Our 2026 Summit Sponsors
Visionary Corporate Investors
Consumers Energy works with state, local and regional partner agencies to help businesses choose Michigan as the best place to grow and thrive. We work as a team to understand a company’s long-term goals and connect all the dots, resulting in a “we’ve got this” customer experience. That’s why our service territory has welcomed more than $30 billion in new investment and 30,000 new jobs across next-gen manufacturing sectors since 2020. An expanding site inventory helps ensure we can meet electric demand from all industries. Customized energy solutions offer energy- and cost-saving advantages. And our $9 billion reliability roadmap will help ensure no customer goes more than 24 hours without power, and fewer outages affect more than 100,000 customers. And it’s working: outage events rose nearly 20% in 2025, yet customers experienced 130,000 less outages thanks to grid‑hardening and increased system automation. Contact Consumers Energy's Economic Development Team today.
DTE is investing in a smarter, stronger, more resilient grid that delivers the energy customers demand and deserve. They are committed to modernizing their electric system to be more reliable and resilient, while also delivering cleaner energy to meet their aggressive carbon reduction goals and Michigan’s clean energy legislation. DTE is also committed to creating meaningful impact at the local level and driving economic development. Since 2016, DTE has invested more than $24 billion with Michigan-based suppliers creating and sustaining more than 109,000 Michigan jobs. DTE’s MIGreenPower is the number one program of its kind for large business customers, helping some of southeast Michigan's most notable organizations achieve their sustainability goals. Our Economic Development team is ready to help businesses relocate or expand successfully. From Infrastructure Financial Incentives, our XL High Load Factor Rate, to our nationally recognized energy efficiency rebates and programs, DTE will help businesses save money by investing in Michigan. Connect with our team today to learn more.
ITC Michigan, through subsidiaries ITCTransmission and Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC (METC), owns and maintains nearly 9,100 circuit miles of high-voltage electric lines throughout Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. As the nation’s largest independent electric transmission company, ITC provides electric transmission grid solutions to improve reliability, expand access to markets, allow new generating resources to interconnect to its systems and lower the overall cost of delivered energy. ITC’s investments in power transmission infrastructure increases economic activity and tax revenues for customers, stakeholders and communities. Contact Nora Balgoyen, EDFP, Economic Development Manager, PH: 269-792-7228, nbalgoyen@itctransco.com. Click here to learn more about ITC.
About the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The MEDC, in collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners across the state, continues to execute our Make It in Michigan economic development strategy by marketing Michigan as an ideal place to do business, supporting business growth, and helping build vibrant, competitive communities. Michigan was recently ranked the No. 6 state for business in CNBC’s America’s Top States for Business 2025 list – the highest position since the rankings began. This recognition reflects the strength of our statewide economic development framework built around People, Places, and Projects, ensuring that anyone can ‘Make It in Michigan’.
The MEDC is also a Designated Accredited Economic Development Organization by the International Economic Development Council. This prestigious honor recognizes professional excellence among economic development organizations worldwide. With this accreditation, MEDC is one of the first two U.S. state agencies to receive AEDO status, affirming its position as a national leader in economic development strategy, innovation, and execution.
MEDC in Your Region
Economic development succeeds when local and regional partners have access to the right resources and guidance. Across Michigan, MEDC’s regional Business Development Managers and Community Development Managers are here to help you identify the programs, tools, and next steps that support your community’s path toward economic prosperity. Whether you are advancing a business expansion, preparing a site for future investment, or strengthening your community’s vibrancy and competitiveness, your regional MEDC team is ready to partner with you. Click here to learn more.
