Detroiters Finding New Careers in The District Detroit
Construction of Little Caesars Arena and other projects in The District Detroit are giving Detroit residents opportunities to find new lifelong careers.
Little Caesars Arena is the product of 600,000 hours of hard work logged by Detroit construction workers. According to our research, it’s the most hours worked by Detroiters on a project, in over 40 years.
The District Detroit, which will encompass 50 city blocks with sporting events, shopping, dining and housing, has also spurred the creation of more than 800 apprentice and pre-apprentice positions since April 2015. More than half the apprentices are Detroit residents.
Alongside thousands of other tradesmen and women this team has worked hard to build the new home of the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons, which opens its doors this month.
So far, more than 2,000 people have been hired to work at Little Caesars Arena in a variety of permanent positions. Of those, more than 61 percent are Detroit residents who will begin work when the arena opens to the public in September.
The District Detroit has also awarded more than $475 million, totaling 61 percent, in contracts to Detroit-based companies. Michigan-based companies, including those in Detroit, have received 94 percent of the nearly $700 million in contracts.
The District Detroit will ultimately account for an economic impact of more than $2 billion by 2020 and create 12,500 construction and construction-related jobs and thousands of permanent jobs.
More than $100 million in income from the Little Caesars Arena alone is expected for Detroit residents, with significant additional income to be created through future private development.
Little Caesars Arena is the cornerstone of The District Detroit – a $1.2 billion live, work and play development fueling city’s redevelopment.
Apprentices have worked at the arena construction site, to be trained in new skills they can use to build their careers. These apprentices represented more than 15 percent of our total arena construction workforce, which is more than double a typical project of this size and more than any other construction project in the state of Michigan during this same time period.
About The District Detroit
The District Detroit is one of the largest sports and entertainment developments in the country. Located in the heart of Detroit, this 50-block, mixed-use development led by the Ilitch organization unites eight world-class theaters, five neighborhoods and three professional sports venues in one vibrant, walkable destination for people who want to live, work and play in an exciting urban environment. Home to the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons and Detroit Lions — The District Detroit represents the greatest density of professional sports teams in one downtown core in the country.
