Agreement Reached on Willow Run Purchase
Major Milestone in Path to American Center for Mobility
LANSING, Mich. – The
Michigan Economic Development Corporation and
Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust today announced a purchase agreement for the acquisition of land at Willow Run, which will be used for creation of a connected and automated vehicle facility.
First mentioned in Governor Rick Snyder’s State of the State speech in January 2016, the facility, in Ypsilanti Township, will serve as a national center for connected and automated vehicle research testing, product development, validation and certification. Users will include private industry, academia and government. The facility will be developed and operated by the
American Center for Mobility (ACM), a nonprofit entity formed in April 2016.
“This is a major milestone in making ACM a reality,” said Steve Arwood, CEO of MEDC. “This facility will be a global leader in interconnected technology advancements, and a major economic driving engine for the entire state. The whole project represents a multi-layered partnership between many groups, and getting the agreement in place toward the purchase of the land is a giant step forward.”
Willow Run has historic significance both as an economic hub for the region and as a center of innovation. Detroit’s status as the Arsenal of Democracy had its roots at Willow Run, where Henry Ford applied principles of mass production in support of the allied effort in World War II, employing more than 40,000 people and producing an average of one B-24 Liberator bomber every 55 minutes. Willow Run also was the iconic birthplace of “Rosie the Riveter,” symbolic of the widespread contribution of women to the industrial war effort. Later, General Motors workers produced more than 5 million transmissions at the Willow Run Powertrain Plant.
RACER Trust took title to the property in 2011. It sold the historic bomber plant portion of the property to Yankee Air Museum, which is converting it to the National Museum of Aviation and Technology at Historic Willow Run. The majority of the remaining buildings on the site were demolished.
RACER Trust has agreed to a purchase price of $1.2 million for the 311-acre property. RACER Trust also will be making other valuable contributions toward development of the site. In March, the
Michigan Strategic Fund, a limited partner in the Willow Run Arsenal of Democracy Landholdings Limited Partnership, the proposed buyer of the property, approved $3 million for operational costs and to be used toward the purchase of the property.
“It was clear to us from the day we launched that this property held tremendous potential to again be a lynchpin of the Southeast Michigan economy, and we are thrilled that the American Center for Mobility will fulfill this potential and keep Michigan at the forefront of global transportation innovation,” said Elliott P. Laws, of EPLET, LLC, administrative trustee of RACER Trust. “All of us at RACER Trust are honored to be a part of the transformation of this property from automotive production to mobility research and development. We look forward to the redevelopment of Willow Run and the opportunities it will create.”
John Maddox, who was named president and CEO of ACM in April, has been working with the MEDC, the buyer and RACER Trust on the plans for the project, as well as pursuing concept designs for the facility and regulatory agreements with local governments and the Michigan Department of Transportation to create the testing environment needed for interconnected vehicles.
“This is a major milestone for the American Center for Mobility as we continue to lead the effort to create a national center for connected and automated vehicles and emerging mobility technologies,” Mr. Maddox said. “The ability to build out Willow Run with its deep historic innovative roots to now create a center to safely validate connected and automated technology is an incredible opportunity for not just the state of Michigan, but also our country. I can’t thank the MEDC, the Michigan Strategic Fund and RACER enough for working together to get this done.”
Pure Michigan is a brand representing business, talent and tourism initiatives across Michigan. These efforts are driven by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves as the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business growth, jobs and opportunity with a focus on helping grow Michigan’s economy.
For more on the MEDC and its initiatives, visit
michiganbusiness.org. For Michigan travel news, updates and information, visit
michigan.org. Michigan residents interested in seeking employment with any of Michigan’s growing companies should check
mitalent.org where more than 100,000 jobs are currently available in a variety of industries.
Watch ACM President and CEO John Maddox discuss the importance of this milestone in development of the American Center for Mobility.
