Our 2025 Summit Sponsors
Elite Corporate Investors
Consumers Energy partners with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and local and regional organizations to help new and expanding businesses choose Michigan as the best place to grow and thrive. No matter how a business begins the siting process, we’re at the table with the MEDC and local economic development agencies as a team – Team Michigan – to understand a company’s long-term goals. We connect all the dots, resulting in a seamless “we’ve got this” customer experience. That’s why industry leaders invested more than $4.2 billion and created more than 5,500 jobs in Consumers Energy’s service territory in 2023.
An Expanding Site Inventory – Consumers Energy is working alongside state and local agencies to identify, examine and inventory sites of all sizes to help ensure sites are readily available to meet increased electric demand from all industries, including EV battery, battery-component and semiconductor facilities and their supply chains.
Energy- and Cost-Saving Solutions: Attracting businesses to Michigan and keeping them here means keeping upfront and ongoing energy costs competitive. Our goal is competitively priced—or potentially zero upfront cost—energy infrastructure for business customers. When it comes to keeping energy costs low over the long haul, energy efficiency incentives for current and planned upgrades have saved our customers more than $4 billion since 2009 and offer competitive energy- and cost-saving advantages.
A Reliability Roadmap: Michiganders are facing more severe and frequent storms, so it’s up to us to step up our game to keep the lights on for our friends and neighbors who count on us. Our Reliability Roadmap is a nearly $9 billion investment in reliability and resilience with the goals of ensuring no customer ever goes more than 24 hours without power, and no single outage affects more than 100,000 customers. We are taking steps to trim trees away from power lines, embrace technology and explore burying power lines, all to reduce the number and length of power outages when Mother Nature strikes. With continued investment, technological advances like ATRs that isolate outages and reroute power in other directions, and support from regulators and key stakeholders, our plan can dramatically transform how we serve Michigan.
Leading the Clean Energy Transformation: As Michigan’s largest energy provider, Consumers Energy delivers natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. The company’s nation-leading Clean Energy Plan is a roadmap to eliminating coal by 2025, achieving net zero methane emissions by 2030, achieving net zero carbon emissions, and meeting 90 percent of the state’s energy needs with clean resources by 2040.
Powering Businesses’ Sustainability Goals: Comcast, DENSO, General Motors, Magna and US Signal are among more than 30 large employers who’ve joined Consumers Energy’s Renewable Energy Program. The program helps businesses match their energy use with locally sourced renewable energy. Subscribers receive environmental benefits from the renewable resources they’re supporting and receive bill credits to offset subscription fees and potentially lower energy bills. Our Commercial and Industrial Demand Response program rewards your business by compensating you for temporarily reducing energy use and lowering grid demand on peak days.
Reach out to Consumers Energy's Economic Development Team today.
DTE is investing in technology to create a smarter, stronger, more resilient grid that delivers the energy customers demand and deserve.
The company is committed to modernizing its electric system to be more reliable and resilient to increasingly severe weather, while also delivering cleaner energy to meet its aggressive carbon reduction goals and the state of Michigan’s new clean energy legislation.
DTE is also committed to creating meaningful impact at the local level and driving economic development. DTE spent $3.3 billion with Michigan businesses in 2024, creating and sustaining more than 14,000 jobs across the state. Last year, DTE also spent $1 billion with diverse suppliers and $955 million with companies based in the city of Detroit. The company continually increases its spending with local businesses. Since 2010, DTE invested $24 billion with Michigan-based suppliers creating and sustaining 92,000 Michigan jobs.
DTE is also providing programs to help Michigan businesses achieve their sustainability goals. MIGreenPower, the company’s voluntary renewable energy program, is the number one program of its kind for large business customers and is helping some of southeast Michigan's most notable organizations achieve their sustainability goals. With more than 1,300 businesses and nearly 100,000 residential customers enrolled, MIGreenPower is accelerating the development of new Michigan-based renewable energy projects - projects that support our state's economy by providing millions of dollars in added tax revenue to participating communities, creating thousands of local jobs, and supplying extra revenue to the landowners that host them.
Our Economic Development team stands ready to help businesses successfully relocate or expand their operations in Michigan. 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. You can connect with our team today to learn more about our programs and offerings.
See how DTE is modernizing the grid and serving clean energy…” in their "DTE Best for the World" video.
