Goal: To define, designate, and develop a “Creative Corridor” in Downtown Detroit and to ensure that this creative industries cluster is networked throughout the region and recognized internationally.  The Corridor and related components of the Creative Economy Initiative will help attract and retain more creative sector businesses and workers and will help change the global image of our region.

Creative Economy Implementations Steps:

 Conduct a region-wide inventory of creative economy assets and launch a creative economy web portal including a map of those assets
 Develop a Creative Corridor on Woodward Avenue that acts as a platform and catalyst to attract and retain talent, stimulate creative community output, and increase the presence of creative industries in Detroit and the region
 Establish a Creative Business Accelerator within the Creative Corridor to help entrepreneurs and business people grow creative sector businesses by providing support services and seed funding
 Develop a business attraction strategy to increase the density of creative economy enterprises
 Launch a branding and marketing program to showcase Greater Detroit as a major hub of the world’s creative economy

Creative Economy Industries:

• Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
• Architecture and Design
• Digital and Traditional Media
• Film and Video
• Music
• Performing and Visual Arts

Why Grow the Creative Economy in Detroit?

• Globally, creative industries are estimated to account for more than 7% of the World’s GDP and the annual growth of the creative industries is twice that of the service industries and four times that of the manufacturing industries.
• Creative industry jobs pay well.  Detroit creative industry jobs pay 50% more than the 2006 US average wage - $64,768 vs. $42,535 annually.
• Thus, those communities that can develop and sustain an environment in which its creative talent can thrive will be able to most effectively drive economic development success - both because of job growth in specific creative industries and because communities with a dynamic, creative soul attract high impact employers and talented, skilled employees.