Warren and Sterling Heights looking for advisor to help grow local defense industry
Posted By: Detroit News on August 14, 2025. For more information, please click here to read the source article.
Warren and Sterling Heights have launched a national search for a defense advisor to lead an initiative aimed at transforming southeast Michigan into a next-generation hub for defense.
The request for proposals for a defense industry economic development advisor opened on Monday and will remain open through Sept. 16.
In April, the Sterling Heights and Warren city councils approved a regional economic development partnership called the Arsenal Alliance, which is focused on supporting and expanding the multi-billion defense industry in the two cities, according to a news release this spring. The two communities are each contributing $250,000 annually to the initiative. The defense industry economic development advisor will drive the work of the alliance.
“This is what responsible leadership looks like – two cities coming together to address challenges and create real opportunity,” Sterling Heights Mayor Michael Taylor said in a press release. “The Arsenal Alliance partnership is our way of saying we will leverage our combined strengths, assets and resources to make sure we deliver the results that matter to the people and businesses of our region.”
Luke Bonner, Sterling Heights’ senior economic development advisor, said the cities are seeking proposals from qualified firms or individuals. He said a consulting firm, for example, could act as the defense industry economic development advisor. An individual can also apply for the role, but they would have to add other people to their team in order to complete all of the work. He said it’s too much work for one person.
Warren and Sterling Heights represent an over $4 billion defense corridor home to U.S. Army Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM), Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) and a dense network of defense contractors, advanced manufacturers and engineering talent, according to the two cities.
“In order to support what that industry needs to keep it in Sterling Heights and Warren and to potentially facilitate growth, then we need to have someone who has relationships, has the expertise, has the wherewithal to basically be able to find these opportunities, then go back to the communities and say, ‘Hey, you know, Company X is expanding,’ or ‘Company Y needs support for workforce development training,'” Bonner said.
Warren City Council President Angela Rogensues said TACOM and GVSC, which are in Warren, are “huge opportunities” for the community to bring in additional business development, tax dollars from new businesses and jobs. She said Warren and Sterling Heights are not often included in conversations about aerospace and defense in Michigan. She said the two cities are often “looked over when folks are thinking about investments in Michigan.”
“We want to make sure that we have a prominent seat at the table and that we’re being proactive to not only incentivize the folks that are already here doing work in aerospace and defense but also look to attract new businesses to come into the community,” she said.
The advisor will shape and manage a unified strategy to expand the region’s defense footprint, identify federal and private investment opportunities, and convene public-private partners across both cities, according to Warren and Sterling Heights. The advisor will also lead the development of a Defense Industry Strategic Plan, which is a “first-of-its-kind regional blueprint designed to secure Southeast Michigan’s place at the forefront of national defense readiness and innovation,” according to the press release.
“This isn’t just about hiring a Director of Defense Policy, Strategy, and Advocacy– it’s about choosing the right partner to help us build the future,” Warren Mayor Lori Stone said in the release. “Through the Arsenal Alliance, we’re leveraging our defense manufacturing legacy to drive innovation, strengthen economic resilience, and secure long-term opportunity for Southeast Michigan.”
The Arsenal Alliance Executive Advisory Committee, which includes current and former public officials and private industry leaders, will review the applications and make a recommendation for who should be awarded the contract. Both city councils will then have to approve that choice.
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