Oakland County Wants to Be Medical Destination DEARBORN, MICH. (Michigan Radio) - Oakland County is launching a new initiative to brand itself as a destination for health care, and to lure investment in medical industries.

County officials commissioned a study by Anderson Economic Group that suggests the county could add 45,000 new, high-paying jobs in the medical sector over the next decade.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson says he's not worried that the current financial meltdown could discourage investment.

"The financial markets are looking for anywhere to find a success - something they can invest in securely," he said. "What we're offering here this morning is we have a demonstrated success that is literally booming."

Oakland County is partnering with several hospital groups, Oakland University, and research and pharmaceutical companies to brand and market the region. They're hoping to make it a medical destination on the scale of the Mayo and Cleveland clinics.

Contact Sarah Hulett at sarahhu@umich.edu © Copyright 2009, Michigan Radio