Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, MBN was on the road at the Hudson’s site in Detroit, for this year’s Detroit Policy Conference, put on by the Detroit Regional Chamber. The event centered on the “New Leadership Era,” featuring discussions on the city’s future, economic development, and regional policy.
Watch Mayor Mike Duggan outlines 2026 plans, data center standards, and a statewide vision at Detroit Policy Conference, in the YouTube video shared below:
This interview was the “Media Scrum” with former Mayor of Detroit, and current Michigan Independent Gubernatorial candidate Mike Duggan.
The Mayor discusses data centers, his independent candidacy, and Detroit’s handling of contaminated soil at development projects.
The 2026 conference, was a sold-out event. The conference brought together approximately 1300 regional leaders to address crucial economic and community challenges in the Detroit region. Speaking at the Department at Hudson’s, Duggan outlined a vision for state-level economic growth, including proposed standards for data center approvals to protect local communities.
Role Transition: Duggan addressed the conference in his new capacity as a 2026 Michigan gubernatorial candidate.
Keynote Focus: He discussed economic development on a broader scale, focusing on balancing growth with equity and setting state-level standards for large-scale development projects like data centers.
Duggan’s participation highlighted the shift in his focus from municipal leadership to state-level governance, emphasizing the need for proactive state-level policies rather than relying on local, township-by-township decisions.
2026 Detroit Policy Conference: A New Leadership Era
Recently, the 2026 Detroit Policy Conference convened business leaders, government officials, and community changemakers to drive meaningful conversations and actionable solutions for a more prosperous and equitable Detroit Region.
Held at The Department at Hudson’s, the Conference explored the leadership transitions underway and on the horizon for the Region and state and featured the bold, adaptive leaders at the helm.
Explore highlights from the Conference below.
Mike Duggan: Unity is Needed for Michigan to Succeed
During the Conference, Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Mike Duggan spoke about the inspiration behind his bid for governor and discussed the hot-button topics that Michigan’s next leader will need to address.
Detroit’s New Era: Mayor Sheffield’s Future-Focused Leadership
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield was attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C., and was unable to attend the Conference. However, in a pre-recorded video, Sheffield emphasized that building strong partnerships between businesses and neighborhoods will remain at the heart of Detroit’s ongoing revitalization efforts.
Following her video remarks, Melvin “Butch” Hollowell, who is leading Mary Sheffield’s transition, took to the stage to discuss where the committees’ work stands and how the administration is progressing.
“The House is on Fire”: Solving Michigan’s Education Crises
Sen. Sarah Anthony (D-Lansing), Business Leaders for Michigan’s Jeff Donofrio, the Chamber’s Greg Handel, and University of Detroit Mercy’s Donald B. Taylor discussed Michigan’s challenges in K-12 performance and per capita income, emphasizing equity-centered policy and innovation.
Detroit’s First Word: Industry Leaders on Expanding Wayne County Transit
During a panel moderated by the Chamber’s Brian J. Shoaf, Wayne County Deputy Executive Assad I. Turfe and SMART’s Tiffany J. Gunter shared how they are changing the conversation around the expansion of transit in the Detroit Region.
