April 2023 | Top Stories:
Local Area Unemployment Statistics | INTEGR8 2023 | VTM Michigan | Main Street Oakland County Communities Receive Accreditation | John Bry Honored with Main Street America's 2023 Mary Means Leadership Award | Transit Moving Ahead | Regional Talent Innovation Grant Fund | Veterans Resource Fairs | Veterans Off Road Day | ECHO Community Health Assessment Survey
A Message From Jeanne Broad
Interim Director, Oakland County,
Department of Economic Development
Dear Colleagues,
I have had the pleasure to meet and know most of you over the years in my various roles, including at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the General Motors Public Policy team and, most recently, as the Manager of National and International Business Attraction here at Oakland County.
I am excited to lead the charge in my new role as Oakland County’s Interim Economic Development Director, with responsibilities for the Business Development, Planning and Community Development, Workforce Development, Veterans' Services and Transit divisions. I look forward to working with all of you as the county works to fulfill its commitment to providing high-quality, accessible services and programs that help our communities, businesses and residents.
We do hope that you will join us for the 37th Oakland County Economic Outlook Luncheon on Monday, May 8, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Oakland University. Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and our esteemed team of economists from the University of Michigan will present their finding from the past year and highlight what our county might expect to see in the coming months and three-year forecast. You will also hear about some of the county’s important workforce development initiatives. To reserve your seat, please RSVP here: Eventbrite.com/e/597131144327
We look forward to our continued partnership!
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 Data Corner
Local Area Unemployment Statistics
In February 2023, the unemployment rate in Oakland County hit 2.9%, down from 3.5% in February of 2022 and 5.4% in February of 2021 and matching the 2.9% unemployment rate from February 2020. In the first quarter of 2020, the county averaged 676,075 participants in the local labor force each month. In the wake of the pandemic, Oakland County’s labor force fell to a monthly average of 624,272 participants in the second quarter of 2020. The county’s labor force has rebounded significantly since then but still has not reached pre-pandemic levels.
2.9% – Oakland County’s unemployment rate in February 2023
3.0% – The 12-month unemployment rate in Oakland County for 2022, down from a monthly average of 4.7% in 2021 and 9.3% in 2020
31,482 – The number of participants who would need to rejoin Oakland County’s labor force to bring us back to March 2020 levels
3.8% – The February 2023 unemployment rate for the entire Metro Detroit region
Oakland County Local Area Unemployment Statistics
January 2020 - February 2023
 Oakland County Monthly Unique Job Postings
January 2020 - March 2023
Job Posting Analytics
According to EMSI/Lightcast, there were 24,832 unique postings for jobs in Oakland County in March 2023, up slightly over March of the previous year. In the past 30 days, the most posted occupations were Registered Nurses (1,851 unique postings), Retail Salespersons (724 postings) and Software Developers (674 postings). The industries with the highest number of unique postings are Health Care and Social Assistance (4,060 unique postings), Administrative and Support Services (2,611 postings), and Manufacturing (2,355 postings).
$20 – Median hourly wage in postings listed in March 2023 (of postings with advertised wages)
16.5% – Increase in advertised median hourly wages in Oakland County in the past three years
328.3% – Increase since March 2020 in number of job postings in Oakland County listed as remote or hybrid work opportunities
Interactive resources and related information:
Sources: Michigan Department of Technology, Management & Budget; EMSI/Lightcast
 Business
INTEGR8 2023
May 9, 2023
Suburban Collection Showplace
Automation Alley's INTEGR8 conference creates a space for collaboration, exploration and discovery as we tackle the social, economic and environmental challenges associated with Industry 4.0 and lay the foundations for the innovations of tomorrow. They are offering a discount to Oakland County companies in our network.
Please use promo code OAKLAND (all caps) to receive $10 off your INTEGR8 all-access pass.
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VTM Michigan Coming to Novi
July 12-13, 2023
Space is limited and booking up fast! Don’t miss out on this unique B2B event that brings together mobility and tech innovations from around the world, right in our own backyard.
