Metro Airport injects up to $13M into local economy via small biz program

The Aerotropolis is often thrown around as the economic engine that will lift the new economy growth in Metro Detroit in the long term. However, it is turning into an economic force for some traditional local companies today, thanks to Metro Airport's Small Business Enterprise program.

The program helps Metro Airport focus on spending more money with local small businesses to help maximize its economic impact. So far it has raised the percentage of its non-federally-funded operations and maintenance contracts from 2 percent in 2009 to 20 percent last year. That adds up to $13 million in contracts for 114 local businesses in 2010.

One of those local companies is Fisher Roofing out of Dearborn Heights. The 60-year-old family business that spans three generations employs 20 people. About half of its business (commercial roofing) is now through Metro Airport, working on roofs for the control tower and other buildings. That work is helping keep Fisher Roofing afloat when construction work has practically disappeared, thanks to the housing crisis.

"It helped us tremendously," says William Fisher, president of Fisher Roofing. "It's keeping us going right now."

Source: Metro Airport and William Fisher, president of Fisher Roofing
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

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Aerotropolis, Government, Wayne County

Metro Airport injects up to $13M into local economy via small biz program

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