Northeast Ohio: Regionalism News & Discussion

[jpop]

Regional Prosperity Initiative lays out plan for collaboration
By JAY MILLER
2:00 pm, June 3, 2009

A group trying to get Northeast Ohio communities to work more collaboratively expects to have a plan for regional revenue sharing and regional land planning in place by next January.

The Regional Prosperity Initiative, jointly financed by the Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers Association, the Fund for Our Economic Future and other philanthropic groups, laid out its plan Wednesday morning at Corporate College East in the first of a round of meetings with civic and business leaders.

More at crainscleveland.com http://www.crainscleveland.com

[jpop]

The Fund Makes Plans to Continue Regional Economic Competitiveness Work to 2013
06.09.2009 -

PHILANTHROPIC COLLABORATION MAKES PLANS TO CONTINUE REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS WORK TO 2013
Fund for Our Economic Future approves strategy for phase three

KIRTLAND, OHIO (June 9, 2009) – The Fund for Our Economic Future today voted to continue its collaboration to support regional economic competitiveness into a third phase to start in February 2010 and end in February 2013.

Members of the Fund unanimously approved its phase three strategy at the quarterly Funders Committee meeting held on the Lakeland Community College campus. Formed in 2004, the Fund for Our Economic Future is a charitable collaboration of organizations and individuals that uses grantmaking, research and civic engagement to strengthen the 16-county region’s economic competitiveness. In its third phase, the Fund intends to continue working with its partners in the public and private sectors to implement Advance Northeast Ohio, the region’s economic action plan focused on four priorities:

■ Business growth and attraction
■ Talent development
■ Racial and economic inclusion
■ Government collaboration and efficiency

In phase three, as in the previous phases, voting members will contribute $100,000 or more to the collaboration and jointly decide how to allocate its grantmaking dollars. In its first two phases, the Fund has raised more than $55 million. Fund members will make financial commitments to phase three over the next several months.

“The members’ unanimous support for continuing our collaboration reflects both the tremendous progress we have made in helping strengthen the region’s economy, as well as an appreciation that much work needs to be done to ensure a vibrant economic future for Northeast Ohio,” said Fund Chairman David Abbott, who is also executive director of The George Gund Foundation. “In these challenging economic times, it is more important than ever that philanthropy and others within the region unite to address the priorities that influence Northeast Ohio’s ability to compete in the global economy.”

Abbott acknowledged that because of the global financial crisis, the Fund anticipates having fewer resources in the next three years than were available during each of its first two phases.

“Each member organization will have to decide how much it can commit to the collaboration,” he said. “I am confident that the Fund will continue to accelerate progress in building growing industries, preparing our region’s residents for the jobs of the present and the future, improving the efficiency of local government and ensuring that all of our region’s residents have greater access to economic opportunities.”

One of the key objectives of the third phase will be to enhance partnerships with government officials, the region’s business community and other civic leaders. “These strengthened partnerships will help Northeast Ohio sustain important economic competitiveness work over the long term,” Abbott said.

Also, the Funders Committee approved a $250,000 grant to explore ways to expand the agricultural industry in Northeast Ohio. The study will be conducted by the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center (OARDC), one of the nation’s leading food and agricultural research centers.

The OARDC, which is based in Wooster, will work with agricultural interests from across Northeast Ohio to identify opportunities to grow the region’s $8.2 billion agricultural industry. Home to more than 2,200 farms, about 40 percent of the region’s land is used for agriculture. However, much of the region’s agricultural output is limited to commodity products, and every year more agricultural land is lost to residential and commercial development. Expanding the region’s specialty agriculture production – ranging from locally grown foods to renewable energy crops – would result in higher incomes and job growth, and would also preserve the region’s natural assets.

“Agriculture is a critically important industry to the economic future of our region, and this research will identify options to accelerate its growth,” said Peter Meisel of the Meisel Family Foundation and co-chair of the Fund committee that recommended the grant.

The OARDC anticipates completing its work within one year and the Fund would then consider proposals to support recommendations that emerge from the work.

