Urban Science is a global automotive retail consulting firm that uses cutting edge science to analyze complex data, so it?s no surprise that it ?did the math? on itself when it was deciding whether it should stay in Detroit to grow, or move elsewhere. The company?s primary customers are automotive, and the company?s primary asset is talent, so when it ran the numbers, southeast Michigan came out on top. Three things helped tipped the scales to downtown Detroit: DEGC facilitated a tax abatement, a great office space was open in the Renaissance Center very close to a major client, and initiatives such as Live Downtown gave the firm a chance to participate in an historic revitalization of the city.

 

The Detroit City Council just approved the tax abatement on $9 million of personal property investments that Urban Science is making in its new location on the 29th through 32nd floors of the 400 Tower of the Renaissance Center. "DEGC picked us up and guided us through the process," said Matt Bejin, global director of recruiting and staffing. "They helped us understand what the Council?s objectives were to create a progressive plan and achieve meaningful goals."

 

In time the company expects the expansion will result in an overall capital investment of $29 million, 69 new full-time jobs and the retention of 190 existing full-time employees. "We hire college grads,? added Bejin. "We believe in the rejuvenation of the city and want to participate in that, and put our roots in the city, and be part of that rebirth."

 

Although the company is 35 years old, Urban Science has managed to keep its own entrepreneurial edge by consistently innovating. Founder Jim Anderson started by analyzing demographic and other information to help Cadillac identify the best places to locate dealerships. Since then it has jumped head first into the sea of data generated by consumers. Among other things, Urban Science has developed a process to analyze Internet leads for auto dealers that recommends which ones should get an immediate phone call, and which ones might be best pursued with an email or direct mail contact.

 

Although its own operations take place largely in the "cyber-world," the company recognizes the value of the growing population of young, creative people in and around downtown. As part of its growth strategy, Urban Science has launched its own version of Live Downtown, by offering rent subsidies to people who lease downtown apartments.  

 

As Bejin puts it, "We are giving dollars to new leases in the city, because we want to be based downtown. We want to be part of a strong urban core and we think that Detroit can be that."