County Executive Sweet on Auto Industry for Valentine’s Day

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson wants the CEOs from some of the top automotive companies in the world to be his Valentine – at least for a day. Patterson and his economic development team are sending a gourmet Valentine’s Day chocolate car to the CEOs of 100 automotive companies with locations in Oakland County. That means General Motors CEO and Chairman Mary Barra, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne and others who sit in the C-level suites at such automotive heavyweights as Borg-Warner, … [Read more...]

BorgWarner tech center an Emerging Sectors® success

BorgWarner’s expansion of its Powertrain Technical Center in Auburn Hills is a sign of the continued success of Oakland County’s Emerging Sectors® initiative. The expanded technical center will support up to 200 jobs, including many engineering positions that pay more than $90,000 a year. Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson launched Emerging Sectors in 2004 to attract sustainable, high-paying jobs in the knowledge-based economy. The technical center will “support programs in North … [Read more...]

Patterson to deliver 20th State of the County

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson is putting the finishing touches on his 2014 State of the County address. He will deliver his remarks at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the Centerpoint Marriott Hotel in Pontiac. This invitation-only event, which is open to the media, marks Patterson’s 20th State of the County speech, in which he will highlight new initiatives and programs which continue to expand such as Emerging Sectors, Medical Main Street, Automation Alley and G2G Cloud … [Read more...]

Oakland County companies among fastest growing in state

Nearly half of the fastest-growing private companies in Michigan are in Oakland County. That’s according to Inc. magazine’s 32nd annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Out of 126 Michigan private companies in Inc.’s survey, 55 are in Oakland County. County Executive L. Brooks Patterson credited his Emerging Sectors initiative for the number of Oakland County companies in Inc.’s list. “If you take a look at the fastest growing private … [Read more...]

Job market heating up in Oakland County

Oakland County saw record job growth and labor force activity between April and May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The county’s labor force expanded by 13,461 participants between April and May, the largest single-month increase since June of 1992. In addition, the number of employed residents grew by 10,496 – the greatest single-month increase since January of 1990 when the BLS first recorded county-level data. “This kind of growth reflects Oakland County’s robust efforts to … [Read more...]

Patterson Honors 220 Emerging Sectors® Companies at The Palace as Total Investment Tops $2.5 Billion Milestone

More than 200 businesses were honored and thanked tonight by Oakland County L. Brooks Patterson in recognition of their combined investment in the county’s Emerging Sectors® business development program which now tops $2.5 billion. Patterson hosted the invitation-only “What goes into $2 Billion?” celebration at The Palace of Auburn Hills to recognize the significant investment the companies have made in Oakland County. More than 700 people, including members of the Oakland County Business … [Read more...]