Additionally, the Fund approved a $20,000 contribution to a study that will identify opportunities to tighten economic connections between Northeast Ohio and the Pittsburgh Region. Partners in the “Tech Belt Initiative” intend to spend a total of $100,000 on the research to be conducted by GSP Consulting Corp. of Pittsburgh. Other contributors to the study include the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber, the Greater Cleveland Partnership and the Allegheny Conference on Economic Development. GSP will work with a steering committee to identify at least five initiatives that could accelerate economic growth for the “mega region” of Pittsburgh-Northeast Ohio. The work will include a variety of activities, including conducting national/international benchmarking, assessing the shared assets of the two regions, facilitating interactions between potential partners, identifying federal funding sources and creating a network of interested partners.

“Our two regions have tremendous assets that can be leveraged to create increased economic growth on both sides of the states’ border,” said Joel Ratner, president of The Raymond John Wean Foundation of Warren. Ratner is leading the Fund’s participation in the Tech Belt Initiative.

[buckeye1]

North Ridgeville fire department wins efficient government contest
Friday, August 7, 2009

By MEGAN ROZSA
mrozsa@MorningJournal.com

NORTH RIDGEVILLE — The Westshore Regional Fire District project, of which the North Ridgeville Fire Department is a member, was a winner in the EfficientGovNow program. The three winners of the competition will receive a share of $300,000...

Post edited 9-4-09 to comply with terms of use

...To read the Westshore Regional Fire District's proposal, visit www.efficientgovnow.org and click on "Proposals."

URL: http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2009/08/07/news/mj1438540.prt

© 2009 morningjournal.com, a Journal Register Property

[MuRrAy HiLL]

It's passed 10 am...Anyone hear anything yet?

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson to announce new downtown tenant at 10 a.m. news conference

by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday August 24, 2009, 9:11 AM


Mayor Frank JacksonAs his re-election opponents second-guess his economic development record, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson this morning will announce a new downtown tenant.

A media advisory from City Hall says Jackson and his economic development director, Tracey Nichols, will announce the relocation of a company's regional offices at a 10 a.m. news conference. The advisory indicates the company specializes in finance.

More at cleveland.com

http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2009/08/cleveland_mayor_frank_jackson_2.html

[KJP]

Got a press release from Mayor Jackson's office this morning stating that a company will locate its regional offices to downtown Cleveland. But it doesn't say anything more. The announcement was to be made at 10 a.m. today.

[MyTwoSense]

Ummm.  Its 11 AM.  Mayor Jackson, get off of CP time!

[doctabroccoli]

No announcement yet?

[cardsnxtyr]

There was an article posted in the downtown office news thread about the press conference but made no mention of the company relocating here.

[willyboy]

Public accounting firm Crowe Horwath to leave Mayfield Heights for downtown Cleveland
by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday August 24, 2009, 10:32 AM

Crowe Horwath LLP, a national public accounting and consulting firm, will relocate its regional base from Mayfield Heights to downtown Cleveland, Mayor Frank Jackson announced today.

About 45 employees will make the move to the Fifth Third Building in December 2009.

More at cleveland.com http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2009/08/public_accounting_firm_crowe_h.html

[cardsnxtyr]

Public accounting firm Crowe Horwath to leave Mayfield Heights for downtown Cleveland
by Henry J. Gomez/Plain Dealer Reporter
Monday August 24, 2009, 10:32 AM
http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2009/08/public_accounting_firm_crowe_h.html

About 45 employees will make the move to the Fifth Third Building in December 2009.

GREAT NEWS!!!!   

Looks like my building is going to get a little bit busier come December 

[rockandroller]

Ummm.  Its 11 AM.  Mayor Jackson, get off of CP time!

Oh no he d'int!

[TBideon]

Local businesses playing musical chairs with locations does not really add much to Greater Cleveland.  Now if Crowe moved because they were expanding and needed the additional office space that their Mayfield Hts branch couldn't provide, then I'd sing a different tune. 

[X]

It's good news, imo, but not press conference worthy.

[McCleveland]

^welcome to election season.

[KJP]

Bingo!

[mrnyc]

good for the city even if it is just more regional shuffling around.

