A new economic initiative focused on increasing southeast Michigan’s opportunities in the defense industry launched Thursday.

Organizers said the automotive industry’s long history of adapting to support defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing efforts is the foundation for the success of the initiative.

Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties, the Detroit Regional Partnership and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation are behind the effort.

On Thursday, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter joined other officials at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial to sign a memorandum of understanding to create the Detroit Regional Defense Coalition.

The coalition’s purpose is to unite defense and aerospace industries to make southeast Michigan the defense capital of the Midwest.

That means expanding opp

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