Once written off, now in demand… Detroit’s comeback offers a blueprint for any community that’s ready to rewrite its story—with strategy, collaboration, and a clear sense of identity.

In this episode, Maureen Donohue Krauss, President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership, shares how the organization was built from the ground up, with long-term funding and strategic goals in place from day one. She walks us through the evolution of the Detroit Region overcoming major disruptors and how it’s positioned itself as a global leader in mobility and innovation.

Plus, Maureen offers a peek at what you can expect to see, do, and feel when you come to town, whether it’s for the upcoming IEDC Annual Conference or on your next personal visit.

Key Takeaways:

• How Detroit changed perceptions and secured 36,500 jobs and nearly $10 billion in investment in just five years 
• Ways the “Global Epicenter of Mobility” is shaping the future of transportation beyond just cars 
• The "three W’s" that give Detroit an edge, and how you can leverage your region’s unique traits too
• Why storytelling, speed, and trust-building are essential tools in today’s economic development landscape

Resources Mentioned:

• Detroit Regional Partnership
• Global Epicenter for Mobility

About the Guest:

Maureen Donohue Krauss is President and CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP), a leading economic development nonprofit serving the 11-county Detroit Region. Since 2020, the DRP has secured more than 120 projects that have resulted in an estimated $9.4 billion in investment and more than 36,500 jobs. You can connect with Maureen on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/maureendonohue-krauss).

The EDO Breakthrough podcast is brought to you by PPR Strategies. PPR Strategies is a strategic consulting firm working specifically with EDOs and other place-based organizations. We share the unique stories of communities through communications, strategic planning, marketing, media relations, and more.

Visit us at pprstrategies.com/edobreakthrough to learn more and to submit a question for a future episode.

Produced and edited by SpeakEasy Productions.