CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Barnett
248-391-0304 ext. 1001
UM-DEARBORN’S ILABS’ ECITIES RESEARCH RECOGNIZES ORION TOWNSHIP FOR SUPPORTING BUSINESS IN THEIR COMMUNITY
Orion Township, MI (October 23, 2020) – Orion Township has been recognized for its successes and efforts in contributing to Michigan’s entrepreneurial growth and economic development in the annual eCities study conducted by researchers at iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research. Orion Township was honored as a five-star community along with 110 other communities across the state.
“We are very proud that the University of Michigan has recognized Orion Township for its efforts in attracting new investment in the community. Our initiatives on Brown & Baldwin roads are contributing to meaningful change benefitting our residents in terms of tax base and new recreational opportunities while creating platforms for new business and employment,” said Chris Barnett, Orion Township Supervisor.
The 2020 eCities study analyzed publicly available data from 277 communities from 54 counties in Michigan. Researchers focused on the five-year changes in property values, community assets, and tax rates, which can demonstrate the growth, investments, and cost of doing business within the community. For example, over the five-year period of 2015-2019, these communities increased their capital assets by an average of 2.4 percent per year by investments such as library equipment, building, water, and sewage improvements, and street renovations, while property tax rates increased by less than 1 percent on average per year.
Although accounting for less than 20 percent of the State’s cities and townships, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 70 percent of Michigan’s population and 87 percent of the state’s commercial property. “Each year, the eCities project aims to highlight the successes and continued commitment of cities and townships to grow business and support entrepreneurship within their communities,” said Kari Kowalski, iLabs project manager.
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About University of Michigan-Dearborn
Founded in 1959 with a gift of just over 200 acres of land and $6.5 million from the Ford Motor Company, University of Michigan-Dearborn is a metropolitan university serving southeastern Michigan, committed to excellence rooted in strong academics, innovative research and programming and civic engagement. The university has 9,400 students pursuing more than 100 bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and professional degrees in liberal arts and sciences, engineering, business, education and health programs. A top-ranked university with faculty devoted to teaching and students committed to achievement, UM-Dearborn is shaped by its history of partnering with local leaders and communities, and is committed to finding solutions for the challenges that face the region.
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
LINKS:
eCities homepage:
https://umdearborn.edu/cob/business–community/ilabs–center–innovation–research/entrepreneurship/ecities
List of all four-star communities:
https://umich.box.com/s/7k999ox0ieqwybnou1mhal3jcpcfiepa
List of all five-star communities: