Auburn Hills Celebrates Continued Growth
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Jan. 30, 2025)
Auburn Hills, MI – Members of the Auburn Hills business community came together last week to celebrate success at the annual Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce State of the Community Event.
The Chamber touted taking part in a number of ribbon cuttings over the past year, including O’Grizzly’s Bar and Bistro, Right Hook Apparel, Muse Gallery, Clever Fox Cyclery, Crowne Plaza, Concraft, Breadless, STRATTEC Safe City Certification, FANUC, DaVinci Teeth Whitening, and Country Creek Pediatrics.
2024 Board Chair Joscelyn Davis, who is also President and CEO of JADE Strategies, said that 2024 was a year of “collaboration, growth, and genuine connections.”
“These values define Auburn Hills Chamber of Commerce this past year.”
2025’s Chair of the Board, John Sanchez of John A. Sanchez and Company CPA’s and Consultants, was unable to attend the event, but is looking forward to serving in the role.
Auburn Hills Mayor Brian Marzolf shared that “On March 13, I had the privilege of attending the ABB Robotics and Automation Summit, where we learned more about the company’s recently renovated North American headquarters in Auburn Hills. The expansion of ABB Robotics in our City is a testament to their commitment to growth in Michigan and the U.S. market. ABB Robotics is at the forefront of manufacturing cutting- edge robotic solutions and AI-powered technologies, offering productivity solutions for industries ranging from bakeries and sushi restaurants to genetic testing laboratories, packaging centers, and automotive manufacturers. We’re proud to be the North American home of such cutting-edge technology and a company driving Michigan’s industrial future forward.”
Other successes included the completion of Magna Seating’s 280,00 square foot light industrial building on the 41-acre site that used to be home to Oakland County Animal Shelter.
“Another groundbreaking development that took place in 2024 was FANUC America’s $100 million expansion of their Robotics and Automation Campus,” Mayor Marzolf said. “The new 650,000-square-foot facility on 67 acres will support and advance industrial automation in North America with state- of-the-art manufacturing, engineering and research and development facilities.” This will include FANUC’s Customer Training Academy.
A very visible project underway is the General Motors Co. Supplier Logistics Center at the former Palace of Auburn Hills site, which had its groundbreaking on Oct. 28.
“General Motors’ redevelopment of this site is significant and represents a tremendous investment in our community. This investment will create new jobs and is a testament to the strength of the automotive workforce and continues to build on our reputation as a hub of electric vehicle development and manufacturing. Some of us here remember Vinnie Johnson, our “Mr. 007” of the championship Detroit Pistons. It turns out that Piston Automotive, founded by Mr. Johnson, will operate the 715,000-square-foot building along I-75. The facility will supply parts to the GM Orion assembly plant, which produces electric trucks.”
It isn’t just business that is growing in Auburn Hills. “I am proud to share that, according to population estimates for 2020-2023, Auburn Hills ranks second in population growth among all 62 communities in Oakland County, and we’ve got some great new developments to choose from.” Among the many new housing developments are the 65 unitl Beacon Hill Apartments, 113 ranch style homes at Ridgewood Villas, and 124 unit Clover Senior Housing.
Other announcements included construction being under way for the Greystone Pickleball Club on Opdyke, plus the upcoming construction of a Mobil Gas Station near Great Lakes Crossing, and a Chick-fil-A near Oakland University.
Investment in Downtown Auburn Hills continues as well, with a slew of housing projects being joined by new retail such as Muse Gallery and Clever Fox Cyclery. Restaurant-wise, Cantina El Dorado opened in 2024, and soon to come are Johnny Black’s Whiskey Park, and Alo’s Sports Bar.
The City itself is investing as well, creating a public square that will feature a performance stage, pergolas, seating, and all-weather turf, making it a welcoming gathering place right in the heart of Downtown that has been growing in a truly thoughtful fashion.
The State of the Community event was held at Oakland University’s Oakland Center. The school has property in both Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills. OU President Ora Hirsch Prescovitz spoke at the gathering, telling the audience that the University ‘has a shared mission, values, goals and, most importantly a sense of purpose that is a big part of what brings us together.”
“There’s such an exciting future ahead of us,” she added.
The Auburn Hills Chamber has a number of ways for business owners and executives to learn, network, and be involved in the community. Some of the committees were recognized at the event, including the iLEAD Academy which is a city-led six month leadership program introducing participants to the inner workings of the city and connects them to organizations and businesses to help them be truly vested in their community.
Chamber committees include the Advanced Manufacturing Leadership Council, Ambassadors, Business Referral Group, Next Generation, Non-Profit and more.
Davis shared her excitement over these initiatives, saying that events like “iLEAD, STAND OUT, Women Empowered and workshops on cybersecurity, marketing, and branding further enriched these efforts, sparking fresh ideas and fostering professional growth across our community. These professional development programs were not just about learning—they awakened new approaches to leadership, IT, sales, and more, sparking innovation and a deeper understanding across industries.”
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