Who: Wayne State University will host a groundbreaking ceremony on the future site of the Mike Ilitch School of Business — a project made possible by a $40 million gift from Mike and Marian Ilitch, the largest donation in the university’s history.
Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson; Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.; Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; and Robert Forsythe, Dean of the Mike Ilitch School of Business, will break ground on the site and offer brief remarks.
What: Wayne State students, alumni, faculty and staff will join local community members at the groundbreaking to celebrate the beginning of a new era in business education in Detroit.
When: The groundbreaking ceremony will be held on Wednesday, July 20, from 11:30 a.m. to noon. There will be a brief media availability session for Christopher Ilitch, M. Roy Wilson, Mayor Duggan and Robert Forsythe immediately following the conclusion of the ceremony. Recommended arrival time is 11:15 a.m.
Where: The future site of the Mike Ilitch School of Business is prominently located on the southwest corner of Woodward Avenue and Temple in The District Detroit.
Why: To celebrate the construction of a new facility for the Mike Ilitch School of Business, along with interview opportunities at the site, located in The District Detroit.
About the Mike Ilitch School of Business
The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers, advances the boundaries of scholarly and practitioner knowledge, and enhances the economic vitality of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and beyond through its programs, research and community engagement. Established in 1946, the business school was renamed in 2015 in recognition of a $40 million gift from Mike and Marian Ilitch. Thanks to this lead investment, a new state-of-the-art building is slated to open in the heart of the District Detroit in 2018, and entrepreneurial programming and collaboration with city businesses are expanding. For more information, visit ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu.
About The District Detroit
The District Detroit will be made up of a dynamic mix of sports and entertainment venues, including six world-class theatres and three multi-use sports venues including the new Little Caesars Arena – home to the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions. The District Detroit will also feature residential, office and retail developments that connect these venues into one contiguous, walkable area, where families, sports fans, entrepreneurs, job seekers, entertainment lovers and others who crave a vibrant urban setting can connect with each other and the city they love.
Data from the University of Michigan demonstrates that The District Detroit will ultimately account for an impact of more than $2 billion by 2020 and create 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs and 1,100 permanent jobs. More than $100 million in income from Little Caesars Arena alone is expected for Detroit residents, with significant additional income to be created through future private development. Visit DistrictDetroit.com to learn more.