Charter Township of Commerce (MI)

What Charter Township of Commerce (MI) does

The Charter Township of Commerce is a municipal government entity organized under Michigan charter township law, operating in Oakland County, Michigan with its township hall at 2009 Township Drive. It provides full-service local government to approximately 43,000 residents, including public safety (fire and police departments), water and sewer services, building inspections and permitting, parks and recreation, a community library, senior services, property tax collection, and planning/zoning functions. The township is governed by an elected Board of Trustees led by Township Supervisor Larry Gray and operates two wholly-owned sub-units: the Commerce Township Community Library and the Downtown Development Authority.

The township's technology platform centers on a MuniCMS 2.0 website with integrated digital services: BS&A Online handles permitting, inspection scheduling, and property tax payments (credit card fees at 2.8% + $0.50, e-check at $1.50-$6.00); Nixle powers the CTALERTS emergency text notification system; Mailchimp distributes electronic newsletters; and Google Analytics tracks web traffic. The library operates a layered digital ecosystem including Hoopla, Kanopy, Libby/Overdrive, Brainfuse tutoring, Mango Languages, Data Axle, and Weiss Financial Ratings. A 2026 partnership with HydroCorp added cloud-based cross-connection control surveying for water safety compliance.

Revenue derives primarily from property taxes (the main funding mechanism), building and permit fees, water/sewer connection charges, and contracted services such as residential garbage collection through Priority Waste. A proposed $18.6 million Unlimited Tax General Obligation bond for pathway construction will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot, financed via 0.6 mills over 10 years. Service distribution combines physical township hall and library locations with self-serve online portals, supported by Nixle emergency alerts and partnerships with the Road Commission for Oakland County and University of Michigan-Dearborn iLabs (eCities research partner).

Name

Charter Township of Commerce (MI)

Legal name

The Charter Township of Commerce

Website

https://commercetwp.com

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Charter Township of Commerce is a Michigan municipal government entity in Oakland County providing public safety, water/sewer, permitting, parks, library, and senior services to approximately 43,000 residents and local businesses, funded primarily through property taxes and service fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Government Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services (BPAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Property tax collection
• Public safety services
• Parks and recreation
• Community library services

Headquarters

HQ city

Commerce Township, Michigan

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Collection: Collection of property taxes as the primary revenue source for township operations, including police, fire, roads, and general government services
2. Building and Permit Fees: Fees collected for construction permits, building inspections, water and sewer connections, and land development approvals
3. Bond Issuance (Proposed): Proposed Unlimited Tax General Obligation bonds for pathway construction, not to exceed $18.6 million over 10 years

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Charter Township of Commerce is a local municipal government in Oakland County, Michigan that provides a wide range of public services to residents and businesses. Core offerings include property tax and utility billing collection, building and planning permits, police and fire emergency services, parks and recreation programming, a community library, civic events, FOIA processing, and citizen self-service portals. The township also supports emergency notification subscriptions and coordinates community-wide programs such as trash/recycling collection, aquatic center access, and fiber internet availability.

Product overview

The Charter Township of Commerce operates a unified government services platform centered on its official township website at commercetwp.com, which serves as the primary digital interface for residents to access township departments, online services, and community resources. The township provides a portfolio of interconnected services including online permitting and property tax payments through BS&A Online, emergency notification via CTALERTS text messaging with Nixle, and electronic newsletters distributed through Mailchimp. The Commerce Township Community Library operates as a distinct sub-brand under the township, offering extensive digital services including Hoopla for streaming movies and music, Kanopy video streaming, Libby/Overdrive for eBook lending, research databases (Brainfuse, Mango Languages, Data Axle, Weiss Financial Ratings), Craft & Hobby instructional videos, and news subscriptions (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post). The township also provides specialized programs like the Cross-Connection Control Program for water safety, TALK early literacy text service, 3D printing at the library, and Parks & Recreation facilities including pickleball, youth sports, and pathway systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Commerce Township Community Library: Public library providing books, digital resources, programs, and community services to township residents
• The Forge (Makerspace)
• Richardson Rental Center

