UM-Dearborn's iLabs' eCities Research Recognizes Plymouth Township for Developing a Positive Entrepreneurial Climate

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP – Plymouth Township has been recognized for its work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development in the annual eCities study conducted by researchers at iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research. Plymouth Township was honored as a Five Star community along with 18 other communities across the state.

“We are honored to have once again been recognized as a Five Star entrepreneurial community,” said Shannon Price, Plymouth Township Supervisor. “Our staff prides itself on creating a great economic development environment, and working with our neighbors to better our region.”

Plymouth Township’s 4 mill tax rate, the lowest in Wayne County, makes their community an attractive place for both large and small manufacturing companies to locate; companies that include Federal Mogul, LOC Performance, Bosch, Red Viking, Toolco, and many more.

Plymouth Township is also part of a joint regional effort for a high-tech business corridor along Five Mile Road between Beck and Napier Roads with participation from Northville Township, Wayne County, State of Michigan, DTE, Michigan Land Bank and the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce. This collaborative initiative led by Plymouth and Northville Townships has identified 1,000 acres of primarily municipally and state owned land with 500 developable acres in our shared 5 Mile Road corridor which is being marketed as the MITC (Michigan International Technology Center).

“We have built a strong coalition to help promote the MITC, and were delighted when the MEDC and Governor Snider marketed the project on two foreign trade missions.” continued Price. “Again, we are grateful that our efforts were recognized by iLabs.”

Five-Star Communities (*denotes best practice community)

Five-star communities spent more than $3.4 million on economic development, had more than $31 million in additions to assets in the past year and had more than $29 billion in combined real and personal property values.

Cascade Charter Township
City of Coldwater
City of Dearborn
Delta Charter Township
City of Dexter
City of Grandville
Kochville Township
City of Marquette
City of Midland
City of Mount Pleasant
Northville Charter Township
City of Novi
Pittsfield Township*
City of Plymouth
Plymouth Township
City of Sault Ste. Marie*
City of Troy
City of Wixom

The eCities study surveyed 66 communities from 29 counties in Michigan that are home to more than 19 percent of Michigan residents and 10 percent of its college graduates. These communities count for nearly one-fifth of the state’s entrepreneurs who earned more than $1.8 billion in self-employed income. More than 60 percent of these communities have a local business database, nearly a third provide business improvement grants, and nearly 40 percent have full-time economic development employees.

“The eCities project highlights how local governments from across the state of Michigan are cultivating and supporting economic development. These communities show how local governments can work in distinct and strategic ways to energize public spaces, while investing in businesses and job development,” said Tim Davis, Director, iLabs.

The communities were honored, Thursday, October 29, at UM-Dearborn. Support for eCities is provided in part by the DTE Energy Foundation, Miller Canfield, Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs and UM-Dearborn’s College of Business.

The annual eCities research project, which began in 2007, uses data supplied by the participants, as well as other public records to assemble a six-factor, 32-item index of entrepreneurial activity, looking at such factors as clustering, incentives, growth, policies, community and education. The study focuses on entrepreneurship because of its importance to expansion and diversification of Michigan’s regional economies and the impact small businesses have on job creation. To date, 199 communities across Michigan have participated in the study.

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