[McCleveland]

Local businesses playing musical chairs with locations does not really add much to Greater Cleveland.  Now if Crowe moved because they were expanding and needed the additional office space that their Mayfield Hts branch couldn't provide, then I'd sing a different tune. 

I disagree...  If this were a company moving from Mayfield to Beachwood, I would agree with you.  But any company that moves to downtown helps create a more active and vibrant downtown.  It is imperative for the entire region that downtown prosper.  Therefore I think that this does 'help' greater cleveland, even if it's in baby steps.

[KJP]

True. The countryside needs to be surrounding the city, not in the center of the city.

[Gramarye]

Local businesses playing musical chairs with locations does not really add much to Greater Cleveland.  Now if Crowe moved because they were expanding and needed the additional office space that their Mayfield Hts branch couldn't provide, then I'd sing a different tune. 

I disagree...  If this were a company moving from Mayfield to Beachwood, I would agree with you.  But any company that moves to downtown helps create a more active and vibrant downtown.  It is imperative for the entire region that downtown prosper.  Therefore I think that this does 'help' greater cleveland, even if it's in baby steps.

I don't think I really see how.  Taking jobs out of one pocket and putting them into another doesn't add any net jobs or wealth to the greater Cleveland area.  It may turn out that this is a good move if it enables Crowe Horwath to grow more than it would have in Mayfield Heights, but we won't know that for years (and we won't know it beyond doubt even then because we won't be completely certain of what would have happened had they stayed put).

I certainly wish the firm all the best, and I hope that they do find business is better downtown and expand.  That would be real growth.  I'm not counting chickens before they hatch, however.

[MorningTheft]

^ The idea is to create a critical mass downtown.  The more office workers that are downtown the more likely I am to open my store downtown.  The more stores and jobs that are downtown, the more demand there is for downtown housing.  The more demand for downtown housing, the more likely it is for a developer to renovate a building (or build a new building) into apartments or condos.  The more people that live downtown, the more likely that more stores and bars and restaurants will open and downtown becomes more lively.  Once downtown is more lively (and is perceived so) the more likely the college kid graduating from OU or Miami will decide to move to Cleveland instead of Chicago.  Etc, etc, etc.

See, its just that easy!

[cle2032]

I think it's important to understand that Cleveland doesn't need 2,000,000 in the city proper to be a vibrant city.  Of course that'd be nice but if we're more efficient with what we already have, that concentration of energy should spur growth, right?  I'd rather have an amazing French chocolate truffle than a box of Hershey's from Sam's Club!  Save that stuff for Phoenix and Charlotte!  We deserve a real patisserie!

[Gramarye]

^ The idea is to create a critical mass downtown.  The more office workers that are downtown the more likely I am to open my store downtown.  The more stores and jobs that are downtown, the more demand there is for downtown housing.  The more demand for downtown housing, the more likely it is for a developer to renovate a building (or build a new building) into apartments or condos.  The more people that live downtown, the more likely that more stores and bars and restaurants will open and downtown becomes more lively.  Once downtown is more lively (and is perceived so) the more likely the college kid graduating from OU or Miami will decide to move to Cleveland instead of Chicago.

All fine and dandy as long as you implicitly exclude Mayfield Heights from being part of "Cleveland."  The perception of coolness isn't going to lure kids from OU or Miami to Cleveland without a job waiting for them in the area--whether it's downtown or in Mayfield Heights.

[tedolph]

Want to create critical mass downtown? Induce Eaton to stay and expand.  If Jackson and Strickland are really doing all they can to retain businesses they could at least convince me of that.  If what they did is what they have disclosed to date then that was an inadequate effort.  I also think the effort (at least public display of effort) was inadequate with respect to the loss of BP (couldn't we have at least kept the research facility in Warrensville Hts?), Diamond Shamrock, East Ohio Gas, First Energy, Addressograph Multigraph (Harris), etc.  Can you imagine what downtown Cleveland would look like today if we had retained just two of these companies, all of them?  It would be a miniature New York.  The Mayoral culture for the past 30 years has been abysmal (other than Vonovich and maybe Mike White) towards big business.  Corporations were evil and poor people were saints.  I think we voted for poverty first mayors and poverty we got.  Yea, yea I know about macro economic forces and look at other industrial cities suffering the similar fates but I just don't believe that a city with Cleveland's strenghts/assets is/was totally at the mercy of economic circumstances. 

