MichiganRadio

Co. Exec: 'Aerotropolis' Moving Foward DEARBORN, MI (Michigan Radio) - Wayne County is expected to hire an executive director soon to oversee its plan to develop the area surrounding Detroit Metro Airport.

Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano says a big hurdle was cleared when nine municipalities surrounding the airport agreed to create a fast-track for developers. He says zoning and permitting within the so-called "aerotropolis" will be completed within 60 days.

"And that's the bar," he said. "We're not competing against Chicago or New York. We're competing against the Dubais. If you go to Dubai today, for example, you say you want to locate by the airport, they give you all your permits, they give you all your zoning, and they even give you a warehouse within 30 days. I mean, that's what we're competing against."

Ficano says all nine governments have also kicked in money for marketing the area to potential developers. He says an ad campaign is expected to begin soon. And he says he expects legislation to be introduced to grant tax breaks to businesses that locate near the airport.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu © Copyright 2012, Michigan Radio