ITC Holdings Corp. is the largest independent electricity transmission company in the U.S. – owner, and operator of high-voltage power transmission systems in seven states, with an eighth in development. ITC’s investments in power transmission infrastructure lower electricity costs, improve service reliability and safety, and increase economic activity and tax revenues for customers, stakeholders, and communities. Contact Nora Balgoyen, EDFP, Senior Area Manager, PH: 269-792-7228, nbalgoyen@itctransco.com.
ITC Michigan - Click here to watch the video.
Connecting Business to Energy Infrastructure - ITC is different from other utilities in that we focus only on electric transmission infrastructure, which plays a vital role in economic development. That’s one of the reasons ITC invests in a modern, robust power transmission grid. As a result of our sustained investments, ITC’s transmission systems routinely perform in the top tier of utilities nationally for service reliability. Our energy-intensive customers connected to ITC at transmission-level voltage expect nothing less.
Connecting Customers to the Power Grid - ITC’s sole focus on transmission allows us to facilitate the reliable and efficient delivery of electricity to our wholesale customers – regardless of the generation source. ITC is committed to:
- Providing reliable wholesale electric service
- Ensuring system capacity for the demands of tomorrow
- Enabling electric customers and generators access to competitive wholesale markets
Providing a Critical Link to Tailored Power Solutions - Our ongoing assessment of electric transmission needs for the grid is driven by the requirements of energy-intensive customers, and include:
- Transmission infrastructure investment
- Premier electric reliability
- Focus on power quality
- Knowledge of available system capacity
Facilitating Strong State and Local Economies - ITC connect a variety of industrial customers at transmission-level voltage including:
- Investor-owned, vertically integrated electric utilities
- Commercial/large load connectors and site selectors
- Municipal utilities
- Co-ops
- Independent power producers or non-utility generators
- Developers and subscribers of contracted, merchant transmission lines
Click here to learn more about ITC.
Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, in collaboration with more than 100 economic development partners, markets Michigan as the place to do business, assists businesses in their growth strategies, and fosters the growth of vibrant communities across the state. Contact an MEDC Representative for assistance.
Make it in Michigan - Click here to watch the video.
Supporting Small Business – In Michigan, nearly every indicator of our success is influenced and reflected by our small businesses. At the MEDC, we value both the financial and community contributions small businesses make by preserving culture, promoting innovation, and attracting and retaining talent to help sustain and grow our great state for generations to come. The MEDC’s Small Business Services and Business Solutions team exemplifies our heightened focus on supporting small businesses of all sizes – from micro to growth stage – across the state. We are inspired by Michigan’s small businesses, and proud to help them thrive. We provide support to Michigan's entrepreneurs and small businesses through grants, loans, and other services. Click here for more.
Building Strong Communities – To be vibrant and competitive, Michigan communities must be proactive, including planning for new investments, identifying assets and opportunities, and focusing limited resources. The MEDC Place, Programs, & Services team is proud to be the first state agency in the nation to produce a comprehensive “toolkit” on such resiliency measures for local communities, and prouder to support them in their journey to get there. Whether you need help through technical assistance programs, financial incentives, or simply knowledge-sharing, we are happy to support you. Click here to learn more.
Select Corporate Sponsor
Plante Moran Cresa and REIA have joined together as Plante Moran Realpoint, a real estate firm that is truly “built different”. More than 125 multidisciplinary professionals bring together comprehensive, end-to-end services and deep industry specialization in corporate, public sector, healthcare, religious institutes and senior living spaces as well as in development and mixed-use projects. Plante Moran Realpoint is seamlessly integrated with Plante Moran, one of the largest accounting and consulting firms. Together, we bring the resources of more than 3,800 professionals across the country. Learn more at pmrealpoint.com.
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority serves the people of Michigan by partnering to provide quality affordable housing solutions in support of diverse, equitable, thriving communities. We forge creative and collaborative partnerships, share knowledge and resources, and invest in communities, so everyone in Michigan can afford a safe, quality place to call home in the community of their choice. We have been Michigan’s best way home for 59 years and look forward to opening more doors to housing for generations to come.
MSHDA's Why - Click here to watch the video.
Gold Sponsor
For more than 15 years, Ann Arbor SPARK has served the greater Ann Arbor region as a catalyst for economic development. They accomplish this by building awareness of the region as a community that advocates for business and manufacturing development and growth. The SPARK team of experts attracts, develops, strengthens, and invests in driving industries to help our communities prosper. SPARK partners with and represents local municipalities to support and enhance their economic development efforts, which allows them access to national site selectors and international exposure, the benefit of regional marketing efforts, and superior project management support. SPARK reports on its successes and challenges to local economic development staff and city councils. While Ann Arbor SPARK’s core programs are designed for companies and individuals primarily located in Washtenaw County, the organization’s support extends to the six-county Greater Ann Arbor Region (GAAR) which includes Jackson, Lenawee, Monroe, Livingston, and Hillsdale counties. Economic development requires collaboration, and SPARK is committed to bringing together partners — like the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Works! Southeast, city, and municipal partners, academic institutions, and others — to support the growth of companies and the creation of jobs. Contact Ann Arbor SPARK.
