Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson on Wednesday launched tech248 – a branding and business development initiative aimed at harnessing the power of the nearly 2,000 tech companies in the county and market the county as a global technology hub.
Patterson launched the initiative before about 140 Oakland County-based tech firms and government officials at Koala CoWork in Southfield.
“Oakland County’s tech industry – with nearly 2,000 tech firms – is a global powerhouse and these Oakland County firms are at the epicenter of the tech world,” Patterson said. “Oakland County wants to harness the energy, the spirit, the technical excitement, innovation and creativity these companies experience on a daily basis. We want to help them collaborate and grow while developing and attracting talent.”
Among the companies represented were Media Genesis, Mobile Comply, Scientifically Proven, and Razor Threat. More than a dozen Oakland County communities, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. and the Detroit Regional Chamber also sent representatives.
Patterson and Irene Spanos, the director of the county’s Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs, encouraged those in attendance to join the tech248 network online at MItech248.com to learn about the initiatives and opportunities to connect with other tech companies. Oakland County has nearly 2,000 tech firms – with 42,000 jobs in the tech field – more than twice the number of any other county in Michigan.
Patterson likened tech248 to Medical Main Street®, which is branding the region as a global center of excellence in health care and life science. Both initiatives evolved from Emerging Sectors®, which is diversifying the Oakland County economy by replacing lost manufacturing jobs with knowledge-based jobs. Tech and health care/life science are the two fastest growing sectors, responsible for investment of more than $1.5 billion and 25,000 jobs.
Tech companies are the backbone of a rich and fast-growing sector – one Patterson said he will fight fiercely to keep in Oakland County. He was referring to attempts by Dan Gilbert, chairman and founder of Quicken Loans, to woo companies to buildings he has purchased in downtown Detroit.
“I’ll fight to keep you here in Oakland County,” Patterson said. “Are you listening Dan? I would be more impressed with Mr. Gilbert’s efforts if he were to bring in high tech companies from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois rather than looking through the fertile vineyards of Oakland County.”
About 100 tech companies have located in Oakland County in the past 10 years, investing over $586 million and creating more than 10,500 jobs. The focus includes software development, network/data, mHealth, game development, connected cars, digital media, mobile technology, cyber security and other evolving technologies.
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