Business View Civil & Municipal | Volme 3, Issue 2

67 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 HAZEL PARK , MI CHIGAN Edward Klobucher, City Manager, shares, “Hazel Park is unique. We are a very hardworking, resilient place with a great sense of unity, which is one of our strongest attributes. People who live in Hazel Park are proud to be here.” With a population of close to 15,000, the city spans 2.8 square miles, and is experiencing what Klobucher describes as “a bit of a renaissance”, as new developments are underway in both the commercial and residential sectors. He reports, “We are excited about the direction that Hazel Park is now taking, and about what we have worked hard to bring to the community and to our residents.” Jeff Campbell, Hazel Park Community Development Director adds, “Basically we’re 10 minutes from everywhere in the metro Detroit region. We are a tight-knit community and that’s what we try to market to new residents. What we try to market to businesses is that if you invest in the community, the community will invest in you.” The redevelopment of the Hazel Park Raceway, has been a significant project, creating two million square feet of light industrial space in only six years. Real Estate investment company, Ashley Capital, purchased the former raceway, bringing in tenants such as Akasol, a German manufacturer of high energy batteries for large vehicles, and LG Electronics that is currently manufacturing batteries for Bolt, an electric vehicle produced by General Motors. The complex is also home to an Amazon distribution center and is a major source of employment for the city. According to Campbell, “At Ashley Capital’s Tri-County Commerce Center, there are over 3000 new jobs. It is sort of a green economy hub that’s forming at the Center. There is probably more electric car battery manufacturing there than in any other area in Michigan.” The city is also home to Exlterra, a technology