Opening Reception Sponsor
At Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, client service and teamwork form the foundation of its organization. Boasting a team of over 230 attorneys spanning 14 industry groups and 18 specialized practice areas, Warner meets the legal needs of clients across Michigan, the United States and globally. They deliver sophisticated legal services, encompassing thousands of cases annually, spanning litigation, corporate transactions, regulatory affairs and estate matters for a diverse clientele comprising businesses, nonprofits and individuals.
Warner’s Economic Incentives Practice Group − When projects powered by economic incentives succeed, they harness human ingenuity, innovative yet airtight investments and collaborative relationships to fuel commerce, produce profits, generate jobs, build homes and businesses and enhance cities. Highly regarded for our top-tier, efficient client service, our multidisciplinary team knows how to make multiparty partnerships work, often creating something out of nothing. We collaborate closely with businesses, developers, investors, nonprofit entities, local, state and federal agencies and others to secure financial incentives for our clients. We then help them every step of the way on projects that drive development and enrich the communities in which we live, work and grow.
Setting the Standard in Michigan and Beyond − Warner offers clients the largest economic incentives team in the state of Michigan and, in terms of years of experience and range of expertise, one of the deepest legal-business benches in the nation. Because of our nationally recognized knowledge and strategic skills in environmental, real estate, tax, finance and administrative law and our history of headline-making success, many consider us an economic-incentive powerhouse. But we remain humble. Our attorneys believe clients deserve the credit for placing their names and livelihoods at risk as we work together to launch and complete projects. Our team serves a wide range of businesses and nonprofits on a full spectrum of enterprises, from $500,000 to $1 billion developments and everything in-between. We give every client our undivided focus regardless of the project’s size and dollar value.
Warner routinely works with over 50 types of incentives. Some of the most popular incentives include:
- Brownfield TIF Funding
- Community Revitalization Program
- Business Development Program
- Industrial Facilities Tax Abatement (Public Act 198)
- Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ)
- Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA)
- Local TIF Districts
- New Markets Tax Credits
- Federal Historic Tax Credits
- Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
- MDEQ Grants and Loans
- Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC)
Warner uses a variety and a combination of the above tax credits to help numerous clients realize their development dreams. Here’s a snapshot of some of the projects where Warner made an impact:
- Venue Tower: $32.7 Million Entertainment and Apartment/Condominium Project Warner helped secure a Brownfield Michigan Business Tax Credit totaling $4.52 million and tax increment financing through the City of Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority Development Support Program totaling approximately $1.75 for the project. Warner established the joint venture and helped facilitate the land acquisition and drafting and negotiation of myriad agreements, including development agreements, condominium documents, and agreements with neighbors and the City of Grand Rapids.
- Downtown Market, Grand Rapids, MI: $30 Million Design, Construction and Real Estate Project for Retail, Restaurant and Agriculture Warner helped secure a $5.2 million Brownfield Michigan Business Tax Credit, a $3 million community revitalization loan from the Michigan Strategic Fund, Brownfield Tax Increment Financing of $3.5 million, Downtown Development Authority Tax Increment Financing and other grants and loans from the Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. EPA for environmental cleanup. They structured the design and demolition construction contracts for the project and prepared and negotiated the documentation necessary to establish the public private partnerships of the Downtown Market. Additionally, Warner created documents for ground leases, market hall vendor leases, retail tenant leases, restaurant leases, office users and myriad other tenancies, and parking on-site and off-site.
- Lormax Stern Development, Detroit, MI: $33 Million Meijer Grocery and Retail Project Warner secured a $3.3 million Brownfield Michigan Business Tax (MBT) credit and $6.5 million in Brownfield Tax Increment Financing (TIF) incentives in a relatively short period of time. Warner’s team credits its relationship with Detroit officials, state officials and the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) for their success.
- Zingerman’s Delicatessen, Ann Arbor, MI: $6.7 Million Expansion Project
Warner helped control long-term and short-term costs throughout the project by securing a $1.18 million Michigan Business Tax credit, $817,265 in Brownfield Tax Increment Financing Incentives, and a $407,000 grant from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. No project is too large or too small – and they meet you where you are and where you plan to grow. Every project is unique, and the depth and breadth of experience positions Warner as the law firm best suited to deliver the incentives that work for you and within your timeline and budget.