About RACER Trust: RACER (Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response) Trust was created to clean up and position for redevelopment properties and other facilities owned by the former General Motors Corp. before its 2009 bankruptcy. RACER is one of the largest holders of industrial property in the United States and is the largest environmental response and remediation trust in U.S. history. When the Trust was formed, it owned properties at 89 locations in 14 states, principally in the Midwest and Northeast. The Trust was created by a settlement agreement in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court between the U.S. Government, the 14 states where the former GM properties are located, and the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, which owns land adjoining one of the properties in Upstate New York. For more information, please visit our website:
www.racertrust.org.
09/25/2019 - RACER Trust Transaction Manager to Discuss Redevelopment at 2019 State of the Bay Conference
09/11/2019 - RACER Trust General Counsel, Deputy Redevelopment Manager to Highlight Community Outreach Successes at ABA Conference
08/14/2019 - RACER Trust Redevelopment Team Participating in Michigan Economic Developers Association Annual Meeting
06/25/2019 - RACER Trust Video Summarizes Success of Cleanup Activities, Preparation for Redevelopment of Property in Massena, N.Y.
06/10/2019 - RACER Trust Promoting Development Opportunities to Global Audience at SelectUSA Investment Summit
04/18/2019 - RACER Trust Welcomes Members of Flint Community on Tour of Buick City
04/15/2019 - RACER Trust Redevelopment Manager Participating in ULI Spring Meeting
03/25/2019 - RACER Trust Promoting Investment Opportunities at Site Selectors Guild National Conference
03/19/2019 - RACER Trust Participating in Data Center World Global Conference
03/13/2019 - RACER Trust to Host Public Meeting to Discuss Environmental Activities at Buick City
01/16/2028 - RACER Trust Redevelopment Team Participating in CAR Automotive Communities Partnership Meeting
11/01/2018 - RACER Trust Team to Lead Discussion on Best Practices in Positioning and Marketing of Surplus Properties for Sale and Redevelopment at Industry Event in Syracuse
10/23/2018 - RACER Trust Michigan Cleanup Manager Appointed to Governor’s First Environmental Rules Review Committee
10/09/2018 - RACER Trust Receives Final Approval of Corrective Action Plan, Signaling End of Active Cleanup for Property in Kansas City, Kan.
09/25/2018 - RACER Trust Redevelopment Manager to Participate in Inaugural National Brownfields Leadership Summit
09/11/2018 - RACER Trust Promoting Investment Opportunities at Site Selectors Guild Fall Forum
08/30/2018 - RACER Trust Completes Sale of Property in Ewing Township, N.J., to Parkway Town Center Urban Renewal, LLC
8/20/2018 - RACER Trust Updates Lansing-Area Community on Environmental Work
7/30/2018 - New Headquarters for George W. Auch Co.
06/19/2018 - RACER Trust Property Marketing and Sales Team to Participate in 2018 SelectUSA Investment Summit
06/05/2018 - RACER Trust Participating in 3rd Annual New York State Redevelopment Summit
05/24/2018 - RACER Trust Evaluating Offers for Massena Property; Marketing Efforts Continue
05/18/2018 - RACER Trust Pleased with Response to Call for Offers?to Purchase and Develop Buick City Property; Evaluation Ongoing
06/16/18 - RACER Trust Attending ICSC RECon, the World’s Largest Event for Retail Real Estate Professionals
05/09/2018 - RACER Trust Completes 50th Sale of Former GM Properties in Bedford and Lawrence County, Ind.
04/26/2018 - RACER Trust to Participate in Great Lakes Economic Forum
04/17/18 - RACER Trust Completes Active Remedial Work at Property in Wyoming, Mich.
04/09/2018 - Ambrose Property Group Completes Sale and Transfer of Former GM Stamping Plant Site from RACER Trust
04/03/2018 - RACER Trust Completes Active Remedial Work at Property in Wyoming, Mich.
03/29/2018 - RACER Trust Conducting Additional Environmental Investigation in Kokomo, Ind.
03/20/2018 - RACER Trust Promoting Investment Opportunities at Site Selectors Guild National Conference
03/13/2018 - With Interest Increasing, RACER Trust Issues Call for Offers to Sell Its Buick City Property in Flint, Mich.
