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Organization History The Woodward Avenue Action Association (WA3) was formed as a not-for-profit organization in 1995 as the result of a economic development and planning study undertaken by the communities of Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Berkley and Birmingham with Oakland County. The communities helped form the WA3 to facilitate plan implementation. In the late 1990’s, Bloomfield Township and the City of Pontiac joined the WA3.In 1999, the WA3 partnered with the City of Detroit, Highland Park and Wayne County to obtain a State Heritage Route designation for Woodward, and create the Woodward Heritage Team. In 2001, the Woodward Heritage Team produced a Marketing Strategy for the 27-mile corridor to help guide future improvements. In June 2002, Woodward Avenue was designated one of America’s Byways™, an exclusive designation celebrating a distinct collection of American roads. Woodward Avenue is one of only 125 roads in the country and the first and only urban roadway in the State of Michigan with this prestigious designation. Marketing Brief/Executive Summary In early 2004, the WA3 officially expanded to include the City of Detroit, City of Highland Park and Wayne County to create a single not-for-profit organization that would advance a strategy for the region through an innovative and inclusive approach to economic and community development – using our cultural, automotive and music heritage to tell a story and increase tourism. The WA3 now represents 11 local governments - Detroit, Highland Park, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Bloomfield Township and Pontiac, plus Oakland and Wayne counties. Currently close to 300 private businesses, institutions and individuals support the association with annual dues. |