RACER Trust says redevelopment has driven $28.9 billion in economic activity

An updated analysis of RACER Trust sites found that buyers and end users have created nearly 82,000 permanent jobs and generated $28.9 billion in annual economic activity through the first quarter of 2026. The data points to continued momentum from remediation and reuse of former GM properties, with buyer and end-user investment now topping $5.1 billion.

Why it matters: - RACER Trust’s cleanup and redevelopment work is translating into measurable local economic gains, not just environmental remediation. - The latest analysis shows former industrial sites are supporting long-term jobs, private investment and regional spending across multiple states. - The findings may matter to communities still weighing how contaminated properties can be reused for growth.

What happened: - An updated analysis found buyers and end users of former RACER Trust properties have created nearly 82,000 permanent jobs and $28.9 billion in annual economic activity. - The analysis was prepared by Industrial Economics, Incorporated and uses financial and expenditure data through the first quarter of 2026. - RACER Trust said the update covers remediation, redevelopment and property repositioning activity tied to its former General Motors properties.

The details: - Since 2011, RACER Trust has invested about $892 million in environmental cleanup, property maintenance, demolition and redevelopment, adjusted to 2026 dollars. - That total includes $486.9 million in environmental expenditures and $405.1 million in holding and repositioning costs. - The updated figures reflect additional spending since the end of the first quarter of 2025 and inflation-adjusted values for earlier expenditures. - Actual buyer and end-user investments reached $5.184 billion, up 8% year over year. - New, retained and relocated jobs rose 10% to 24,087 full-time equivalent positions. - Each dollar of RACER Trust expenditure now generates $19.09 in one-time economic output, up from $18.57 a year earlier. - Each dollar invested by RACER Trust and its buyers and end users generates $2.71 in regional economic output, up from $2.67. - The updated results are available on the RACER Trust Regional Economic Impacts Dashboard.

Between the lines: - The data suggests cleanup spending is doing more than reducing environmental risk; it is also helping position properties for reuse and private capital. - The year-over-year gains in investment and jobs indicate the redevelopment pipeline remains active. - Federal environmental officials also pointed to the report as evidence that contaminated-property cleanup can support both economic growth and public health protections.

What's next: - RACER Trust said the dashboard will continue to provide current information on economic benefits tied to remediation, redevelopment and private investment across its properties. - The organization is expected to keep using environmental cleanup and property repositioning to support future reuse of former industrial sites.

The bottom line: - RACER Trust’s redevelopment model is showing scale: billions in investment, tens of thousands of jobs and rising economic output from former GM properties.