expand in the Detroit Region.
#5 Fortescue
The World’s Fourth Largest Iron Ore Producer Selects Detroit to Develop Carbon-free Fleet
The Australian-based Fortescue announced it is investing $232 million in the Detroit Region to launch an advanced manufacturing center for automotive and heavy industry batteries, hydrogen generators, fast chargers, and electrolyzers for large industrial vehicles. The investment is expected to create 600 jobs.
Why It Matters
Given Fortescue is one of the world’s largest iron or producers, its efforts to develop a zero-emission fleet for heavy machinery is big news for those seeking a carbon-free future. This project reinforces the synergy between mobility and clean-energy technology – which positions the Detroit Region to not only lead in next-generation mobility, but also clean energy innovation.
#4 Niagara Bottling
National Beverage Manufacturer to Build First Facility in Michigan
Leading beverage manufacturer Niagara Bottling is constructing a state-of-the-art 500,000-square-foot facility in Shelby Township as its first facility in Michigan. The project is expected to generate $103 million in investment and create at least 50 jobs.
Why It Matters
The Detroit Region has the vacant industrial space and facilities to support companies in a variety of industries, and the logistics infrastructure to ensure products get from production lines to distribution networks and beyond. The Detroit Region’s manufacturing roots go much deeper that just automotive – companies like Niagara reflect that legacy that carries on today.
#3 Flo
EV Charging Network Operator Establishes First U.S. Manufacturing Site as It Deploys Fast Chargers Across North America
FLO, a Canadian EV-charging company and the North American leader in smart charging stations and manufacturing invested $3 million to establish its first manufacturing site in the U.S. The project is expected to create 133 jobs and produce 250,000 EV chargers for the U.S. market by 2028.
Why It Matters
FLO offers smart home charging solutions and access to thousands of public charging stations across the country. It’s the type of innovator who can provide the technology to accelerate EV adoption by strengthening Michigan’s and the U.S.’s charging infrastructure. FLO is a notable addition to the Detroit Region’s automotive and mobility ecosystem, which is poised to deliver mobility solutions through the rest of the century.
In May of 2024, FLO’s first groundbreaking FLO Ultra DC fast chargers officially came off the assembly line at its facility in Auburn Hills. This milestone marks a significant step in FLO’s continued commitment to deploying fast-charging EV infrastructure across the U.S. and Canada.
#2 Majorel
Growing Global Tech Firm Comes to Detroit, Shatters Hiring Goals
A global provider of next-generation end-to-end customer experience solutions, Majorel announced a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Detroit during 2022’s extraordinarily tight labor market amid uncertainty in a post-pandemic economy. With support of the Detroit Regional Partnership, City of Detroit and others, Majorel shattered its initial goals by hiring more than 500 new employees in a matter of months.
Why It Matters
Majorel is a growing, global tech firm with a footprint spanning more than 40 countries and five continents — and it selected Detroit out of 50 U.S. cities. That decision and their hiring success reflect the dynamic workforce and talent solutions support throughout the Detroit Region.
#1 LuxWall
Upstart Innovator Rapidly Expands From Pilot to the Forefront of Clean Energy Solutions
After establishing an R & D and pilot production facility in Ypsilanti in 2022, LuxWall announced it is expanding to two new manufacturing facilities in Michigan, including a new 276,000-square-foot facility in the city of Detroit. The expansion by the producer vacuum-sealed insulate glasses for buildings is expected to create more than 340 jobs and $177 million in investment.
Why It Matters
The clean-energy manufacturing facility is the world’s first high-volume, vacuum-insulating glass (VIG) production facility, which shows how the Detroit Region supports clean energy innovators. Backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the growth of LuxWall is another example of how an innovative startup company can access everything it needs to develop, launch, scale and distribute its products throughout the North American market in one spot – the Detroit Region.