The U.S. Department of Commerce has recently released metropolitan level exports data for fourth quarter and preliminary year-end 2022. Nearly $40.4 billion in goods were exported from the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA in 2022 – the eighth highest figure nationally among all MSAs. 

County-level data is currently only available through 2021 but during that time, nearly $12.5 billion in goods were exported from Oakland County, making it the second largest exporter in the state.

$40.395 billion – Total dollar value of goods exported from the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn Metropolitan Statistical Area 

13.1% – Increase in value of goods exported from the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA from 2021 to 2022 

8th– Rank of the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn MSA’s value of exports compared to all MSAs nationally, up from the ninth largest exporter in 2021 

$12.486 billion – Value of exports from Oakland County in 2021 

35.3% – Share of the 2021 regional exports that originated in Oakland County 

$13.6 billion – Value of goods exported from the region to Canada in 2021 – our largest trading partner 

$19.6 billion – Value of transportation equipment goods exported from the region in 2021 – the largest sector of the local export economy 

Interactive resources and related information:

During the 2023 State of the County Address, County Executive David Coulter highlighted many Business Development activities, including:   

• After a three-year hiatus, due to COVID-19, international travel has returned. Executive Coulter made a business attraction trip overseas to Sweden and Germany to encourage the expansion of foreign direct investment in Oakland County. With more than 700 companies from 35 countries calling Oakland County home, it is crucial to strengthen those relationships and create new opportunities abroad and locally. 
  
  
• There have been successes from manufacturing companies of all sizes – including Next Energy, Fanuc Robotics, and Via Motors, which relocated their headquarters to Auburn Hills, and Zeiss is building an enviro-friendly showroom in Wixom. These investments represent more than 7,000 new and retained and new jobs. During the past five years, these companies have been responsible for 30,000 jobs and $2.7 billion. 

• Our strategic partnership with Automation Alley has led to the creation of Project Diamond, which allows us to assist manufacturing companies with Industry 4.0 capabilities, helping them to move from traditional manufacturing to advanced manufacturing in cost-effective ways. 
  
  
• Oakland County Parks and Recreation has opened the Holly Oaks ORV Park for business opportunities, such as vehicle testing needs. 

To learn more about projects and activity going on in Economic Development here: AdvantageOakland.com 

During the 2023 State of the County Address, Executive Dave Coulter included highlights from our Planning & Local Business Development division, including:  

• Executive Dave Coulter stated the importance of Planning's work as a they support the 62 cities, villages, and townships that make up Oakland County  – from the urban and suburban communities, to “up north” and rural areas. 
  
  
• He also highlighted that in nearly half of these communities, you can find a historic downtown supported by Main Street Oakland County. Since its inception in 2001, there have been more than $1 billion in public and private investments in our Main Street communities. Those investments have helped create nearly 8,000 new full-time jobs, and 1,345 new businesses and have contributed to the rehabilitation of more than 2,700 commercial buildings.
  
  
• Finally, special thanks was given to Planning employees, Bret Rasagen and Kristen Wiltfang – who in just three short months – brought forward four new transit contracts, a local reimbursement grant program and hired our first-ever Transit Manager, Eli Cooper. 
  
  

Main Street Oakland County’s Main Event is May 4, 2023, from 6:00 - 9:00 PM, at the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Downtown Pontiac. With the theme “A Force for Excellence,” the event recognizes the many components needed for successful historic downtowns and commercial corridors, including: 

Main Street America developed this more advanced Revitalization Professional Certification Program in 2017, and Oakland County’s Senior Planner Annaka Norris is one of six in this 2023 class.  Less than 60 professionals in the U.S. have achieved this new certification to date.

Norris will apply these two years of training to her work with the Planning and Local Business Development Division’s Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) communities.  The curriculum includes leadership development, economic vitality, sustainable organization, effective promotion, and quality design.

“This is the highest credential offered through Main Street America—it is a tremendous accomplishment,” says John Bry, administrator for the MSOC Coordinating Program.  “You must demonstrate a mastery of areas essential to downtown and neighborhood district management.  Only people with a serious commitment to creating vibrant, healthy Main Streets complete the program.

“Our goal is to have the entire MSOC staff certified.  This will make us one of the few coordinating programs in the U.S. to achieve this,” continues Bry. 

Norris has been with Oakland County since 2018 and serves as a county liaison with communities and downtowns in the MSOC program—working closely with the downtown management; municipal elected and appointed officials and staff; business owners; chambers; and other stakeholders.  She is passionate about utilizing the county resources and her expertise to help each downtown, community and business overcome challenges and be successful.

Prior to joining Oakland County, she spent 14 years as a planning consultant traveling across the U.S. working with downtowns. She has an in-depth knowledge of related project management models and methodologies, including directing more than 50 projects and 49 studies in diverse areas such as parking, feasibility, marketing, wayfinding, design, accessible and walkable downtowns and best practices.

During this time, she built strong management experience and a record of accomplishments guiding cross functional project teams in the design and implementation of urban planning and Main Street initiatives and processes. 

She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. degree in Urban & Regional Planning and History and has a Master Citizen Planner Certificate from Purdue University Extension.

She serves on the Oakland County Equity Council (2019 to present); Michigan Downtown Association, Board of Directors (2020 to Present); and Nub’s Nob National Ski Patrol, Harbor Springs (1994 to present).  And, she chairs the Michigan Professional Downtown Manager Certificate Program for the Michigan Downtown Association and is the assistant region director for the National Ski Patrol - Northern Michigan Region (2017 to present).

For more information on MSOC, visit: MainStreetOaklandCounty.com 

During the 2023 State of the County Address, Executive Dave Coulter highlighted many Workforce Development activities, including MICareerQuest Southeast and Oakland80, see the full stories below, as well as:   

• The Business Resource Network and Clean Slate Program were also highlighted. The data for the nearly two dozen companies using the Business Resource Network Services showed an impressive 90% retention rate in employees, and Clean Slate is giving Oakland County residents opportunities for employment, housing and education that eluded them in the past.
  
  
• Executive Dave Coulter also gave special thanks to Jennifer Llewellyn and her whole team. Jennifer is a recognized leader in the state and her team helps employers with recruitment, retention, and retraining among countless other services.