TEAM NEO to Honor Most Impactful 2008 Economic Development Projects

4/28/2009

Team Northeast Ohio will recognize local economic development efforts that helped retain companies, create jobs and bring foreign investment to the region during the calendar year 2008 at the upcoming Team NEO Economic Development Impact Awards dinner being held June 2, 2009 at 5:30 pm at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence, Ohio.

“In 2008, there were 6,000 new jobs added and more than $1.2 billion invested in the Cleveland Plus region,” said Tom Waltermire, Team NEO’s Chief Executive Officer.  “It is important to celebrate the ‘wins’ that are helping to diversify and advance our economy, and it is critical that the region honor the unsung heroes – the economic developers, communities, and non-profit organizations – who fight daily to make progress.”

More than 60 applications from 10 counties were received for the third annual celebration.  The judging panel selected the following as finalists: 

Asset Creation

  • BioInnovation Institute: Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron General Health System, BioEnterprise, City of Akron, The Knight Foundation, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM), The Summa Health System, County of Summit, and University of Akron
  • Preservation/restoration of the Capital Theatre: Detroit Shoreway Community Development 
  • Bioscience research and business park at Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC): Wayne Economic Development Council, OARDC , and City of Wooster

Business Attraction

  • Attracting 10 new companies and 2 Venture Funds in 2008: BioEnterprise 
  • Attracting PC Helps: City of Cleveland and Greater Cleveland Partnership
  • Attracting Republic Special Metals: Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber

Business Expansion

  • American Augers: Ashland Area Council for Economic Development, Ashland County, Jackson Twsp. 
  • 2008 Impact: Great Lakes Wind Network 
  • Friction Products: City of Medina 

Business Retention

  • Bridgestone Technical Center: City of Akron, Greater Akron Chamber, County of Summit, Summit County Port Authority
  • Competitive Challenge Program: MAGNET 
  • General Motors Lordstown Complex (Chevrolet Cruze): Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber

Foreign Investment

  • Agreement with BioJerusalem: Beachwood Chamber of Commerce and BioOhio
  • RTS Co. of Ontario: Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County 

 Fostering Entrepreneurship

  • 2008 Impact including AMTEC, Metallurgica: Akron Global Business Accelerator
  • NCO Tech Fund: Cuyahoga County Department of Development, MAGNET, NorTech,  Jumpstart
  • Innovation Fund: Lorain County Community College Foundation

Marketing Cleveland Plus

  • Employee Exposure: Cohen & Co. 
  • Promoting Regional Brand: Cool Cleveland

Minority Business Development

  • 2008 Impact: Hispanic Business Association 
  • 2008 Impact: Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+
  • Wholesome Development LLC HQ: City of Lakewood & LakewoodAlive

Public-Private Partnership

  • Lance and American Augers: Ashland County, City of Ashland, Ashland Area Chamber Of Commerce and Ashland Area Council for Economic Development  
  • Project Labor Agreement: City of Cleveland , Cleveland Building & Construction Trades Council and University Hospitals 
  • Hoover Redevelopment: Maple Street Commerce LLC. City of North Canton, and Stark Development Board
  • Innovative Economic Development Programs including “Buy River” and Center Ridge Corporate Corridor Project: City of Rocky River and Rocky River Chamber of Commerce

Workforce Development

  • Training: Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Center of Cuyahoga Community College 
  • Workforce Contributions: Case Western Reserve University
  • Training: Cleveland Clinic, Cuyahoga County Workforce Investment Board, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corp., UCIP-ASAP, Councilwoman Mamie Mitchell

All finalists will be recognized, and one winner in each category will be announced at the Economic Development Impact Awards dinner. Tables of 10 and individual tickets are available for sale.  Please log on to inside-business.com to register.

In addition, Congressman Ralph Regula will be honored with the annual H. Peter Burg Regional Vision Award at the event.  The award commemorates the late chairman and CEO of FirstEnergy Corporation, a regional leader who was the founding chairman of Team NEO. Ralph Regula, who recently retired after 36 years in the House of Representatives for Ohio’s 16th Congressional District, will be honored for his work to advance the region.  In his position as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Education he was able to bring resources back to Northeast Ohio for health care research, health care productive development, nursing retention, job retraining for displaced manufacturing workers, and federal monies for Northeast Ohio’s public and private universities to act as tools for economic development.

The 2009 Economic Development Impact Awards are presented by the Sherwin-Williams Company. Additional sponsors include: the University of Akron, First Place Bank and the Fedeli Group. For more information about the awards and Team NEO, visit www.teamneo.org.

Team NEO advances Northeast Ohio’s economy by attracting businesses worldwide to the 16-county Cleveland Plus region.  The organization is a joint venture of the region's largest metro chambers of commerce.  Since 2007, the organization has attracted more than 20 new companies, 2,200 new jobs and more than $70M in annual payroll to Northeast Ohio, leading to a total regional annual impact of $150M. For more information, visit www.clevelandplusbusiness.com.

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