03/08/2018 - RACER Trust Begins Soil Cleanup Activities at Ewing Township Property, Setting Stage for Development
03/06/2018 - RACER Trust Soliciting Offers for Purchase and Development of Industrial Property in Massena, N.Y.
02/27/2018 - Statement From RACER Trust Regarding Buick City Property in Flint, Mich.
02/22/2018 - RACER Trust Wins National Award for Sale that Enabled Construction of the American Center for Mobility
2/14/2018 - Beneficial Reuse of RACER Trust Properties Featured in Oakland Co. Brownfield Redevelopment Authority Progress Report
02/01/2018 - RACER Trust, Commonwealth Development Corporation of America Complete Transaction in Muncie, Ind.
12/18/2017 - RACER Trust, Rivore Metals, LLC, Complete Sale of Industrial Property in Pontiac, Mich.
12/14/2017 - RACER Trust Completes Series of Environmental Tasks to Facilitate Redevelopment Work at Willow Run
12/06/17 - RACER Trust Honors Ashley Capital with Inaugural RACER’s Edge Award
11/01/2017 - RACER Trust Sells Property in Romulus, Mich., for Industrial Park Development
10/4/2017 - Expo at Salina Industrial Park to Celebrate Manufacturing in Central New York
09/07/2017 - Auch Construction Celebrates Groundbreaking for New Headquarters Building in Downtown Pontiac
08/28/2017 - Lear Corporation to Build at Buick City
05/26/2017 - MDEQ video series highlights Bay City
5/4/2017 - RACER Trust, idX Corporation Complete Sale of Former GM Manufacturing Plant in Spotsylvania County, Va.
05/02/2017 - RACER Trust Selects Ambrose Property Group for Transformative Development at Former Indianapolis Stamping Plant Property
2/22/2017 - RACER Trust, George W. Auch Company Complete Transfer of University Drive Property in Pontiac, Mich.
2/9/2017 - RACER Trust, Rivore Metals, LLC, Reach Agreement on Sale of Industrial Property in Pontiac, Mich.
1/20/2017 - RACER Trust, Michigan DNR Reach Agreement on Transfer of Riverfront Property in Saginaw
12/20/2016 - RACER Trust, Commonwealth Development Corporation of America Reach Agreement on Sale of Land in Muncie, Ind.
12/19/2016 - RACER Trust Sells Interest in Pontiac Centerpoint Business Campus
12/1/2016 - RACER Trust Sells Property in Muncie, Ind., to M&M Bus Co., Inc.
11/22/2016 - RACER Trust, NorthPoint Development Reach Agreement for Sale of Lansing-Area Industrial Land
11/10/2016 - RACER Trust Completes Sale of Former GM Willow Run Property for Redevelopment as American Center for Mobility
7/27/2016 - RACER Trust Sells Property in Anderson, IN, to Tower Anderson, LLC
7/22/2016 - NorthPoint Development Bringing More Jobs to KCK
7/18/2016 - Agreement Reached on Willow Run Purchase
6/21/2016 - RACER Trust to Seek New Proposals for Purchase, Redevelopment of Prime Property Near Downtown Indianapolis
5/17/2016 - RACER Trust, George W. Auch Company Reach Agreement On Sale of University Drive Property in Pontiac, Mich.
