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Emerging Sectors

Oakland County's Emerging Sectors® business development and attraction strategy recognizes the importance of advanced technologies to ensure the continued growth and development of business. Emerging Sectors includes high-tech fields as:

• Advanced Electronics

• Advanced Materials

• Aerospace

• Alternative Energy

• Communications & IT

• Defense & Homeland Security

• Film & Digital Media

• Finance, Insurance & Real Estate

• Medical Main Street

• Robotics

The strategy envisioned by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson in 2004 emphasizes the creation and retention of jobs while expanding and diversifying the employer base, as well as attracting international companies to the North American marketplace.

Hundreds of companies have expanded or relocated to Oakland County as part of the Emerging Sectors initiative. These companies have generated investment of nearly $2 billion, created or retained more than 34,000 jobs, and added millions of dollars in tax revenue for the county since the program began.

Emerging Sectors Features

Metro Detroit's Hottest Home Markets

Kim North Shine Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Houses are selling before they're listed. Buyers are getting into bidding wars. Sound familiar? No, it's not a return to the crazed real estate market of 2003... but a few metro Detroit communities are coming back with a vengeance. Why? Well, vibrant urban cores have a lot to do with it.

Special Edition: Growing the Defense Industry

Jon Zemke Wednesday, May 15, 2013

GraviKor, Plex and Patriot Services are firms that are expanding business in the defense and aerospace industry sectors. In this Special Edition, Jon Zemke shows us how this business gets done in Metro Detroit.

Oakland's Economic Resurgence Continues

Oakland County Prosper Friday, May 03, 2013

On the heels of its strongest two-year job growth in almost 20 years, Oakland County's economy will add nearly 42,000 jobs through 2015, say University of Michigan economists.

Kentucky Trailer Opens a New Facility in New Hudson

Nicole Rupersburg Wednesday, April 17, 2013

If you've ever seen a semi truck on the road, you've seen a Kentucky Trailer. Kentucky Trailer is the nation's leading custom trailer manufacturer, manufacturing trucks and trailers for a slew of storage and moving facilities. This week they celebrate the grand opening of their new Kentucky Trailer Paint and Reconditioning facility in New Hudson.

Introducing MI Trade School

Oakland County Prosper Thursday, April 04, 2013

MITradeSchool.org is a one-stop source for information on jobs, training and possible careers in a skilled trade. If you’re looking for a career but you have more questions than answers, a stop at MITradeSchool.org may help you find a rewarding and high-paying career in more than 170 skilled trades.

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Emerging Sectors Videos

Featured Video: Valeo North America

Oakland County Prosper Thursday, March 21, 2013

Oakland County's International Business video series continues with Françoise Colpron, the President of Valeo North America, an automotive parts manufacturing company which is headquartered in Troy with additional offices in Auburn Hills. Video by Advantage Oakland.

Welcome To Automation Alley

Tom Hendrickson Monday, January 23, 2012

If building a knowledge-based economy is Michigan's only hope then, much like the force, Automation Alley is what binds the region's technological companies together, finding ways for them to succeed in the global marketplace.

Featured Video: Business Roundtable Annual Meeting 2008

Tom Hendrickson Thursday, September 22, 2011

Last week Oakland County business leaders gathered for the annual Businnes Roundtable. They advise the county executive on what's important to the business community. Our video camera was there.

Featured Video: International Bancard Corporation

Tom Hendrickson Thursday, September 22, 2011

For eight years Royal Oak's IBC has been a stealth company, pulling in customers and profits with its old school ideas about servicing clients. Now the e-commerce and credit card processing firm is ready to step into the sunlight and school other companies about the power of topnotch customer service.

Featured Video: RTT, USA

Tom Hendrickson Thursday, September 22, 2011

The virtual world is their oyster. Royal Oak's RTT, USA has turned its virtual prototyping technology into a must-use strategy for companies developing new products. It can then use that same technology to virtually market the product to an endless Internet audience. Cool.

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