Detroit Future City

Detroit Future City is a think tank, a policy advocate, and an innovation engine developing data-driven strategies to create a more equitable and sustainable future for Detroit.

Detroit Future City 10 Moments of Impact banner image

10 Moments of Impact

A decade of transformative milestones that have shaped Detroit's path toward equity and sustainability.

Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit's Future Talent - May 19, 2026

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By centering youth voice, the report highlights bright spots, barriers, and opportunities across three core components of career-connected learning, and examines how different partners in the city are aligned to connect young people to economic opportunity. (2026)

2026 Update—Understanding the Rental Landscape: A Profile Analysis of Detroit Landlords - March 18, 2026

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This report examines who owns rental properties across the city, identifies patterns in landlord behavior, and highlights the challenges many property owners face.

Tech Tomorrow: A Detroit Vision - March 4, 2026

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Drawing on labor market and capital data, ecosystem analysis, and stakeholder insights, this report examines the current state of Detroit’s tech economy and provides recommendations to move it forward.

Growth-Stage Businesses in the Detroit Region: Insights and Solutions to Fuel Economic Impact - Nov. 12, 2025

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Growth-Stage Businesses in the Detroit Region: Insights and Solutions to Fuel Economic Impact is the latest collaboration between the New Economy Initiative (NEI) and Detroit Future City (DFC). Through a series of focus groups and interviews conducted during the Summer of 2025, the report underlines the importance these businesses have to the Detroit region and examines some of the key challenges that they face.

Detroit Future City releases new report, "Saving for the Future: Land Conservation in Detroit" - October 30, 2025

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Detroit Future City (DFC) has released Saving for the Future: Land Conservation in Detroit as part of Detroit GreenSpace, a citywide effort to transform portions of Detroit’s 18 square miles of vacant land into protected natural areas that strengthen neighborhoods and improve environmental health. The report introduces both Detroit GreenSpace, a citywide strategy to convert underutilized land into a connected network of natural areas, and the Detroit GreenSpace Conservancy, a nonprofit organization that will provide long-term stewardship and ownership of conserved land.

DFC Future City Forum Now Available on Detroit PBS On Demand

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Detroit Future City is in its sixth year of bringing together Detroit's most passionate changemakers, we're stepping into a bold new chapter. Don't miss the opportunity to watch the 2025 Future City Forum Keynote on PBS Books beginning on October 20, 2025.

Detroit Future City's New Brief to Inform the Detroit 2025 Mayoral Election - April 17, 2025

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Detroit Future City has released the "Opportunities for the Next Mayoral Administration to Grow Detroit’s Middle Class" which focuses on key policy priorities for the next mayoral administration to grow Detroit’s middle class.

Our core areas

Detroit Future City’s Economic Inclusion department works to promote equity and inclusion in education, employment, and business opportunities for all Detroiters, with the goal of growing Detroit’s Black Middle Class.

ECONOMIC INCLUSION

Detroit Future City’s Equitable Neighborhood Planning department combines original research, cross-sector collaboration, technical assistance, and policy development to foster a more equitable and resilient city.

EQUITABLE NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING

Detroit Future City’s Land Use & Design department works to foster equity and sustainability in Detroit neighborhoods promoting the use of Green Stormwater Infrastructure and open space projects.

LAND USE & DESIGN

The Center for Equity, Engagement, and Research (The Center) produces relevant and accessible research focused on advancing economic equity and an improved quality of life for all Detroiters.

THE CENTER FOR EQUITY, ENGAGEMENT, & RESEARCH

CHECK OUT OUR RESOURCES

DFC 2030 Plan
Economic Equity Dashboard
Videos
Research
Tools

Latest News

Opinion: Detroit’s future depends on whether young people can see one here

Opinion: Detroit’s future depends on whether young people can see one here
In the Media | May 27, 2026

Detroit Future City’s “Career-Connected Learning: Investing in Detroit’s Future Talent” report, funded by The Skillman Foundation, examines how Detroit’s education, youth development, and workforce systems can better prepare young people […]

Detroit landlords are mostly small operators, not institutional investors, report finds

Detroit landlords are mostly small operators, not institutional investors, report finds
In the Media | March 18, 2026

A new report from Detroit Future City, using data from Data Driven Detroit and funded by the Rocket Community Fund, offers an updated look at who owns rental housing across […]

Detroit Future City proposes land conservancy to convert vacant lots into parks

Detroit Future City proposes land conservancy to convert vacant lots into parks
In the Media | February 10, 2026

Detroit has more than 100,000 vacant lots. Detroit Future City thinks some of them can become something better. In a feature from Michigan Public, Detroit Future City outlines a proposal […]