Detroit tops Metro Marvels ranking for business growth in Southeast Michigan

By AI, Created 7:31 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – A new Metro Marvels report ranks Detroit, Troy and Birmingham as the top business-growth cities in Southeast Michigan, highlighting redevelopment, investment and entrepreneurship across 20 communities. The report is meant to show which local markets are shaping the region’s next wave of commerce and development.

Why it matters: - The Metro Marvels 2026 Commerce & Business Development Report identifies the Southeast Michigan cities drawing the most business investment, retail activity and development momentum. - The ranking offers a snapshot of where commercial growth is concentrating across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. - The report also gives cities a new marketing tool for attracting tenants, retailers, investors and entrepreneurs.

What happened: - Detroit ranked No. 1 overall in the new Metro Marvels Commerce & Business Development Report. - Troy and Birmingham tied for No. 2. - Farmington Hills-based Empire Realty Group released the report on June 5, 2026. - The report evaluated 20 communities across Southeast Michigan.

The details: - Detroit scored highest for scale, redevelopment activity, innovation, cultural influence and ongoing investment in Downtown, Midtown, Corktown, Eastern Market, New Center and the riverfront. - Troy was recognized as the region’s leading corporate and office corridor. - Birmingham was ranked as Metro Detroit’s luxury retail and boutique commerce leader, with one of the region’s strongest local business ecosystems. - The scoring system used a 100-point model. - The model measured local business strength, downtown and commercial development, entrepreneurship, innovation, investment, cultural commerce and business engagement. - The report includes city scorecards, economic development insights and specialty recognition awards. - Specialty awards went to Ferndale as Michigan’s Small Business Capital, Detroit as Innovation Hub, Troy as Investment Readiness Leader, Royal Oak as Food & Culture Commerce Leader and Birmingham as Community Commerce Connector. - Birmingham’s downtown investment, infrastructure work and public-space improvements helped attract premier retailers, major office tenants and new residential growth while preserving its walkable character, said Erika Bassett, executive director of the Birmingham Shopping District. - Ali Fawaz, chief growth and marketing officer at Empire Realty Group, said commerce is a strong indicator of a community’s future and that strong business districts tend to support stronger neighborhoods, real estate markets and communities.

Between the lines: - The ranking suggests the region’s growth is being driven by a mix of dense urban redevelopment, suburban corporate corridors and niche retail districts. - Detroit’s top finish underscores how much weight the report places on scale and momentum, not just historic business prestige. - The tie between Troy and Birmingham points to two different paths to commercial strength: office and corporate activity on one side, boutique retail and walkable downtown commerce on the other.

What’s next: - Empire Realty Group is using the report to spotlight communities it says are shaping Southeast Michigan’s economic future through entrepreneurship, public-private investment and long-term planning. - The full report and complete rankings are available here.