The University of Michigan-Dearborn’s iLabs’ eCities Research Recognizes Warren For Developing A Positive Entrepreneurial Climate

 

Warren 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.

The City of Warren was honored as a four-star community along with 183 other communities across the state.

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, these communities increased their capital assets by an average of 2 percent per year by purchasing public safety equipment and improving sidewalks and other infrastructure.

Warren was recognized November 14, during the eCities panel discussion, that discussed how talent, business policy and access to capital have impacted community growth in Michigan.

“In all of the categories that were considered in making this determination, Warren is outstanding,” said Warren Mayor Jim Fouts.  “Small, medium-sized and large businesses are expanding or relocating to our city.”

Mayor Fouts also added that Crain’s Detroit Business Magazine recently stated Warren was No. 1 in the Metro Area in industrial property assessments even surpassing Detroit, which is five times larger than Warren.

Fouts also pointed to new business expansions in the city including the GM Tech Center, Fiat Chrysler, Tech Plaza, St. John Hospital, MJR Theater, Paslin Industries, and Lipari Foods.

“We are proud of our business-friendly strategy that produces new jobs and new business city taxes,” said Mayor Jim Fouts.

Mayor Jim Fouts also pointed to a city-wide neighborhood street improvement program, new sidewalks, capital expenditures in the city fire department, new LED streetlights and new branch libraries at 9 Mile and Ryan and 9 Mile and Van Dyke as “clean evidence” of this administration commitment to new capital assets, another evaluation category.

“We are honored that we have been recognized for our hard-to-match record of accomplishment in the different categories,” said Mayor Jim Fouts in a statement.

Warren Mayor James R. Fouts