City of Sturgis Recognized for its Positive Entrepreneurial Climate

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For the fourth year in a row, the University of Michigan – Dearborn recognized the City of Sturgis for its positive entrepreneurial climate through its annual eCities research project survey. For the second year in a row The City was recognized as a Five-Star community; the highest ranking awarded. Additionally, eCities recognized Sturgis as a 2013 Best Practice Community, one of just eight communities state-wide that received the honor.

The eCities project is conducted by iLabs through the University of Michigan-Dearborn Center for Innovation Research. Five-Star Communities are recognized for their work to foster entrepreneurial growth and economic development. Best Practice Communities are recognized for their incentives, innovative programs and best practices geared toward business development.

“The City is honored to once again be recognized as a Five-Star Community and especially to be named a Best Practice Community” said City Manager Mike Hughes. “These awards are the result of community-wide efforts to make Sturgis a great place to do business and really show that we are making strides in the right direction.”

Sturgis' recognition comes as a result of community-wide economic development efforts from a variety of organizations including the City of Sturgis, Sturgis Improvement Association, Generate Sturgis, and the Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce. Unique initiatives such as the Sturgis 2022 visioning process and efforts of Generate Sturgis helped make Sturgis a Best Practice Community in 2013.

“As a representative of Generate Sturgis, I am excited to see our efforts are making an impact” says City Commissioner and Generate Sturgis Team Leader Mike Wilson. “We have a great team from throughout the community working on Generate Sturgis that bring new talent and ideas to the table. We look forward to continuing to make Sturgis an entrepreneur-friendly place.”

The eCities research surveyed 102 communities in 37 counties representing almost half of Michigan's college graduates and more than one third of Michigan's total population. These communities account for nearly 1/3 of the state's entrepreneurs with $3.2 billion in self-employed income which have collectively enjoyed more than more than $1.8 billion in 2012 commercial construction investment.

The eCities research project, started in 2007, 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. “This annual project makes the university part of the local leader's toolkit for economic development. We are tackling a statewide concern and analyzing the parts that local leaders can directly impact,” says Tim Davis, Director of iLabs. “Participating communities can identify best practices and methods they can implement to aid in job growth, economic diversification and development of entrepreneurs.”

Support for eCities 2013 is provided in part by the DTE Energy Foundation, Point and Pay, Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs and UM-Dearborn's College of Business.