The Detroit Regional Partnership (DRP) launched the Verified Industrial Properties (VIP) Program in 2020 to proactively address the shortage of development-ready industrial land across the 11-county Detroit Region. This initiative supports the attraction of advanced mobility and manufacturing investments by identifying, assessing, and preparing vacant sites for development.
PEA Group has supported the VIP Program since its inception, with our environmental division, ASTI Environmental, joining the effort in 2024. Together, our team works closely with property owners, brokers, developers, economic development directors, utility providers, and local jurisdictions to perform detailed site assessments and on-site investigations.
As part of the program, we lead the comprehensive site assessments by compiling due diligence reports covering zoning, utilities, access, environmental features, and other key data points. These reports, supplemented by drone imagery and workforce demographics, are hosted on the VIP portal following a team read-out meeting and owner approval.
If selected, PEA Group and ASTI also perform on-site investigations to help further prepare sites for marketing and reduce risk for end-users. These include ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys, wetland delineations, tree surveys, geotechnical investigations, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, threatened and endangered species reviews, traffic impact studies, and more.
Once a user is identified, additional studies and site plans can be performed within the DRP VIP program. If selected, PEA Group and ASTI will help ensure sites are ready for development.
To date, we have helped assess more than 30 industrial properties through the VIP Program and remain committed to supporting DRP’s vision for regional growth and investment.