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Full program of technical and technology presentations
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Prearranged matchmaking meetings
- A platform for vehicle makers and tier suppliers, disruptive technology entrepreneurs and solution providers to explore the key challenges and opportunities of the future of mobility and new vehicle technologies
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 Community
 Royal Oak Accreditation 2022
Twelve Main Street Oakland County Communities Receive National Accreditation from Main Street America
Twelve Oakland County communities met the challenging performance standards required to receive national accreditation from Main Street America (Chicago): Berkley, Clawson, Farmington, Ferndale, Franklin, Highland, Holly, Lake Orion, Ortonville, Oxford, Rochester and Royal Oak.
This annual accreditation process recognizes a Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) community’s exceptional commitment to preservation-based economic development and community revitalization through the Main Street Approach™.
Each community is evaluated in 10 categories where they must meet or exceed the requirements. The accreditation process scores the communities on criteria such as community support, historic preservation, mission and vision statements, having a paid professional manager and ongoing training.
The MSOC coordinating program was launched in 2000, and eight communities have received national accreditation for 10 or more years.
“To be recognized as an Accredited Main Street Community for 13 years is a great source of pride for our organization and our community. We are grateful for the support and resources we receive from Main Street Oakland County in our ongoing efforts to ensure that Downtown Holly is a vibrant place that our community is proud to call home,” said Nick Klempp, executive director, Holly Downtown Development Authority. “Since the devastating fire last year, our Main Street Oakland County family has been helping us rebuild. The challenges have been more manageable with such a strong partnership with the county.”
In total, there are 28 MSOC districts at various service or program designation levels.
Main Street is a trademarked program of the National Main Street Center. Oakland County is the first and only county in the U.S. to operate a full-service, countywide Main Street coordinating program. From 2001 to 2022, the select level MSOC communities generated almost $1.08 billion in public and private investment. More than 1,300 net new businesses have been established and nearly 8,000 new full-time jobs were created. Over 493,000 volunteer hours have been invested in organization, promotion, design and economic development committee projects, tasks, activities and events by committee members, residents, businesses and property owners.
John Bry, Main Street Oakland County Program Coordinator, Honored with Main Street America’s 2023 Mary Means Leadership Award
Main Street America announced that John Bry, Program Coordinator at Main Street Oakland County (MSOC) in Michigan, is the 2023 Mary Means Leadership Award recipient.
Presented at the Main Street America National Conference in Boston, this award is the organization’s top honor recognizing individuals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in the field of comprehensive preservation-based economic development and commercial district revitalization. The award amplifies the critical role that leaders play in shaping the Main Street Movement.
Nominated by colleagues, and selected by a national jury, Bry is being recognized for his ability to lead and develop innovative ideas and help organize local initiatives.
"Our Main Street communities provide the unique environments that make our downtowns vibrant and lively,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “When it comes to attracting and keeping businesses and residents actively engaged in their communities, John Bry and Main Street Oakland County are playing vital roles in improving the distinctive nature in the county’s town centers.”
“Main Street coordinators play vital roles as conveners, mentors, and advocates,” said Hannah White, Interim President and CEO at Main Street America. “And John Bry is exemplary in these roles and many more. John’s passion for historic preservation and ability to rally local leaders around the Main Street Approach have made a lasting impact on countless communities.”
As Program Coordinator at MSOC, Bry has played a crucial role in growing the organization’s members from 19 to 28, including three communities that had previously left the program. His hands-on approach to providing guidance to communities can be seen in his work with Main Street Pontiac, where he assisted in transforming the board of directors to better reflect the community, securing sponsorships to fund their business and façade grant program, and helping the organization establish better communication with city government.
“Main Street communities in Oakland County look to John for his leadership and the support he provides through training, community vision, and innovation,” said the directors and downtown managers of MSOC. “He helps shape many of our community programs and initiatives, which in turn help our communities thrive.”
Bry nurtures strong relationships among the program’s diverse communities and supports the professional development of local downtown managers through Main Street Now Conference scholarships.
“John has made a lasting positive impact on the many downtown managers, board members, and businesses that collectively make up Main Street Oakland,” says Bret Rasegan, Manager of Planning and Local Business Development in Oakland County’s Economic Development Department. “What sets John apart is he is simultaneously both student and teacher: when he learns, he gives back and when he gives back, he learns.”