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.
Silver Sponsor
Since 1996, Anderson Economic Group, LLC, has offered economic consulting in economic development, market and industry analysis, valuation, and public policy. From our offices in East Lansing and Chicago, we have helped clients that include local and state governments, large corporations, small businesses, universities, non-profit organizations, and trade associations across the U.S. and around the world.
The firm’s expert consultants have extensive knowledge conducting benchmarking, economic development and market analyses, and economic and fiscal impact studies in industries that include (but are not limited to) real estate development, automotive and manufacturing, alcoholic beverages, energy and environment, K-12 and higher education, and franchised businesses.
Because our work is rooted in our core values of professionalism, integrity, and expertise, our consultants are frequently quoted by the country’s most respected news outlets, and our expertise is often relied upon to inform government hearings and court proceedings.
Learn more by visiting https://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/ or contact Dr. Cristina Benton, director of market and industry analysis, at 517-333-6984.
Antero Group is a multidisciplinary planning, engineering, and strategic consulting firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with additional offices in Denver, Colorado, and Dallas, Texas. We offer integrated services in urban planning, civil engineering design, economic development, and branding and marketing. Our diverse team of urban planners, designers, housing and economic development specialists, and engineers is passionate about solving complex challenges and delivering implementable, community-centered solutions.
Antero adopts an interdisciplinary and holistic approach, consistently evaluating project feasibility and costs throughout the planning process to deliver solutions that optimize opportunities and enhance both economic well-being and quality of life. We distinguish ourselves through our commitment to building authentic and collaborative partnerships with our clients. By combining technical expertise with innovative thinking, we deliver comprehensive services that exceed typical consulting offerings and foster long-lasting relationships rooted in trust, transparency, and a shared vision for resilient, thriving communities.
To learn more, visit www.anterogroup.com. Contact: Eric Neagu, Principal, PH: 773-403-5137.
Convergent Nonprofit Solutions
The Convergent Difference: A Better Way to Raise Money
At Convergent, we conduct funding feasibility studies and manage large-scale fundraising, endowment, operational, comprehensive and capital campaigns. We don’t rely on emotional appeals and small donations. Instead, we demonstrate your value by emphasizing strategic alignment between fundraising objectives, outcomes delivered, and your organization's mission.
We actively participate in your fundraising and position your organization as an irreplaceable community asset worthy of investment. We talk about what you want to accomplish, the results of your effort, and what it means to your constituency, stakeholders, and investors. As a result, we raise more money by reaching more people and businesses, with less burden on your staff, and in less time.
Convergent’s Investment-Driven Model™ represents a paradigm shift in the way organizations approach fundraising. By focusing on impact, aligning missions with investor interests, and the outcomes delivered, this model offers a robust framework for achieving sustainable financial support and maximizing impact. With Convergent, we transform your fundraising from a transactional experience to a sustainable funding stream. Contact Andy Coe, Principal, PH: 919-518-3223.
Oakland County Economic Development
Oakland County 2024 Logo 
Oakland County Economic Development, a.k.a. Advantage Oakland, is Oakland County's economic development department. Oakland County has a total of 63,800 businesses and, in 2024, the leading industries in Oakland County were Manufacturing, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Health Care and Social Services, and Retail. With more than $127.3 billion in economic activity, the county accounts for 20% of MI’s GDP. Oakland County boasts a strong, resilient economy fueled by a highly educated workforce, with a large percentage of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The robust labor force drives innovation across key industries, while an affordable cost of living ensures businesses and employees thrive. With world-class schools, vibrant communities, and strategic resources, Oakland County is a premier destination for growth and opportunity. Contact their team to learn about opportunities today.
Michigan Center for Employee Ownership
The Michigan Center for Employee Ownership serves as the central hub for information and resources around employee ownership in Michigan. Employee ownership is a business model in which employees collectively own a percentage of the business for which they work. Two of the main forms are Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and worker cooperatives. In both, employees are given a financial stake in the business. As the business prospers, employees prosper.
- Over the next 10 years, more than 4 million U.S. businesses owned by retiring baby boomers will change hands or dissolve
- More than half of all small business owners do not have a succession plan
- Many businesses will be sold and leave the state of MI, or close their doors permanently, resulting in lost jobs, tax base, and community impacts
Contact Roy Messing, Executive Director, Michigan Center for Employee Ownership, PH: 440-567-1060, rmessing@miceo.org, to learn how you can help companies make a successful transition of ownership and keep businesses active in your region.
