eCities Updates

2012 News:

eCities is gearing up for a May launch!! We have a great group of student researchers ready and excited to work with YOUR community! Invitations and more information are on the way, so keep a look out for an eCities 2012 invitation...

2011 News:

iLabs was pleased to have Martin Dober, Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurship and Innovation for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), as the Keynote speaker at the eCities 2011 Luncheon.

More than 85 local and regional government leaders attended the 5th annual event. Mr. Dober spent time reviewing MEDC presentations that have been used to attract businesses to Michigan from all around the nation. Still growing in its fifth year, eCities 2011 and iLabs invited over 200 cities, townships, and villages – adding to the interested communities from the previous year.  A total of 138 Communities have participated in eCities since 2007 with a handful participating yearly in our survey.

This year’s participating communities are home to:

36% of Michigan’s residents
44% of Michigan’s college graduates
32% of Michigan’s entrepreneurs

Account for:

45% of Michigan’s Commercial Property
Over $1 Billion in Commercial Construction

Additionally:

58% of eCities participating communities share services
44% Share services relating to Economic Development

At the 2011 eCities Luncheon, iLabs recognized 44 communities across the state. Of these communities, 21 were honored as five-star communities and 23 as four-star communities. In addition, Seven Top-Performing Communities were recognized for their innovative and successful efforts at fostering entrepreneurship and encouraging economic development.

All participating communities received a Star Report which provided a high-level analysis of the progress made by local governments in their economic development efforts. Participating communities earned the right to feature the eCities Seal as proof of their commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and encouraging economic growth.

For more information on the eCities project, or to participate in eCities 2012 (launching Spring 2012), please contact the eCities management team at ecities@umd.umich.edu or by phone at (313) 593-4060.