August 22, 2008 -- The Detroit Mexicantown International Welcome Center opened for business today, offering visitors and tourists from across the state and around the world a new resource for learning about travel, entertainment and attractions in Detroit and Michigan. Located in southwest Detroit at the corner of Bagley Avenue and 21st Street near the Ambassador Bridge, the facility is the state's 14th Welcome Center and the first to be located within a major metropolitan area. The 5,000-square-foot facility is operated through a partnership of Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation - Travel Michigan (MEDC). The new facility also houses a Detroit Edison customer service center and several MDOT offices, including a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) resource center.
The new facility was dedicated today to former MDOT Director Gloria J. Jeff. Jeff was the first woman and the first African American to head the state transportation department. A native of Detroit and a graduate of the University of Michigan, Jeff directed MDOT from January 2003 to January 2006.
"The Detroit Mexicantown International Welcome Center is the result of a successful state, regional and local partnership that will support tourism in southeast Michigan, drive the state's economy, encourage local development and create jobs," said MDOT Chief Deputy Director Jacqueline Shinn.
"I know that this International Welcome Center will help educate residents and visitors about the many riches of our state, and inspire young people to take pride in their communities. I also hope that my example will encourage others to pursue public service careers for this great city, state, and country," said Jeff.
"We are tremendously excited about the opening of the Detroit Mexicantown International Welcome Center. It joins 13 other centers across the state in welcoming travelers to 'Pure Michigan'. With the high volume of traffic coming across the Ambassador Bridge, plus easy access from Bagley Avenue, we foresee this center welcoming a million or more visitors a year, a great boost for the city and state economies," said Lisa Dancsok, MEDC senior vice-president for marketing and communications.
The Mexicantown Community Development Corporation (MCDC) was a key partner in making the Welcome Center a reality. In 1992, MCDC submitted a plan to MDOT to create a privatized joint-use facility to house a Welcome Center with office and retail space. In 2002, the group signed a memorandum of agreement with MDOT to build the Welcome Center. The Mexicantown Mercado, located across the street from the welcome center, opened in 2006.
"We wanted a project that would be in the community and of the community," said Fern Espino of MCDC. "The Welcome Center and its benefits, including job creation, will be a shot in the arm for Mexicantown and southwest Detroit."
The Detroit Mexicantown International Welcome Center will be open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the Detroit Mexicantown International Welcome Center, call 313-962-2360, or visit the Travel Michigan Web site at www.michigan.org.
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