Products and services

• Property Tax and Utility Billing Collection Collection of property taxes, water/sewer utility payments, and miscellaneous billing for Commerce Township residents and businesses, payable online or in person.
• Building, Electrical, Plumbing and Mechanical Permits Permitting services administered by the Building Department for residential and commercial construction, including plan review, inspections, and code compliance.
• Police Services Public safety services including patrol, response, vacation house watch, and access to police reports for township residents and businesses.
• Fire and Emergency Services Fire suppression, emergency medical response, fire safety education, and related emergency services delivered to Commerce Township residents and businesses.
• Commerce Township Community Library Community library offering books, digital resources, programming, and meeting space to Commerce Township residents and library cardholders.
• Parks and Recreation Programs Community recreation programming including events such as Bounce, Lake United, and Bounce Back to School, delivered through Commerce Township parks.
• Aquatic Center Public aquatic facility offering swimming, lessons, and recreational water access for residents and visitors.
• FOIA Request Processing Formal Freedom of Information Act request submission and processing service for members of the public seeking township records.
• Emergency Notification Subscription (Nixle) Opt-in emergency and community alert service delivering notifications to residents who subscribe via the Nixle platform.
• Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Curbside trash and recycling collection service for Commerce Township residents, coordinated through the township's contract with Priority Waste.
• Fiber Internet Availability Information Information and access to fiber internet service now available to Commerce Township residents, promoted through township communications channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of households would be within a 10-minute walk of the pathway network if bond passes
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HydroCorpcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 May 2026Comprehensive cross-connection control program partnership for water safety and compliance. HydroCorp, a leader for over 40 years in water safety, provides on-site surveys to identify unprotected cross-connections and backflow prevention recommendations. The program encompasses both residential and commercial properties.
• NixlecoreTechnology or IntegrationEmergency text messaging service partnership enabling residents to receive notifications via text or email during emergency situations. Residents can text CTALERTS to 888-777 to subscribe.
• BS&A OnlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline payment processing partner for property tax payments and permitting services. Provides secure online transaction processing for credit card and e-check payments.
• Priority WastecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGarbage, recycling, and hazardous waste collection services provider for Commerce Township residents. Residents can contact Priority Waste at 586-228-1200 or report issues online.
• Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRoad maintenance and infrastructure partnership. Residents report road issues including potholes, snow/ice, and signal issues to RCOC. Mobile app available for easy issue reporting.
• People's ExpressminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCountywide transportation survey partnership with Oakland Transit and Qualtrics to better understand transportation needs and barriers in Oakland County.
• University of Michigan-Dearborn iLabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual eCities research partnership analyzing community economic development metrics. Commerce Township recognized as four-star community for 5 consecutive years for supporting business growth and entrepreneurship.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• CivicPlus: Provider of municipal website content management and civic engagement software — comparable as a potential alternative to the MuniCMS 2.0 platform Commerce Township currently uses.
• Tyler Technologies: Large government-technology vendor providing ERP, permitting, and citizen services software to municipalities comparable in scale to Commerce Township — relevant as an incumbent platform alternative.
• Granicus (govDelivery/CivicPlus): Government communications and digital services platform used by municipalities for websites, notifications, and citizen engagement — comparable as a competing stack to MuniCMS + Mailchimp + Nixle.
• BS&A Software: Michigan-based government software vendor already partnered with Commerce Township for permitting, inspections, and tax payments — comparable as both a vendor peer and a benchmark for municipal software stacks.

Direct peers

• Charter Township of West Bloomfield: Oakland County charter township with similar affluent demographics, full municipal services, and parks/recreation emphasis — directly comparable in scale and service mix.
• City of Novi, Michigan: Adjacent Oakland County municipality of similar size providing police, fire, library, water/sewer, parks, and active economic development — closely comparable across nearly every service line.
• Charter Township of Waterford: Adjacent Oakland County charter township of comparable size and service profile (police, fire, water/sewer, library, parks). Most directly comparable municipal peer given shared geography and charter township structure.
• Charter Township of Independence: Oakland County charter township operating police, fire, water, library, parks and recreation services for a similar-sized population — directly comparable operating model.
• Charter Township of Clinton, Michigan: Macomb County charter township of similar operational scale offering police, fire, water, recreation, and senior services — directly comparable for municipal benchmarking.
• Charter Township of Orion: Oakland County charter township with parallel municipal service structure (public safety, water/sewer, building, parks). Strong peer for benchmarking service delivery and revenue mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CommerceTownship
• Instagraminstagram.com/librarycommerce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charter-township-of-commerce-mi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Charter Township of Commerce (MI)