TechTown

TechTown is an urban research and technology business park in midtown Detroit. The organization defines itself as "a community of entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, service providers and corporate partners creating an internationally recognized entrepreneurial village in the city of Detroit."

Location

The 12 block, 75-acre park is located on the border of two of Detroit's most viberant districts - Midtown and New Center. Formerly the area of Detroit where the first automobile manufacturers set up shop, the Tech Town surroundings have a great deal of automotive heritage. The Ford Piquette Plant - which churned out the first Model T - is a few blocks east of Tech Town.

The New Center area is anchored by Henry Ford Hospital and the State of Michigan's largest office outside of Lansing.

Midtown offers the most impressive cultural offerings in the region, with the Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Science Center, Detroit Historical Museum, Charles H. Wright African American Museum, and Detroit's Main Library Branch clustered together. Nestled within this area is also one of America's preimer urban research institutions - Wayne State University.

Funding

Tech Town was founded by neighboring Wayne State University, who provided intitial funding. The project has also been supported by other non-profit, corporate, and philanthropic organizations. In May 2008, the research park received a $625,882 grant from the Detroit Casino Development Fund.

National Recognition

In the past year, Tech Town has welcomed two estemed political figures to the research park - former president Bill Clinton and South African Ambassador to the United States Barbara Masekela.