Oakland County Italy trip bears business connections, new jobs

Oakland County economic development officials are traveling with Gov. Rick Snyder to Europe to meet with Italian businesses about growing their presence in Metro Detroit. Italy-based automotive supplier ED Group's North American arm, ED Group USA, announced plans to hire five people in Metro Detroit this year. ED Group USA, a Fiat Chrysler supplier is working with Automation Alley to set up a permanent location in Oakland County. Oakland County Executive L Brooks Patterson adds that a significant Fiat Chrysler supplier is also moving toward hiring up to 100 new engineers later this year in Oakland County. "One hundred engineering jobs is the kind of thing we can build our future on," Patterson says. He adds that officials with Oakland County's Medical Main Street program have met with seven Italian biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Of those, two have made commitments to grow or set up a business presence in Oakland County. Patterson is optimistic more will follow suit. "I do believe this is a successful trade mission," Patterson says.   Source: L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive Writer: Jon Zemke Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.