For more information, contact Program Director Jack Johns at:
Office: 586-469-6293
Cell: 586-256-7487
Email: jack.johns@macombgov.org
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With two international border crossings, access to the Great Lakes, a robust, skilled workforce and major international corporations, Macomb County is the perfect place to build and grow your business.
Located in the heart of Michigan’s economic epicenter, Macomb County is part of the Detroit metropolitan area and a major economic contributor to the region and the state. It is home to facilities and headquarters of many large international corporations, including the General Motors Technical Center, General Dynamics Land Systems, Ford Motor Co. plants, two major production facilities for Stellantis, BAE Systems, and the U.S. Army’s Ground Vehicle Service Center.
Whether it be a 30- or 60-minute drive, your business will have access to a network of cutting-edge suppliers, international bridges and airports and many great regional assets. Macomb County is less than an hour away from two international border crossings, in Detroit and Port Huron, from which more than $250 billion in trade crosses annually. In addition, more than 143 million metric tons of cargo, valued at $15.2 billion moves across the Great Lakes every year.
Macomb County is also less than an hour away from Detroit Metropolitan Airport and about an hour away from Bishop International Airport in Flint.
Automotive, defense, food and agriculture, and health care are Macomb County’s top industries.
Macomb County maintains some of the lowest tax rates around, including a 6% corporate income tax, a 4.25% personal income tax, and a 6% sales tax rate with no local sales tax.
Workforce strengths
Michigan has been recognized as a top state for new manufacturing jobs and investment by Area Development, being awarded with 2021 Manufacturing Gold Shovel Award on strength of 2,619 new jobs and $441.8 million in private investment.
According to businessfacilities.com, Detroit was ranked the eighth-best business climate for large cities. Michigan ranks:
- No. 1 for Automotive Manufacturing Strength
- No. 4 in Manufacturing employment and output
- No. 8 in Health Care jobs
- No. 10 in Cybersecurity
- No. 10 for Food Processing Leaders.
Companies around the world realize the competitive advantages that Michigan has to offer, including high-tech engineering resources, top-notch research and design, and a highly skilled workforce, matched with a low cost of living and a low cost of doing business.
With a dynamic workforce of more than 450,000 residents and another two million throughout the region, Macomb County businesses can rely on an abundant supply of talent right in their backyard.
According to EMSI, Metropolitan Detroit’s high-tech workforce ranks third in the nation in the number of engineers, research and development specialists and journeyed, skilled tradespeople.
Detroit Regional Partnership says Michigan ranks second in the nation for electrical, mechanical, and industrial engineers. And with nearly 30,000 employed in the state, Michigan has 11 times more mechanical engineers than any other state in the country. Michigan also employs the most industrial engineers in the country, with nearly 18,600.
Macomb County is helping to fuel the region’s talent pipeline by engaging directly with businesses and the next generation of our local workforce. We work one-on-one with area employers to learn about their talent needs and connect them to the tailored resources currently available to support business goals. Through relationships with schools and affiliates, we identify and pursue opportunities to develop initiatives that expose students to career possibilities and point them to educational pathways that lead to meaningful employment.
Business services
Macomb County’s business development team can help businesses and organizations search for available buildings and sites based upon individual needs and acts as a liaison between your company and a local municipality to ensure the project moves along smoothly. Our specialists help employers identify and train the talent they need through partnerships with area agencies and local colleges and universities.
Some of the services offered by Macomb County’s team include:
- Coordinating state and local investment incentives and financing programs
- Providing existing companies resources for hiring, training and retaining their workforce.
- Site selection analysis and help locating prime properties in the county.
- Assisting new companies with site searches and talent recruiting.
- Market research, workshops and networking opportunities.
Services provided are personalized, confidential, and free.
Finding the right location to build or grow a business is a critical decision. Our research specialists can help you find available buildings or developable sites based upon your specifications. Beyond that, we can also help in the decision-making process by providing information about access to all modes of transportation, proximity to clients or competitors, analyze the strength of the local workforce, and identify community amenities.
International Landing Zone
For global companies located outside the United States, Macomb County offers an International Landing Zone at Velocity Collaboration Center in Sterling Heights. The International Landing Zone provides space and support for global companies to establish an office and explore the feasibility of expanding operations into the United States. Office space is free for six months through the Velocity Collaboration Center.
Once you have selected a permanent site, Macomb County’s business development team can also offer assistance navigating the local permitting process, help with utility needs and provide information about site-specific investment opportunities.
Quality of Life
Consistently one of Michigan’s fastest-growing communities, Macomb County welcomes an average of nine new residents every day. Macomb County is Michigan’s third-most-populated county and one of its fastest growing. More than 881,000 residents enjoy a rich quality of life.
Offering safe neighborhoods, strong schools, top-notch health care facilities and diverse leisure-time options, Macomb County is the perfect place for your business to call home. Visit Make Macomb Your Home to find out more about the quality of life in Macomb County
Michigan named one of top states for business
CNBC has named Michigan the 10th best state for business in its 2023 rankings. Michigan cracked the top 10 in America’s Top States for Business in 2023 for only the second time since the list was launched, powered by strong job growth, advanced manufacturing leadership, and a low cost of doing business and living.
CNBC listed several criteria it uses to determine a state’s ranking. This includes “10 broad categories of competitiveness” and “86 metrics.” These are broad categories businesses use when making site selection decisions and states invest in to lower costs and improve the quality of life for residents and businesses alike.
While Michigan came in 10th overall, it ranked higher in two categories and make strides in others, including:
- Sixth for cost of doing business, up from ninth last year.
- Seventh for cost of living, up from 12th last year.
- 12th for technology and innovation, up from 15th last year.
- 15th for business friendliness, up from 20th last year.
The entire report can be found here.
Michigan is No. 1 for automotive industry, EV investment, top 10 for tech talent pipeline
Business Facilities’ 19th Annual Rankings Report also placed Michigan in the top 10 for other categories such as FDI Investment, Customized Workforce Training and Life Sciences, building on the state’s national leadership in key industries and talent development.
Michigan is the top state in the country for Automotive Manufacturing and Electric Vehicle (EV) Industry Investment, according to Business Facilities’ 19th Annual Rankings Report. Citing 2022 as “a pivotal point for the growth of EV adoption,” the publication’s new EV Industry Investment ranking evaluated existing and expected capital investment and job creation, positioning Michigan in the top spot nationally.
Workforce development has also been a top priority for the state with momentum growing as evidenced by Top 10 rankings in Tech Talent Pipeline and Customized Workforce Training categories in this round of rankings by Business Facilities.
'If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you'
To learn more about Macomb County and the state of Michigan, check out the latest Michigan Guide digital publication, part of the Site Selection magazine.
Macomb By The Numbers