Redevelopment Ready Communities

Redevelopment Ready Communities® (RRC)

Southfield is a certified Redevelopment Ready Community®, a statewide program through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) designed to help communities modernize their development practices and create a more predictable, transparent, and efficient experience for businesses and investors.

As one of the earliest cities to earn this certification, Southfield has a long history of streamlining processes, cutting through red tape, and improving customer service across planning, zoning, and economic development functions. RRC gives us a framework to continually refine our procedures so that projects move forward smoothly, expectations are clear, and development decisions are consistent.

Southfield regularly evaluates and updates its internal processes to ensure we remain a business-friendly, redevelopment-ready environment. This includes improving cross-department coordination, reviewing workflows, enhancing public information, and integrating best practices into everyday operations. Our commitment to RRC helps ensure that businesses, developers, and residents experience clear communication, fair reviews, and a supportive development climate.

Why RRC Matters in Southfield

Southfield plays a major role in Michigan’s economic landscape with more than 27 million square feet of office space, second in size only to Detroit’s central business district. Companies across automotive, tech, R&D, software, engineering, and professional services choose Southfield because of its:

  • diverse, highly skilled workforce

  • strong business climate and low cost of doing business

  • central Metro Detroit location — the “Center of It All”

  • access to world-class education and talent through Lawrence Technological University

  • exceptional public services and robust citywide fiber network

  • ongoing investment in infrastructure and redevelopment

Even as the region continues to evolve post-COVID, Southfield’s entrepreneurial energy is returning, and major reinvestments in aging commercial and industrial spaces are underway. RRC supports this upward trajectory by ensuring our processes remain modern, responsive, and aligned with community goals.

RRC & Southfield’s Development Strategy

RRC aligns with the City’s broader goals for strong, sustainable economic growth. Southfield’s approach includes:

  • creating predictable, transparent development steps

  • aligning zoning and planning tools with market realities

  • supporting reinvestment in commercial, industrial, and mixed-use districts

  • making the development process easier to navigate for businesses of all sizes

  • partnering with LTU, Centrepolis, Oakland County, MEDC, and regional organizations

  • investing in people, property, and long-term community vitality

This framework ensures that Southfield remains competitive for site selection, redevelopment, and reinvestment opportunities.

Comprehensive Master Plan

For a detailed look at Southfield’s economic development strategies — including targeted sectors, programs, market trends, and long-term goals — please review Chapter 5: Economic Development in the Sustainable Southfield 2023–2028 Comprehensive Master Plan.

👉 View the Southfield Comprehensive Master Plan

Related RRC Components

These materials further support the City’s commitments under the Redevelopment Ready Communities® program:

• Local Economic Development Tools & Application Materials

Overview of key incentives, redevelopment programs, and approval processes.

• RRC Marketing Plan

Southfield’s marketing approach identifies assets, audiences, messaging, branding elements, and outreach strategies aligned with local, regional, and state partners.

• Priority Development Sites

Southfield’s high-value redevelopment sites identified for targeted investment and promotion.