Site Selectors Guild Announces Detroit as Location for its 2024 National Fall Forum

Announcement builds on recent Detroit accolades recognizing its robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, EV and mobility strengths and premier quality of life

LANSING, Mich. – The Site Selectors Guild, a global association of business location strategy and site selection professionals, announced today it is holding its 2024 Fall Forum in Detroit. The conference is being hosted by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Site Selectors Guild Fall Forum to Detroit, as we continue growing our economy and bringing manufacturing jobs and critical supply chains back home to Michigan,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “This conference will bring professional site selection consultants from around the world and showcase all that Michigan and Detroit have to offer to growing companies. We will compete for every dollar and every job to come to Michigan as we work together to lead the future of cars, chips, and clean energy.”

The selection process for the 2024 and 2025 Fall Forum host locations was a competitive process, with more than a dozen qualified proposals submitted to the Guild. Applicants were required to demonstrate reliable and widespread air connectivity to major markets across North America, availability of large and high-quality hotels that can accommodate guest and meeting space needs as well as affordable accommodations within proximity for attendees operating under strict travel budgets, and the ability to meet the financial obligation of the host sponsor fee. Proposals were reviewed by the Guild’s seven-person board of directors.

“As the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants, the Site Selectors Guild takes tremendous pride in its marquee events – from developing the timeliest original content and new programming formats to selecting host locations that meet the high expectations attendees have come to expect from our Fall Forum,” said Gregg Wassmansdorf, Site Selectors Guild board chair and senior managing director of global consulting at Newmark. “The Guild has found two outstanding partners in the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, and we look forward to Detroit and Indianapolis shining at the 2024 and 2025 Fall Forums.”

Detroit has been in the national spotlight recently, including its recognition as one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places for 2022. The third annual list of the World’s Greatest Places highlights 50 extraordinary travel destinations around the world. Also in 2022, Detroit was named the No. 1 emerging startup ecosystem globally, according to rankings from Startup Genome’s 2022 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER). The GSER provides a comprehensive review of the startup world, with data from more than three million companies across 280+ entrepreneurial innovation ecosystems. Two public spaces in Detroit have also been named best in the country by USA Today readers: The Detroit International RiverWalk was voted best riverwalk and Campus Martius was named best public square.

In addition, CNBC in January named Michigan one of three states poised to “dominate” electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing in the United States by 2030. Michigan is leading the charge to position the U.S. as a global EV competitor through this increased manufacturing capacity. Last month, Ford announced it was investing more than $3.5 billion to construct and equip a new 2.5 million-square-foot EV battery manufacturing facility in Marshall. The project is expected to create 2,500 jobs that will add to the region’s tax base and help further the company’s EV future in the state. In 2022, the state attracted more than $14 billion in EV and battery investments while developing programs to train and employ the next generation of talent in the EV and mobility sector.

“We are grateful to the Site Selectors Guild for honoring Detroit with this selection! Detroit’s continued evolution as an international city at the center of a diversified cross-border regional economy that regularly hosts global events like this Fall Forum is not surprising. Whether it's site selectors or companies who are looking at relocation decisions, we are passionate about taking a Team Michigan approach to getting the job done,” said Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of MEDC and President and Chair of the MSF Board. “From our strengths in innovative technologies to a business-friendly environment that has the Welcome Mat out for everyone to our unrivaled Pure Michigan quality of life, Michigan has what it takes to host major events and welcome companies and people permanently to build professionally and personally rich lives here.”

Learn more about Fall Forum at siteselectorsguild.com/events/fall-forum.

“Hosting the Site Selectors Guild’s 2024 Fall Forum is an incredible event to showcase the Detroit Region’s assets and opportunities available here for their clients,” said Maureen Donohue Krauss, President & CEO of the Detroit Regional Partnership. “Once people experience the region first-hand, they understand the competitive strengths that make us stand out. “We’re delighted that the Site Selectors Guild found value in its initial visit to Detroit in 2021, and grateful to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation for its efforts to bring this conference to Michigan and for being a strong pillar of Team Michigan.”

About the Site Selectors Guild
The Site Selectors Guild is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector, and function. Founded in 2010, the Site Selectors Guild is dedicated to advancing the profession of international corporate site selection by promoting integrity, objectivity, and professional development. Members are peer-nominated, vetted, and must demonstrate significant professional location advisory experience. In 2022 alone, Guild members facilitated the committed or announced creation of approximately 120,000 jobs and $268 billion in capital investment by corporate clients, which required location analysis across 81 countries. Guild membership is the highest standard in the site selection industry.

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.