University awards Township for strong business support

HARTLAND TOWNSHIP — University of Michigan-Dearborn researchers recently honored Hartland Township for its strategies to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development, naming it an eCities 2019 Top Performing Entrepreneurial Community. Hartland was one of only five communities across the state of Michigan to also have been recognized as a 4-Star Honored Community.

UM-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research conducts an annual iLabs eCities study to determine its honorees, and also identified the cities of Hillsdale, Houghton, Saginaw, and Tecumseh as 2019 eCities Honored Communities. Hartland Township Supervisor Bill Fountain accepted the award on the community’s behalf at an Oct. 22 recognition event in Dearborn.

From left, Planning Commission Chairman Larry Fox, Township Board Supervisor Bill Fountain, and Board Member Glenn Harper accept Hartland’s award at UM-Dearborn on Oct. 22, 2019.

“We’ve made our business community a priority in our Township,” said Fountain. “From soliciting solid retail market analysis on our business’s behalf to supporting enthusiastic entrepreneurs, we’re so pleased the UM-Dearborn’s iLabs recognized the hard work that has gone into making Hartland a business-friendly, business-ready space.”

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.

“While accounting for only about 15 percent of the cities and townships in Michigan, the 277 communities analyzed are home to 70 percent of the population and 85 percent of the state’s commercial property,” said Tim Davis, the College of Business’ assistant dean for student engagement and success. “By analyzing these high-performing communities, our goal is showcase what cities and townships are doing to spur growth and how we can continue to support their efforts in developing business and encouraging entrepreneurs.”

For more information on UM-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research eCities study, visit http://www.umdilabs.com/ecities.