Downtown Detroit Partnership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2006

Roger Penske Elected Chairman of Downtown Detroit Partnership

NEXT Detroit: Clean Downtown Key Initiative for Incoming Chair;
Building Public/Private Partnerships Key to Detroit’s Success

DETROIT, Mich. -- The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) today elected Roger Penske as Chairman of the Board of the organization effective immediately. The election took place in tandem with today’s launch of the DDP’s NEXT Detroit: Clean Downtown initiative spearheaded by Penske and Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick to maintain a “Super Bowl quality” downtown environment until a downtown Business Improvement District is in place for the future.

In his role as Chairman, Penske will lead the DDP at a pivotal time for Detroit’s renewed and re-energized downtown. Building on a decade of major investment and a changing regional and national image, Detroit is poised to accelerate toward the kind of downtown comeback experienced by cities like Philadelphia and Washington, DC. Central to successful comebacks in other cities was the creation of a clean, safe and inviting environment to attract and retain workers, residents, customers, visitors and investors.

Penske's role with the DDP is a demonstration of his continued commitment to the revitalization of Detroit. A recognized leader in business and the community, he chaired the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee and successfully built partnerships for action between government, businesses, citizens and property owners for the betterment of downtown with remarkable success.

“I’m pleased to be joining this important organization and taking on this role to build on the success we realized in hosting such major events as the MLB All-Star Game and Super Bowl XL,” said Penske. “The time is now. We must continue to build partnerships across the public and private sectors downtown and throughout the region to leverage these successes and accelerate downtown Detroit’s revitalization.”

Former Chairman Matthew P. Cullen, general manager of Economic Development and Enterprise Services for General Motors Corporation, called Penske’s chairmanship of DDP a “pivotal moment” for the downtown and the organization. “Roger’s superb leadership of the Super Bowl efforts, and his demonstrated passion for restoring the quality of the downtown Detroit environment, make him the perfect leader for DDP. Together with Mayor Kilpatrick at the helm of the City, we could not have a better partnership to advance Detroit to its rightful place as one of the great downtowns in America."
Cullen will remain on the DDP Board of Directors and will serve as a Vice Chair of the organization.

“Roger is a proven leader and is an excellent choice to lead the DDP and help continue the NEXT Detroit agenda,” stated Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick. “One of the many benefits of hosting Super Bowl XL was the strong relationships built across the region. Today’s announcement keeps Detroit moving forward and allows us to build on our momentum to ultimately achieve our goals. I hope everyone in Detroit and our neighbors in Southeast Michigan will join with us to support the initiatives the DDP will bring forward in conjunction our NEXT Detroit agenda in the weeks and months ahead.”

Penske's top priorities as Chairman of DDP include the two-year NEXT Detroit: Clean Downtown initiative launched today and establishment of a formal Business Improvement District to sustain and build on this foundation for the future. This clean up initiative is a key part of the NEXT Detroit agenda crafted by the Mayor, the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation and Roger Penske working on behalf of Detroit Renaissance, to build a framework for downtown’s future.

“Today is another great example of government and the business community coming together to continue the momentum created by Super Bowl XL,” explained Penske. “People must have pride in where they live and work and a clean city is a key and first step to building that pride. Over the next several weeks we will again call upon the entire Detroit community to step up and keep our downtown an attractive and inviting place for everybody. We need to get the same kind of energy we had for hosting people from around the world for hosting anyone who enters downtown, whether it be to live, to work or to play!”

The Downtown Detroit Partnership was established in 2005 as a focal point for private sector leadership and strategy for the downtown. DDP’s Board of Directors comprises the Chairs of the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation, Detroit 300, and the Riverfront Conservancy, executives from foundations, corporations and financial institutions, and Detroit Renaissance, as well as representatives from the Mayor’s Office. Its role is to build economic value in the downtown through planning, marketing, research, events, and development of a BID for downtown Detroit.

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