March 11, The Detroit News: Combined, the DMC, Henry Ford Health and Wayne State spend $1.6 billion a year on everything from dinner rolls to janitorial supplies, but less than 10 percent is spent in Detroit, said Katy Locker, program director for the Hudson-Webber Foundation, which is leading Midtown's revitalization.
The three institutions already have redirected nearly $400,000 in purchases to Detroit businesses, said Omar Blaik, founder and president of the Philadelphia-based consulting firm U3 Ventures, which Hudson-Webber and other organizations hired to help with Midtown's revitalization.
"We think the opportunities are in the tens of millions of dollars," Blaik said.
The move is part of the over-all vision of the three institutions to make Mid-town into an economic dynamo and first class urban residential neighborhood. The three are currently offering housing incentives to bring more employees to the area. Detroit Mayor Dave Bing says the influx of young urban professionals is essential for the revitalization of the city.
The 'Buy Detroit' campaign will expand over the next few years as current contracts with suppliers and vendors expire
Detroit needs committed employers and residents if it is to rebound. Wayne State University, Ford Health System and the DMC are stepping up to the plate. The questions is: who else is warming up in the on-deck circle?
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