ABOUT MAIN STREET AMERICA
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
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 Transit
 Eli Cooper, Transit Division Manager and Sarah Lagpacan, Planner Principal-Transit
Transit Moving Full Steam Ahead
As announced in our March Newsletter, Eli Cooper was named as the first manager Oakland County Transit Division, and this new division is up and running. We have a new team member, Sarah Lagpacan, Planner Principal-Transit. Sarah joins us with over five years of experience in both the public and private sectors and she has worked on a number of transportation related plans and projects. She has experience working with communities in planning multimodal networks by combining a data-driven approach with stakeholder engagement and an analytical process to develop innovative service designs. To read more about this new division, read the recent press release here: oakgov.com/Home/Components/News/News/633/2027
In the pipeline we have a Reimbursement Program in the works to provide funding to eligible municipalities for existing public transportation services. We will work with cities, villages and townships (CVTs) in northwest and southwest Oakland County to offer safe, affordable, and equitable transportation options for residents.
Visit our website for updates: oakgov.com/community/oakland-transit
 Workforce
Training Funds Still Available Through Regional Talent Innovation Grant Program
Training funds are still available for Oakland County employers through the Regional Talent Innovation Grant (RTIG) program, funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and administered by Oakland County Michigan Works!
A broad range of training and certification programs in a number of industry sectors are eligible for the funding. Visit OaklandCountyMiWorks.com for a comprehensive list. Participants must be full-time employees (35+ hours) and direct hires. The cost of the training cannot exceed $6,500 per person and must start by May 31. At least half of the training participants must be designated as low-to-moderate income employees, earning less than $44,800 in annual salary or $21.53 hourly wage.
“We’ve had a lot interest in the Regional Talent Innovation Grant, but there is a significant amount of funding still left,” said Jennifer Llewellyn, director of Oakland County Michigan Works! “The deadline is approaching fast, so we strongly encourage interested employers to contact their nearest Oakland County Michigan Works! office to determine eligibility.”
A total of 17 Oakland County employers have been approved for RTIG awards to date. These include Barron Industries, which is providing a variety of training programs including forklift operator certification, internal auditing and welding certification, among others; Diamabrush, which is providing various lean manufacturing training modules; Petronis Industries, which is offering CNC programming classes; and Orotexus Corporation, which is providing supervisory skills and internal auditing training.
Working with an Oakland County Michigan Works! representative, employees must complete an application and training plan for consideration. The training funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
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 Veterans
 Commissioner Ajay V. Raman, Chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners Dave T. Woodward, Frank Roche, Tyrone Jordan
Join Us at Two Upcoming Oakland County Veterans Resource Fairs: May 25 and June 29
Celebrate Armed Forces Day at Holly Oaks
In honor of Armed Forces Day, the park entry fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park will be waived from 11 AM - 4 PM, Saturday, May 20 for all Veterans and active-duty military. Participants can experience the thrill of off-roading with rides provided by experienced volunteers, or they are welcome to bring their own ORV (ORV license and trail permit required) during Veterans Off Road Day.
This event will serve as the kick-off to the 2023 season at Holly Oaks ORV Park. In addition to the riding opportunities, there will be a food truck, music, veteran service organizations and more.
Holly Oaks ORV Park is marking its third full season this year. ORV enthusiasts are sure to notice some new features at the park, including a youth riding area.
The park is open to all types of ORVs, including full-size vehicles, side-by-sides, all-terrain vehicles or ATVs and motorcycles. Consisting of former and active sand and gravel mines, it is located off I-75 (at Grange Hall) and Dixie Highway near Groveland Oaks County Park and Campground. The unique terrain includes 4x4 trails, single-track trails, steep hills, water crossings, rock crawls and a “scramble area” in which riders can make their own paths.
Your Voice Matters! We Want to Hear from You
Oakland County Health Division is kicking off their Community Health Assessment and needs your help to learn what makes a healthy community. We want to hear from you if you are 18 years old or older and reside in or visit Oakland County. Follow this link to answer this anonymous, 10-minute survey.
Please send questions about the survey to echo@oakgov.com
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