HAMTRAMCK, MI – Wayne County no longer will have an EDGE.
County Executive Warren Evans announced Tuesday he was eliminating the “Economic Development Growth Engine” agency created by former County Executive Bob Ficano. “Looking back at the last several years I”m not convinced EDGE has done anything to justify its expense and to keep it going,” Evans said. The shift, subject to County Commission approval, would eliminate four county jobs and save $550,000, according to Evans’ team. Economic development functions served by EDGE will shift to the Wayne County Economic Development Corporation, which will be modeled after the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.
The move was part of a broader consolidation of Wayne County departments Evans proposed Tuesday to save the financially strapped government $3 million per year. It’s a long ways from the $70 million per year Evans says the county needs to save, but, like the $2 million in salary reductions he implemented after taking off in January, it’s a start.