The Silver Tsunami: A Looming Threat to Communities Across Michigan
Economic developers are working hard to attract and retain businesses in their communities. They have to offer very competitive packages to attract new businesses and ensure that the existing businesses are properly incentivized to stay. While such threats are rightfully front and center for most economic developers, there is another threat that is slowly building that has probably not been addressed.
Michigan, like the rest of the country, is facing the “Silver Tsunami.” That is, as business owners aged 55 plus approach retirement, what comes next for them and for the enterprises they run?
How concerned should your agency be about the Silver Tsunami? Let’s break it down. Here are the statistics of the privately held businesses owned by individuals who will retire in the next ten years:
- Total firms: 80,000 firms
- Number of employees: 1,000,000
- Annual revenues: $2 billion
- Annual payroll: $40 billion.
The impact on the community and those who work with the business can be huge. The issue is more acute in many rural communities across Michigan. About half of the counties in Michigan have over 50% of the privately held businesses owned by these individuals. What is the impact on your community if 25% of the private businesses disappeared in the next 5 or 10 years?
There are three general ownership transfers when the existing owner exits the business:
- Internal - someone already involved in or associated with the business
- External – a competitor, a strategic buyer, or a financial buyer (has resources and wants to experience running a business)
- Cease operations, liquidate, layoff the employees, shutter the business
Far too often the outcome of an owner exiting the ownership of their business is negative for the community. In the case of an “external” sale, especially when private equity is the buyer, the bulk of the local business operations cease or are greatly diminished within a few years. The local community suffers the loss of the financial and ancillary impact when the company just ceases operations.
Most company owners haven’t planned for their exit from the business. A recent life insurance company survey indicates that 75% of business owners don’t have an exit plan. Unfortunately, many of them don’t know where to start with planning their exit. An economic developer who is knowledgeable about the exit planning process and options can encourage the business owner to become educated about how to transition the business to the next owner(s).
Let’s face it – when business owners are looking to retire, they start exploring their options. Maximizing the sale proceeds is often a key goal. Many are also concerned about the impact on various stakeholders in the enterprise (family, employees, customers, vendors, and community). Transfers to a family member are becoming rarer, so owners must consider other options. Selling to a third party, especially in the case of private equity, doesn’t always generate the owner’s desired outcome for the stakeholders. The owner may want to consider Employee Ownership, which is a lesser-known option. Either through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a Worker Cooperative, or an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), a retiring business owner can use employee ownership as an exit strategy depending on the owner and company’s goals and circumstances. The Employee Ownership option is a great way to leave a legacy in your community. Of course, there may be potential tax advantages for the selling owner.
Nonprofit groups like ours can offer owners and their advisors a manageable pathway to exploring exit planning and employee ownership if that is a viable option. The Michigan Center for Employee Ownership provides the information you can use to help your customers explore the employee ownership option. Our educational information is provided in a self-paced format, so business owners don’t feel like they’re drinking from a fire hose. We can also provide a preliminary assessment to determine if employee ownership is a potential exit strategy. We can refer your clients to qualified partners to address advanced aspects of employee ownership transitions.
While employee ownership might not be the ideal exit strategy for every business owner, it can be the right fit for many. Our experience and research show that employee ownership helps small business owners leave a legacy, preserve local jobs, and protect income over time.
Roy Messing is the Executive Director of the Michigan Center for Employee Ownership. Go to www.miceo.org for more information.
The Rudolph Libbe Group is a single-source provider of construction and facility services that range from site selection and construction to energy solutions and ongoing facility management. The full-service contractor, comprised of Rudolph Libbe Inc., GEM Inc., GEM Energy, Lehman Daman, and Rudolph Libbe Properties, is focused on ensuring that its customers succeed. The Rudolph Libbe Group has locations in Greater Detroit, Cleveland, Columbus, and Lima and is headquartered in Toledo, Ohio. Contact Ben Eisel, Business Development Manager, Rudolph Libbe Group, at 419-601-3718 or 734-455-3131.
DESIGN/BUILD
Based on complexity, traditional construction methods are not always the best answer, particularly when a design needs to be created around the owner’s process, budget, or timeline and not done to spec. By using the design/build method of construction delivery, projects can be done more affordably, faster, and safer.
RLG’s design/build approach optimizes participation among all the project stakeholders. It brings everyone involved in the planning, design, and construction together earlier rather than later.
