CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION 

OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR 

CHRIS BARNETT 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Barnett 248-391-0304 ext. 1001 

[email protected] 

UM-DEARBORN’S iLABS’ eCITIES RESEARCH RECOGNIZES ORION  TOWNSHIP FOR SUPPORTING BUSINESS IN THEIR COMMUNITY 

Orion Township, MI (March 2, 2022) – 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 97 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 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 2016-2020, these communities increased their capital assets by an average of 2.9 percent per  year by investments such as park facilities, water and sewer infrastructure projects, and emergency vehicles, while  property tax rates increased by less than 3 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 71 percent of Michigan’s population and 86 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 8,300 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://drive.google.com/file/d/1i2DeeZ1mE2ofxCYTkWG31DJ2GOWOgMco/view?usp=sharing 

List of all five-star communities: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lHhrRxx1J2wbQuyyg9i8H20j_MEr4wNl/view?usp=sharin