5/10/2016 - RACER Trust Announces Sale of Vacant Land in Pontiac, Mich., to HB Dynamics
5/4/2016 - U.S. EPA Issues Community Update on Massena Cleanup
4/14/2016 - Ohio EPA Issues Covenant Not to Sure for Former RACER Trust Property in Ontario, OH
2/23/2016 - EPLET, LLC, to Continue Service as Administrative Trustee of RACER Trust
1/5/2016 - RACER Trust, Ross Community Center, Inc., Complete Sale of Land in Muncie, IN
11/17/2015 - RACER Trust, Ross Community Center, Inc., Reach Agreement for Sale of Land in Muncie, IN
9/15/2015 - RACER Trust, Ashley Capital Complete Sale of Industrial Land in Livonia, MI
9/9/2015 - U of M Video Highlights Partnership with RACER
6/8/2015 - RACER Trust Announces Sale of Flint Warehouse; More than 200 Jobs Expected
05/28/2015 - Remedial activities resume in Massena
4/29/2015 - RACER Trust Completes Sale of Property in Anderson, IN; Site to be Used by Sirmax North America for Manufacturing
3/20/2015 - U.S. Commercial Service, AmCham Canada, RACER Trust Welcome Canadian Business Leaders for Reception
3/19/2015 - RACER Trust Hires Terradex to Provide Environmental Monitoring Services
2/24/2015 - RACER-Sponsored Student Design Team Wins International Recognition for Research on Sustainable Remediation
2/6/2015 - Resources from SelectUSA
01/15/2015 - Sharing in Good News for Anderson, IN
1/13/2015 - RACER Trust Sells Vacant Land for Redevelopment in Detroit
12/17/2014 - RACER Trust Reaches Agreement with IRG for Sale of Buildings and Land in Pontiac, MI
12/10/2014 - RACER Trust Reaches Agreement with Ashley Capital for Sale of Industrial Land in Livonia, MI
12/02/2014 - RACER Trust Announces Sale to Wayne State University
11/24/2014 - RACER Trust Sells Land in Flint, MI, to Kettering University
11/10/2014 - RACER Trust, NorthPoint Development Agree to Terms for Sale of Industrial Land in Lordstown, OH
10/30/2014 - RACER Trust Announces 10-Year Lease Extension with Roth Global in Salina Industrial Powerpark
09/25/2014 - Brownfields 2015 Brings Focus on Sustainability and Redevelopment to Chicago
09/18/2014 - RACER Trust Honors Perras Environmental Control for Safe, Successful Remediation Work in Massena
9/11/2014 - Lennar Breaks Ground in Ewing
8/26/2014 - AMERICAN Cast Iron Pipe Company Begins Redevelopment of Buick City
8/7/2014 - M1 Concourse Completes Purchase in Pontiac
8/6/2014 - RACER Trust Completes Sale of Former GM CVO Facility to International Turbine Industries
8/6/2014 - CVO Remediation Team Earns EPA Honor
8/4/2014 - RACER Trust Announces Agreement to Sell Former GM Indianapolis Plant Property to REI Investments
8/4/2014 - How Do Detroit's Parolees Fit into the City's Revitalization?
7/29/2014 - How Much Cleaning Up Brownfields is Really Worth
7/29/2014 - The Perfect Partner for Closed Landfills?
7/13/2014 - RACER Trust is Working to Bring Jobs to Toledo
6/23/2014 - Yankee Air Museum Signs Deal for Part of Willow Run Bomber Plant
4/21/2014 - Rebirth of America's Dead Factories
4/1/2014 - Carl Garvey Named General Counsel of RACER Trust
3/6/2014 - RACER Trust Announces Sale of Former GM Livonia Powertrain Plant to Schostak Brothers & Company
2/4/2014 - Mayor Bert Steinmann and the Ewing Township Redevelopment Agency Announce Designation of Lennar Ewing, LLC as Redeveloper for Portion of Parkway Avenue Redevelopment Area
