The goal of Translinked, an initiative of the Detroit Regional Chamber, is to create an industry cluster of excellence around transportation, distribution and logistics. The initiative aims to leverage the industry, talent, infrastructure, and location assets of southeast Michigan, northwest Ohio, and southwest Ontario to increase jobs and investment.

1. Current State of the Goal:
Opportunity:
Detroit Region: Creation of a
66,000 new jobs and $10
$1.6 billion in goods cross Transportation, Distribution
billion in investment within
the border daily and & Logistics Cluster of
10 years
235,000 TDL jobs exist Excellence
Status of Coordinated Work Efforts
Project Who’s Involved Actual or Expected Outcomes
100+ TDL professionals,
Completed May 2010
MSU/DRC Phase I public/private stakeholders,
Past: What’s
been done
Opportunity assessment identified potential
Workshops academics & economic
for 66K jobs, $10B investment over 10
(Series of 3) developers from across the
years
region
100+ TDL professionals,
MSU/DRC Supply Chain Completed June 2011
public/private stakeholders,
Intermediary Design Identified benchmarking info
academics & economic
Workshops Characteristics of an intermediary
developers from across the
(Series of 3) Regional capability assessment
region
To be completed Fall 2011
Analysis of trade corridors
Quantification of impact
TranslinkeD Freight Study DRC and vendor (TBD)
Present: What’s
happening now
Development of value proposition
Targeting shippers that will benefit from the
region
To be completed Spring 2012
Document supply chain & transportation
Infrastructure Study SEMCOG
conditions
Prioritize infrastructure investments
Selection process underway for pilot
companies
Michigan State University
Pilot Project Assess pilot company’s current supply chain
3-5 shippers
Implement improved supply chain strategy
Develop value proposition
Future: What we
need to do
Guide & direct strategic plan
Executive Steering
CEO-level stakeholders Engage broad support
Committee
Lead intermediary design and implementation
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