Igniting Michigan MEDC’s ‘Make it in Michigan’ Impact
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/j63H9CIZZ4w?si=DYzr2gYH3deO_5ma
Trailblazer Corporate Investor
Plante Moran Realpoint, as a full-service real estate advisor, is built different. Our comprehensive, end-to-end, industry-specific specialization spans clients’ real estate needs, from consulting and transactions to capital projects and development advisory. We deliver strategic, hands-on support, realizing our clients’ visions with unmatched precision and creativity. For more than 30 years, we have brought deep and diverse capabilities to many of Michigan’s largest development projects. We currently act as development advisor and owner’s representative for more than $7 billion in active projects. Our team has guided clients across the public and private sectors through millions of square feet of real estate transactions and $1 billion in investment real estate transactions. With Plante Moran Realpoint, clients make well-informed real estate decisions, achieve their milestones, and flourish in great spaces. Realize what it means to be built different at pmrealpoint.com. Contact: Nick Posavetz | nick.posavetz@plantemoran.com
Platinum Sponsor
The Verified Industrial Properties Program or VIP BY DRP is Detroit Regional Partnership’s award winning industrial site readiness program. Since launching in 2021, VIP has helped identify, evaluate, and advance more than 100 industrial sites across 60 regional communities, representing an investment of $8 million in regional industrial site readiness. VIP ready sites are helping support high-value projects land across the region with Astemo (Wixom) and NanoGraf (Flint) being two recent examples. VIP reached a major milestone with its first successful site rezoning to industrial on a 181-acre site in Lapeer County, boosting the region’s supply of large constructable sites and strengthening competitiveness for future investment. Launched in 2025, VIP’s Industrial Development Toolkit will help municipalities proactively prepare for industrial growth and ensure developments deliver meaningful local benefits. The Toolkit is set for release in Q3 2026. In 2025, VIP earned four national awards for excellence in industrial site readiness and regional economic development. https://verifiedindustrialproperties.com
Gold Sponsors
Indiana Michigan Power delivers safe, reliable power to more than 600,000 customers across Michigan and Indiana. As a fully integrated utility, I&M owns and operates generation, transmission, and distribution assets. The company supports regional economic growth through strategic investments in energy infrastructure, reliability, and sustainability. Working with state, regional and local economic development partners, I&M advances business attraction and expansion, particularly energy-intensive industries, by improving site readiness and ensuring competitive energy costs. Investments in grid modernization and transmission upgrades reduce outages and accommodate rising demand while aligning with clean-energy goals. I&M also provides energy-efficiency incentives and renewable options to help customers meet sustainability targets and lower operating costs. By enhancing transmission capacity and delivering dependable service, I&M enables access to competitive markets, supports job creation, and attracts capital. Focused on long-term partnerships, I&M combines infrastructure upgrades, customer programs, and community engagement to strengthen regional economic resilience. Connect With Us! Indiana Michigan Power Economic Development.
Opening Reception Sponsor
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is a Michigan-based law firm committed to advancing economic growth through strategic legal counsel and collaborative partnerships. With more than 230 attorneys across nine offices, Warner combines deep legal experience with practical business insight to support businesses, developers, nonprofits and public entities throughout Michigan and beyond.
The firm is widely recognized for its work in economic development and incentives. Drawing on nationally ranked capabilities in environmental, real estate, tax, finance and administrative law, Warner helps clients move complex projects forward. From $500,000 community revitalization efforts to billion-dollar industrial and commercial developments, the firm provides guidance through litigation, sophisticated transactions, regulatory processes and financing structures.
Warner’s economic development team works closely with developers, investors, businesses, nonprofit organizations and government partners to turn ambitious ideas into viable projects. The team assists clients in identifying, securing and implementing financial incentives that encourage investment, accelerate development and strengthen communities. Warner regularly works alongside economic development organizations, municipalities and private investors on projects that bring new jobs, housing and long-term investment to Michigan communities.
With experience across more than 50 incentive programs, Warner helps clients navigate tools such as Brownfield Tax Increment Financing, New Markets Tax Credits, Federal Historic District Rehab Credits, the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act, PA 198 abatements and Renaissance Zones. By bringing together attorneys across disciplines, the firm helps clients maximize available resources and move projects from concept to completion.
At Warner, every project — regardless of scale — represents an opportunity to create lasting impact. Through thoughtful counsel, strong partnerships and practical solutions, Warner helps clients build projects that support Michigan’s long-term growth.
Contact: Jared Belka, Partner, Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, 150 Ottawa Ave NW, Suite 1500, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, PH: 616-752-2447, jbelka@wnj.com, wnj.com.
Lunch Sponsor
Macomb County Planning and Economic Development
Silver Sponsors
Flint and Genesee Economic Alliance
Oakland County Economic Development