1/15/2014 - Statement from RACER Trust Regarding Donation of Land to City of Anderson, IN
12/09/2013 - RACER Trust Honors D.A. Collins Environmental Services for Successful Completion and 58,000 Safe Work Hours on Massena, N.Y., Project
11/13/2013 - AMERICAN Brings New Investment, Jobs to Flint, MI
11/1/2013 - Plans for $250 million project, up to 800 jobs at former GM site in Moraine, Ohio, ’The home run we have been looking for.’ “
9/30/2013 - NorthPoint, RACER Trust Close Sale in Kansas City, KS; Development Projects Will Create Up to 2,000 New Jobs
09/05/2013 - Connected Vehicle Research Center Planned on Site of Former Willow Run Powertrain Plant
08/08/2013 - RACER Trust Seeking Proposals from Qualified Firms for Redevelopment of Indianapolis Stamping Plant Site
08/01/2013 - Rosie the Riveter's factory gets 2-month reprieve
08/01/2013 - 'Rosie the Riveter' World War Two Bomber Plant Needs $8 Million to Live on as Museum
07/31/2013 - Michigan Aerospace Foundation, Yankee Air Museum and RACER Trust Announce Extension of the Fundraising Deadline for Former B-24 Plant at Willow Run
6/7/2013 - Former Indianapolis Stamping Plant to be Marketed as Vacant Land
6/6/2013 - Fox-47 Coverage of RACER Community Meeting in Lansing, MI
5/23/2013 - M1 Concourse to Buy RACER Land in Pontiac, MI, Develop Destination for Car Enthusiasts
5/16/2013 - RACER Trustee Elliott Laws Receives National Brownfield Leadership Award
4/24/2013 - RACER Trust Working with Yankee Air Museum On Deal for Portion of Willow Run Powertrain Property
04/17/2013 - RACER Trust, Ultimate Soccer Arenas Reach Agreement on Deal for Land in Pontiac, MI
4/02/2013 - Aircraft Maintenance Firm Buying Willow Run CVO Facility; Sale is Expected to Result in Creation of 25 Jobs
3/22/2013 - Sale and Redevelopment of RACER Trust Site in Kansas City, KS, Means 2,000 New Local Jobs
2/7/2013 - RACER Trust Awards Major Cleanup Contract for Former GM Site in Massena, NY, to Local Firm
1/30/2013 - Ewing Township, RACER Trust Agree On Unified Marketing Approach for Former GM Property
1/3/2013 - Elio Motors to Buy Former GM Plant in Shreveport, Expects to Employ 1,500 by end of 2015
12/28/2012 - RACER Trust Completes Sale of Former GM Facility in Ohio to Major Development Company
11/28/2012 - Redeveloping Former GM Sites for New Job-Creating Uses
11/28/2012 - Plans 'On Track' for Sale of Former GM Plant
10/31/2012 - Former GM Assembly Plant in Pontiac Sold for New Industrial Development
10/31/2012 - RACER sells Fiero Assembly plant in Pontiac to Lapeer-based company
10/19/2012 - Event showcases Massena to Canadian companies
9/28/2012 - Marketplace Highlights RACER Mission
9/24/2012 - Former GM Plant Near Shreveport, La., Offers Prime Opportunity for New Investment, Jobs
8/17/2012 - GM Pact Signed, Work Begins to Bring 1,100 Jobs
8/17/2012 - Ontario Council Signs GM Site Development Pact
8/17/2012 - New Plans For Previous GM Plant
8/17/2012 - Ohio Company To Buy Former GM Plant, Bring 1,100 Jobs to Area
8/16/2012 - Major Development Firm Reaches Agreement On Purchase Of Former GM Facility
8/16/2012 - RACER Trust Announces Deal to Sell GM Stamping Plant in Ontario to Brownfield Communities Development Co.
