TROY Automation Alley, not yet 5 years old, celebrated its biggest birthday yet Monday when a whos who collection of politicians and economic development officials turned the first ceremonial shovel of dirt at the Automation Alley Technology Park Troy. And the regional technology group it has expanded into eight counties.
The 12,000 square foot building, scheduled for completion this fall, will house Automation Alley Consortium activities and the glima Network, the Association of Interactive Professionals. The Technology Center also will provide a forum to showcase, analyze and assist emerging technology. The building will cost $2 million.
But on Monday morning, about one hundred people packed a large plastic tent buffeted by very heavy winds to hear officials from the eight Automation Alley foundation counties explain what the technology marketing group means its residents.
Besides Detroit and Oakland County, the foundation members include Genesee County, the Economic Development Council of Livingston County, Macomb County, Monroe County Industrial Development Corp., the Economic Development Alliance of St. Clair County and Washtenaw Development Council.
The Automation Alley headquarters has been designed to expose Southeast Michigan as the world center for advanced engineering and manufacturing, said Ken Rogers, executive director of Automation Alley. This exposure will assist in continuing to grow our regions technology jobs, while strengthening our economy.
Funding for Automation Alleys headquarters comes from several sources, including a $450,000 federal grant secured by Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Hills), plus $1.8 million from the state of Michigan to assist the Technology Center bring emerging auto technology products and services to market. The money, from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., was secured by Michigan Rep. Marc Shulman.
A special tax structure set up by Troy and Southfield will save the Technology Park from $6 million to $8 million over the next 15 years the reason Rogers said that made it possible to finance the building, which will be built on a two-acre parcel on Big Beaver, between John R. and Rochester Roads. Barton Malow will handle the construction.
