L. Brooks Patterson to Speak in Birmingham

Patterson will discuss transforming Oakland County to a knowledge-based economy in order to create sustainable, high-paying jobs for the future. Just last week, Michigan Future Inc. issued a report called “The New Path To Prosperity: Lessons For Michigan From Two Decades Of Economic Change,” in which experts reinforced the importance of knowledge-based sectors of the economy. 

“The defining characteristic of those places with the most prosperous economies today - and almost certainly even more so in the future - is their concentration in the knowledge-based sectors of the economy,” the study concluded.

Patterson launched his Emerging Sectors program in 2004. Since inception, hundreds of businesses have invested billions of dollars in the knowledge-based economy creating and retaining tens of thousands of jobs.

Tuesday's event is open to the public. The speech is part of the Community House's annual 'thank-you' gesture to key donors, spokeswoman Gigi Nichols said.

Now in his sixth four-year term as executive, Patterson is touting the Emerging Sectors initiative, started 2004 to diversify the economy. It has reportedly attracted more than $2.56 billion in investment and 14,000 jobs that have been retained over time. Patterson says that while Oakland County may not be “recession-proof,” his goal is to make it “recession-resistant,” no longer relying on a single industry for prosperity. 

RSVP is requested by calling 248-554-6596 or visiting The Community House website.