Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter announced an updated economic development plan for Oakland County, the first since 2004.
Coulter says the private sector is the primary driver of jobs, but hopes that the county government can help the process along.
"Our strategy is going to be data driven and through equitable and inclusive development, with the county really acting as a catalyst for collaboration locally and across the region."
One component of the plan is talent development, with the goal of making Oakland County an attractive destination for businesses looking to expand or relocate. Officials hope the county can someday compete with Silicon Valley in developing autonomous vehicles.
A highlight of the talent development goal is the Oakland80 program.
"60 percent of Oakland County residents have a post secondary degree or certification. Our very ambitious and aggressive plan is to boost that to 80 percent by 2030," Coulter says.
Another, more immediate goal to the program is dealing with the imapcts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Coulter says many businesses in Oakland County were hit hard by the pandemic, and says they want to get those businesses back to where they were before the pandemic.
