AUBURN HILLS — The city of Auburn Hills, a dynamic community committed to innovation and growth, has been recognized as a five star community in the 2012 eCities study by researchers at iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation Research. The study was released this week and hails Auburn Hills and select other cities throughout Michigan that work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development.
Auburn Hills City Manager Pete Auger commends the Auburn Hills’ team for creating a positive business environment and collectively earning an eCities honor every year since 2007, when the award was first offered.
“Auburn Hills continues to be a magnet city for entrepreneurs and businesses that want a progressive, responsive, entrepreneur-friendly government partner,” said Auger. “This award reflects a collaborative effort between our building department, pro-business City Council, and community and economic development teams who work together to exemplify the Auburn Hills Advantage.”
The eCities research surveyed 114 communities from 40 counties in Michigan that are home to 34 percent of Michigan residents and nearly half of its college graduates. More than 125,000 entrepreneurs with over $3 billion in self-employed income call the participating communities home. These communities also had more than $1.5 billion in 2011 commercial construction; more than 70 percent share services with other communities.
“We are pleased to have had more communities than ever from throughout the state participate this year in the eCities research,” said Timothy Davis, director of iLabs. “This project assists local communities by identifying best practices and methods that they can implement to aid in job growth, economic diversification and development of entrepreneurs.”
Auburn Hills and other winning communities were honored at a ceremony at UM-Dearborn on Oct. 30. Support for eCities 2012 is provided in part by the DTE Energy Foundation, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) and UM-Dearborn’s College of Business.
