History
The genesis of Automation Alley can be traced back to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson’s 1997 State of the County address, where Patterson unveiled his vision for leveraging the combined strength of the county's high-tech companies into a national marketing strategy that could be used as a tool to attract skilled talent and cutting-edge businesses.
The first phase of development, where the organization's basic structure was formed, began with a member roster of 44 organizations. The beginning of the second phase turned Automation Alley into a working organization and dramatically increased membership. Four member-driven committees were established and member benefits, including seminars, networking events, and a quarterly newsletter were created. During the second phase, a national marketing campaign was launched to attract high-tech talent to the area.
In 2001, a trade mission program was established with the assistance of a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The initial funding enabled Automation Alley to create a program to aid small businesses in boosting their sales through the use of exports.
In the summer of 2003, Automation Alley embarked upon a new phase of development with the creation of a business accelerator. With Automation Alley's support and resources, ideas are turned into usable, marketable technology solutions. Assistance includes limited pre-seed and commercialization funding, business plan and strategy development support as well as a powerful network of experts and mentors.
Automation Alley Headquarters opened in the fall of 2004 and is located in the designated Automation Alley Technology Park-Troy, south of Big Beaver between John R and Rochester Roads. A variety of events take place at the facility, including educational seminars and events.
To summarize, Automation Alley continually works on behalf of its members and Southeast Michigan. The organization's many successes and accomplishments are a true testament to the strength the organization, its members and the technology economy in the region.
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