Former MEDC Chief Steve Arwood to Head Miller Canfield Consulting LLC
Steve Arwood, who served as the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, has been named CEO of Miller Canfield Consulting LLC, a subsidiary of Miller Canfield, a global law firm headquartered in Detroit. The announcement was made by Miller Canfield CEO Michael McGee.
Arwood has more than 30 years of private- and public-sector experience. He formerly served as director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs from 2012 to 2015 and as the CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation from January 2015 until he stepped down in June 2017. He has played a major role in economic and business development efforts for the State of Michigan, facilitating billions of dollars of investment, and was one of the primary decision makers in almost every major economic development project in Michigan during this period, including those seeking state incentives or assistance. He was instrumental in attracting national and international companies that established new manufacturing, research and development and U.S. headquarters locations in Michigan.
Miller Canfield Consulting leverages Arwood’s deep knowledge of economic development and relationships with decision makers, investors and stakeholders on a wide range of projects, with Miller Canfield’s global resources to help clients navigate the complex process of identifying and securing incentives, financing and other opportunities for public-private partnerships.
“Miller Canfield has a long history of working with private companies and the public sector in partnerships to plan, fund and build impactful projects. We saw an opportunity to provide additional advisory and strategy expertise alongside Miller Canfield’s legal services, adding significant value to our clients’ projects,” McGee said. “Steve’s experience and connections make him the natural choice to lead Miller Canfield Consulting. His unique background and expertise are unmatched.”
Miller Canfield has extensive experience in working with public- and private-sector organizations to deliver cost-effective and innovative solutions in the area of public-private partnerships. From creating legislative solutions enabling such projects to advance, and through the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance phases, the firm offers seamless representation, and unique insight and guidance. Projects have included the Little Caesars Hockey Arena and related development and the Cobo Center expansion in Detroit, and the development of the legal framework for the Crossing Agreement between Michigan and Canada, which will enable the Gordie Howe Bridge project to move forward with construction.
Miller Canfield Consulting works with real estate developers, private companies interested in investing or expanding in Michigan, economic development organizations, national and international businesses seeking to locate in the Midwest, foreign inbound investors and emerging companies and industries such as autonomous vehicles and renewable energy. It provides project leadership, assists with strategy development on project execution at the state and federal levels, and identifies and accesses funding sources and economic incentives.
“I am eager to return to the private sector, where there is increasingly an interest among investors and developers, nationwide and around the world, to invest, locate or expand in Michigan and throughout the Midwest,” Arwood said. “When I was considering organizations to work with in bringing the public and private sectors together, Miller Canfield stood out as a leader. The firm has a long history of working on public-private partnerships, dating back to a time when no one even called them public-private partnerships.”
Prior to his service at MEDC Arwood was the director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the National Federation of Independent Business-Michigan. He served as the director of Programs and Policy for the House of Representatives and was deputy director of Michigan Jobs Commission. Arwood also has special expertise in planning and funding renewable energy projects, as the former regional director of Windlab Developments USA LTD, and as a partner in Forest Hill Energy LLC, which worked on multiple renewable energy sites throughout the state and the U.S.