8/16/2012 - Developer Has Big Plans for GM Site in Ontario
8/16/2012 - Filling Building Will Generate Tax Revenues
8/16/2012 - Purchase Agreement Signed for Ex-GM Plant
8/16/2012 - Real Estate Firm to Buy Ex-GM Ohio Plant
8/16/2012 - Richland County: Redeveloped GM Plant to Bring 1,100 Jobs
8/16/2012 - Firm Heading Former GM Site Redevelopment to Sell Ohio Stamping Plant
8/16/2012 - Sale Of Former Ontario General Motors Plant Announced
8/16/2012 - Brownfield Communities Development Buys Ex-GM Facility in Ohio
7/30/2012 - Potential Advantages of Reusing Potentially Contaminated Land for Renewable Energy
7/27/2012 - Repurposing Former Automotive Manufacturing Sites
7/26/2012 - RACER Trust and UEP Detroit Team Up to Provide Opportunities for Minority Entrepreneurs
7/18/2012 - RACER Trust and Goodwill’s Green Works, Inc., Partner to Promote Recycling and Create Job Opportunities in Southeast Michigan
6/28/2012 - RACER Trust looks to convene new industrial activity across a huge portfolio of former GM properties
6/27/2012 - Former Bay City Official Joins RACER Trust Team
6/22/2012 - 'Rosie the Riveter' Bomber Plant in Michigan for Sale
6/21/2012 - Ex-GM Plants for Sale; Must Create Jobs
6/21/2012 - AnnArbor.com: Open House Showcases Former GM Properties
6/21/2012 - Forbes, Jalopnik.com highlight RACER
6/21/2012 - Detroit Free Press: RACER Trust Has Prospects for Buick City Property
6/20/2012 - Detroit News: 'Old' GM sites put to use
6/20/2012 - RACER Event Focused on Jobs, Redevelopment Draws More Than 200 to Willow Run
6/19/2012 - RACER Trust Open House Wednesday at Willow Run Features U.S. Government’s Jay Williams, Mathy Stanislaus
6/12/2012 - Mathy Stanislaus, EPA Assistant Administrator, to Participate in RACER Trust Open House June 20
6/7/2012 - Jay Williams is the Featured Speaker at June 20 RACER Open House
5/10/2012 - RACER Trustee Elliott Laws Presents at Federal Reserve Bank Conference "Reinventing Older Communities"
2/14/2012 - RACER Trust's Bruce Rasher named Chairman, President and CEO of National Brownfield Association
2/13/2012 - Spotlight: Anderson Plant Lighted the Way For GIs
2/8/2012 - RACER's Bruce Rasher appears on Green Sense Radio Show
1/17/2012 - RACER Trust Honors Brandenburg Industrial Service Co. for Safe Work Performance at Massena Site
1/16/2012 - Spotlight: From Red Brick Factory Walls to Golf Course Green
12/26/2011 - Flint Journal reports: Multiple companies discussing buying part of Buick City
12/8/2011 - NY Times Story: Developers Revive Closed Auto Plants
12/8/2011 - Spotlight: Syracuse Industrial Powerpark - From Parts To Multi-Manufacturing
12/5/2011 - RACER Trust Engages Tetra Tech to Continue Ontario Property Cleanup
11/3/2011 - Former White House Aide Joins RACER Trust Team
11/1/2011 - Industrial Contractor Buys Former
GM Facility in Pontiac to Expand Operations
10/24/2011 - RACER Official to Lead National Conference Panel on Investment Opportunities
10/12/2011 - Spotlight: Ewing Plant Built Avenger Bombers
9/13/2011 - Spotlight: Rosie the Riveter Worked at Willow Run
8/12/2011 - Massena Incident Won't Slow RACER Progress
8/9/2011 - Crain's Detroit Business Profile of RACER Trust
7/25/2011 - Former GM Property in Pontiac to be Redeveloped
7/8/2011 - MEDA Annual Meeting
7/6/2011 - RACER Sells Facilities in Ohio, Michigan
6/28/2011 - Former MI Official Selected for Key Role at RACER
6/20/2011 - Veteran Economic Development Leader Directing RACER Redevelopment Initiative
6/20/2011 - Rasher to address Michigan Economic Developers Association Conference
6/13/2011 - RACER Participates In Mayor's Automotive Coalition Webinar
5/10/2011 - Bruce Rasher Provides Expert Analysis
4/29/2011 - Important Announcement Concerning Environmental Contractors
4/5/2011 - Laws Presents at Brownfields
3/31/2011 - RACER Trust Formation Announced
10/20/2010 - US: Settlement with GM on Environmental Liabilities
10/20/2010 - US Settles With GM on Environmental Liabilities
10/20/2010 - White House Announces Trust to Cleanup and Repurpose 89 Former GM Properties