Economic Development

The City of Ann Arbor Department of Economic Development was established in 2025 to support a simple but important goal: a healthy city must offer attainable housing, high-quality jobs, and excellent public services.

About the Office of Economic Development

The Office of Economic Development is focused on helping Ann Arbor thrive by addressing the complex challenges that shape our community today—from the rising cost of housing to the need for high-quality jobs, environmental sustainability, and a strong tax base to support public services.

Our Strategic Priorities

The Office of Economic Development was established to advance a clear set of City Council policy priorities that guide how land use and economic initiatives are implemented across City departments:

• Housing at All Income Levels
  We support the development of housing across the income spectrum to improve affordability and ensure more people can live and work in Ann Arbor. This includes streamlining the development review process so that projects aligned with City policies and zoning can move forward more efficiently.
• Sustainability in the Built Environment
  We work to integrate sustainable design and development practices that reduce environmental impact. This includes promoting walkable, compact development patterns and supporting projects that help accelerate Ann Arbor’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future.
• Placemaking and Corridor Revitalization
  We are focused on transforming key corridors and neighborhoods into vibrant, welcoming destinations. This includes acquiring strategic properties for redevelopment and investing in projects that strengthen community identity, expand economic opportunity, and enhance public spaces.
• A Stronger Tax Base
  We collaborate with institutional partners and developers to ensure that high-value properties are activated and contribute meaningfully to the city’s tax base—helping to sustain the high-quality public services residents rely on.

What We Do

The Office of Economic Development leads a range of strategic efforts to help shape Ann Arbor’s future:

• Develop and implement a strategy for acquiring and redeveloping key properties to advance city goals.
• Work with property owners to bring forward high-impact developments.
• Guide major development proposals through the city review process and improve customer service for applicants.
• Partner with Ann Arbor SPARK and other organizations to attract and retain businesses, support workforce needs (like childcare), and remove barriers to expansion.
• In the future, we plan to launch initiatives to support small businesses, with a focus on helping minority-, immigrant-, and women-owned businesses succeed.

We believe that economic development in Ann Arbor should be inclusive, sustainable, and future-oriented. Our work supports a thriving community where all residents have access to opportunity, and where smart, equitable growth strengthens the fabric of our city.

Additional Resources

• Ann Arbor Economic Development Report  
  
• SPARK
• Economic Development Corporation