TECUMSEH, Mich. — The City of Tecumseh has been named a 2024 eCities Honored Community by iLabs, the University of Michigan-Dearborn's Office of Engagement and Impact, for its efforts in contributing to Michigan's growth.
Battle Creek, Mt. Pleasant, Romulus and Sault Ste. Marie were the other four Honored Communities.
“So often while attending one of the many events in Tecumseh, I meet someone who has recently moved to the city,’” Tecumseh Mayor Brian Radant said. “Recently, I spoke to a new resident who had stopped at one of our restaurants on their way to look at a possible new home in another community. While at that open house, they asked their realtor to research homes in Tecumseh for them. It was the small-town charm they experienced while passing through that ultimately led them to purchase their new home in Tecumseh. This speaks volumes of our business community and residents who convey Tecumseh’s story to everyone they meet, including folks just passing through.”
Officials said the city "is a celebration of the entrepreneur," with a mix of shops, services, boutiques and dining options inside historic buildings.
"A community steeped in collaboration, local businesses partner with the Downtown Development Authority and City staff to create a timeless experience. The City of Tecumseh is a Certified Redevelopment Ready Community that actively plans for new development, infrastructure investment, and expanded business opportunities, by focusing resources on both economic and community development initiatives for its residents and business community," the city said in a press release.
The city said 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."
Investments such as new buildings, roads and bike paths, and library renovations are said to be just a few of the factors taken into account.
The city said communities that have seen the strongest growth in business development over the past five years, while also controlling the costs of doing business, are designated as five and four-star communities.
“Each year, we enjoy recognizing the efforts made by cities and townships throughout Michigan to support business growth and entrepreneurship in their communities,” Kari Kowalski, assistant director of iLabs said.
