Program Partners
VIP by DRP connects you with a vast network of community organizations and resources designed to help companies find their home here in the 11-County Detroit Region. These partners include local economic development organizations, utility companies, and a premier team of engineering firms ready to collect and verify critical site information for each VIP site.
This verification process ensures that companies can search with confidence, knowing that every VIP property has been evaluated by one of the following third-party consultants.
Fishbeck is an engineering, environmental sciences, architecture, and construction management professional consulting firm. As one of the civil engineering providers for the VIP program, Fishbeck reviews and verifies important site information, conducts necessary physical site studies, and composes the corresponding due diligence reports.
Mannik Smith Group is a premier full service civil engineering and environmental science consulting firms. As one of the civil engineering providers for the VIP program, Mannik Smith Group reviews and verifies important site information, conducts necessary physical site studies, and composes the corresponding due diligence reports.
Atwell is a comprehensive professional services firm, including engineering, planning, surveying, landscape architecture, environmental consulting, natural resource services, program management, and construction services. As one of the civil engineering providers for the VIP program, Atwell reviews and verifies important site information, conducts necessary physical site studies, and composes the corresponding due diligence reports.
PEA Group is a civil engineering consultant specializing in ecological consulting, land surveying, geotechnical consulting, and facility consulting. As one of the civil engineering providers for the VIP program, PEA Group reviews and verifies important site information, conducts necessary physical site studies, and composes the corresponding due diligence reports.
Plante Moran Realpoint is a trusted real estate advisor delivering comprehensive, end-to-end services and deep industry specialization. As a partner for the VIP program, Plante Moran Realpoint helped inform and develop the current program strategy and site readiness stages.
Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies with an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, technologists and scientists. They are the lead technical consultant and authorizer for the VIP by DRP program, assisting with program design, implementation, and advising on technical aspects of site evaluation and development.
Consumers Energy provides natural gas and electricity to 6.7 million residents and businesses in Michigan. With a new innovative economic development rate, Consumers Energy is dedicated to supporting industrial customers and making Michigan an attractive, competitive option for your businesses to invest and grow. The company’s certified Energy Ready Sites program includes sites in premium locations primed to meet a project’s unique energy needs. Click here to Explore Energy Ready Sites.
DTE Energy is a Detroit-based diversified energy company providing natural gas and electricity to homes and businesses in Michigan. DTE is committed to helping businesses find reliable and affordable energy solutions for their upcoming new construction projects. They offer a comprehensive approach to energy-efficiency improvements and high-performance building design on nonresidential projects.
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) offers business assistance services and capital programs for business attraction and acceleration across Michigan. MEDC’s Build Ready Sites program consists of highly detailed site and community information for sizable vacant properties targeted toward larger business attraction projects. Click here to explore Build Ready Sites.
Advantage Oakland is Oakland County’s Economic Development and Community Affairs department, providing leading-edge services and programs to continue to make the transition from a manufacturing-based economy to a knowledge-based economy. The county is ranked 13th nationally in total exports and is home to operations for 64 of the Global 100 Automotive OEMs and Tier One Suppliers
Ann Arbor SPARK serves the greater Ann Arbor region as a catalyst for economic development, representing Washtenaw and Livingston County. Home to the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University, the Ann Arbor region provides businesses with a highly connected community, advanced research and innovation, and an immense talent pool.
The Detroit Economic Growth Corporation is the City of Detroit’s economic development catalyst, creating transformational opportunities for residents, local businesses, and new investors. The Motor City is still the automotive capital of the U.S., a booming smart manufacturing hub, and the United States’ first and only UNESCO City of Design.
The Flint & Genesee Economic Alliance connects businesses with resources, partnerships, and incentives to promote economic development in Genesee County. With top-notch transportation infrastructure, an exceptional network of higher education institutions, and a culture of innovation, Genesee County connects businesses with the world.
Lapeer Development Corporation is a community-based, economic development organization providing business services tailored to a company’s specific needs. With low-cost properties and cost of living, excellent infrastructure, and access to major markets, Lapeer County has all the necessary resources to position your business for success.
Lenawee Now is driving economic opportunity in Lenawee County by working closely with businesses, educators, and municipal partners to drive economic opportunity for all sectors of the economy. With proximity to Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Toledo, businesses enjoy the comforts of suburban living while benefiting from nearby urban amenities.
The Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development provides services to businesses at all stages of development with a concentration on the high-growth industries of aerospace, alternative energy, advanced manufacturing, defense, and homeland security. Macomb County provides a skilled and ready workforce, research and development support, transportation infrastructure, and a large supplier network.
The Monroe County Business Development Corporation works with its strategic partners to attract and retain a diverse range of businesses that create an economic environment of innovation and success. Monroe County is located directly between Detroit and Toledo, with the state’s only port on Lake Erie, providing a valuable gateway to the St. Lawrence River.
The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership is the lead economic development agency for Shiawassee County. The county offers businesses a centralized location halfway between the Lansing, Flint, Detroit, and Saginaw metro areas along the I-69 International NAFTA Trade Corridor and a pro-business climate with affordable, competitive costs.
The Economic Development Alliance (EDA) of St. Clair County is a regional, economic development agency that markets regional and community assets, spurs local entrepreneurialism, and provides unique solutions to industry for companies to achieve global success. St. Clair County is a center of international commerce with a double-stacked rail tunnel, a deep-water port, and the third-busiest commercial truck crossing on the U.S.-Canada border.
Wayne County Economic Development helps businesses with workforce development, incentive coordination, site location assistance, connections, and access to capital in Wayne County. Home to the City of Detroit, Wayne County is the most populated county in Michigan and a bustling hub of industrial growth, offering the complete talent vertical to help companies design, build, and ship their products.
