West Central Michigan News

The City of Coldwater has been recognized for its contributions to Michigan’s entrepreneurial growth and economic development. The annual eCities study, conducted by researchers at iLabs, University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Center for Innovation, designated the City of Coldwater as a four-star community along with 87 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 of 2017-2021, these communities increased their capital assets by an average of 3.4% per year by investments such as new libraries, new community centers, and infrastructure improvements. Further, these places are home to 86% of Michigan’s real commercial property and have 64% of the state’s total property value.

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.

In 2022, communities were also invited to participate in a brief interview to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their city or township. These instructive stories can be found in the final project report on the eCities website.

Learn more about eCities and download the full 2022 eCities study here. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Audrey Tappenden at atappenden@coldwater.org or by calling (517) 279-6913.

About the City of Coldwater: The City of Coldwater is a town in southern Michigan. Established in 1861, the City is a thriving community centrally located between Detroit, Toledo, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Kalamazoo. Known for its historic charm and up-and-coming atmosphere, the City annually hosts events such as Strawberry Fest, Apple Fest, Winter Fest, and Hops on Monroe. The City of Coldwater is one of the fastest-growing communities in the State of Michigan.

Original source can be found here.