Its mission is to create a national model for the redevelopment of historic, industrial communities and an urban river through public-private partnerships. Members include the cities of Allen Park, Dearborn, Detroit and Melvindale, the Edward C. Levy Co., Ford Motor Co., Henry Ford Community College, the Rouge Steel Co., and Wayne County.

Goals of the partnership include promoting environmental and historicrestoration projects along the river, and to attract new public and privateinvestment within the region. Redevelopment ideas include a Rouge Heritage 2000 Visitor Center for the Ford Rouge complex, public access to the river, and a motor speedway and other facilities on a 25-acre site at the junction of the Detroit and Rougerivers next to Zug Island. The island is the former site of the Detroit International Exhibition, a complex that offered a large exhibit hall, pavilions, fairgrounds and a race track in the 1800s.

More than $700 million has been spent in cleaning up the river. The partnership master plan includes 400 feet of county-owned land on each side of the river.