Each member of this preconstruction team – which includes the owner, architect, engineer, and design/build contractor – considers key questions to help optimize the project. Critical design changes needed to prevent or correct potential problems before they become “baked in” to the design are discussed upfront. This communication mitigates the high risk of cost overruns and construction delays before they happen.
SELF-PERFORM
The trade construction capabilities that RLG self-performs — Civil, Concrete, Mechanical, Electrical, Carpentry, Masonry, Millwright, Boilermaker, and Structural Steel — directly translate into positive outcomes for our client's business. Employees who work directly for us mean better control over safety, on-time schedules, and successful delivery.
RLG’s multi-discipline trades, with decades of preconstruction and consulting experience, ensure project and job site safety, accurate budgets, high-quality services, and minimized risk and disruption to a facility’s daily operations.
For over 70 years, Site Selection Magazine has consistently been an award-winning, top-rated, and highly respected publication. The publication covers all things economic development, offering actionable insight into corporate and industrial expansion worldwide.
Site Selection Magazine is published every other month and mailed directly to almost 42,000 C-suite level corporate executives, providing exclusive insight into strategies, real estate markets, industry trends, and all major key factors involved in corporate facility planning.
Contact Cathy McFarland, Regional Director, PH: 770-325-3444, Catherine.McFarland@conway.com, to learn about marketing opportunities.
Bronze Sponsor
AKT Peerless Environmental Services
For nearly 130 years, Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. has been a trusted partner in shaping environments that inspire and elevate. Our journey is grounded in the belief that exceptional design arises from a thoughtful understanding of our clients' visions. Guided by our core values of ingenuity, curiosity, and belonging, we approach each project with a commitment to innovation and collaboration. Albert Kahn Associates, Inc. is more than a design firm; we are a community of innovators, continuously exploring new ways to make a meaningful impact. Our legacy of award-winning designs and historic projects stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to quality and excellence. As we move forward, we remain passionate about creating environments that inspire, engage, and endure. For more information on Albert Kahn Associates, please visit albertkahn.com or contact Heidi Pfannes, Director of Business Development, Heidi.pfannes@akahn.com.
For over 50 years, Battle Creek Unlimited (BCU) has been instrumental in fostering economic opportunities in Southwest Michigan. As the economic development entity for the City of Battle Creek, this private nonprofit organization has been recognized for its commitment to enhancing the city's growth and prosperity. Recipient of the 2024 Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development and other accolades, BCU offers a range of services to support new and expanding companies as well as those considering relocating to Battle Creek. These services support their overall mission of generating investment in their community and include providing resources such as site selection, redevelopment assistance, community development, access to financing, and other essential tools within the city. Contact Battle Creek Unlimited.
The Detroit Regional Partnership is a regional economic development nonprofit serving Southeast Michigan’s 11-county region. Founded in 2019 by a group of business and philanthropic CEOs, the organization is laser-focused on marketing the region to out-of-state and international companies to attract investments and jobs. Contact DRP.
Friends of MEDA Sponsors
Pioneer Construction builds exceptional facilities that perform for our clients, on time and on budget. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Pioneer provides commercial construction solutions throughout the continental United States. As a true builder, employing over two-hundred talented craft and trade professionals, we offer extensive self-performance abilities that enable us to provide unsurpassed budget, schedule, and quality control. With expertise in a variety of delivery methods, we customize our approach based on the specifics of each project and the goals of our clients. Our commitment to sustainable design and construction, technology, safety, inclusion, and community involvement set us apart in our industry.
RACER Trust's mission is to clean up and position former GM locations for redevelopment and beneficial reuse. They are responsible for conducting safe, effective environmental cleanups at approximately 60 locations. RACER is one of the largest holders of industrial property in the United States, and when it was formed was the largest environmental response and remediation trust in U.S. history.
Saginaw Future Inc. (SFI) provides proactive and focused economic development assistance to business executives, site selectors, developers and investors. We strive to create diversified economic growth that includes new and retained jobs, increased business investment, a growing tax base, and a positive environment for businesses to thrive. Since 1992, Saginaw Future Inc. has accomplished these goals, generating over $8 billion in new investment.
Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership
The Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) works in collaboration with public and private partners to improve Shiawassee County’s economy through a program of business attraction, retention, expansion, and entrepreneurial development.
Join Our 2025 Summit Sponsors
Visit our Sponsorship Benefits and Levels page. There are many levels of sponsorship to meet the needs of companies and organizations that want to support the conference.