We did nothing to make our luck and instead catered to the poor.  There, I said it. 

[X]

^ The idea is to create a critical mass downtown.  The more office workers that are downtown the more likely I am to open my store downtown.  The more stores and jobs that are downtown, the more demand there is for downtown housing.  The more demand for downtown housing, the more likely it is for a developer to renovate a building (or build a new building) into apartments or condos.  The more people that live downtown, the more likely that more stores and bars and restaurants will open and downtown becomes more lively.  Once downtown is more lively (and is perceived so) the more likely the college kid graduating from OU or Miami will decide to move to Cleveland instead of Chicago.

All fine and dandy as long as you implicitly exclude Mayfield Heights from being part of "Cleveland."  The perception of coolness isn't going to lure kids from OU or Miami to Cleveland without a job waiting for them in the area--whether it's downtown or in Mayfield Heights.

I don't think anyone said that.  Where did someone say that?

[MyTwoSense]

Want to create critical mass downtown? Induce Eaton to stay and expand.  If Jackson and Strickland are really doing all they can to retain businesses they could at least convince me of that.  If what they did is what they have disclosed to date then that was an inadequate effort.  I also think the effort (at least public display of effort) was inadequate with respect to the loss of BP (couldn't we have at least kept the research facility in Warrensville Hts?), Diamond Shamrock, East Ohio Gas, First Energy, Addressograph Multigraph (Harris), etc.  Can you imagine what downtown Cleveland would look like today if we had retained just two of these companies, all of them?  It would be a miniature New York.  The Mayoral culture for the past 30 years has been abysmal (other than Vonovich and maybe Mike White) towards big business.  Corporations were evil and poor people were saints.  I think we voted for poverty first mayors and poverty we got.  Yea, yea I know about macro economic forces and look at other industrial cities suffering the similar fates but I just don't believe that a city with Cleveland's strenghts/assets is/was totally at the mercy of economic circumstances. 

We did nothing to make our luck and instead catered to the poor.  There, I said it. 

Did you read what mccleveland said about Eaton???  They dont want to be in Cleveland, it has nothing to do with the leadership of mayor jackson.  Eaton doesn't want to be downtown.  So let tell the ENTIRE STORY and move on.
 
In regard to BP, no it could not be kept in Warrensville.  There were a lot of things that went down that are out of control of the Mayor.  I was one of the last BP America employees and a part of the "transition" team.
 
Also comparing NYC to CLE or any other US business center is comparing apples to oranges.  It's irrelevant and goes to show how "perception" overshadows reality and how our cities ego and insecurity overrules common sense at times.

[Gramarye]

^ The idea is to create a critical mass downtown.  The more office workers that are downtown the more likely I am to open my store downtown.  The more stores and jobs that are downtown, the more demand there is for downtown housing.  The more demand for downtown housing, the more likely it is for a developer to renovate a building (or build a new building) into apartments or condos.  The more people that live downtown, the more likely that more stores and bars and restaurants will open and downtown becomes more lively.  Once downtown is more lively (and is perceived so) the more likely the college kid graduating from OU or Miami will decide to move to Cleveland instead of Chicago.

All fine and dandy as long as you implicitly exclude Mayfield Heights from being part of "Cleveland."  The perception of coolness isn't going to lure kids from OU or Miami to Cleveland without a job waiting for them in the area--whether it's downtown or in Mayfield Heights.

I don't think anyone said that.  Where did someone say that?

Count the number of times MorningTheft used the word "downtown."  That's implicitly exclusionary against Mayfield Heights, because otherwise, the same exact paragraph could be written putting in "Mayfield Heights" instead of "downtown," and still end with the contention that it would attract college graduates to "Cleveland" instead of Chicago (they would just come to Mayfield Heights instead of downtown, but if both of the above really were "Cleveland," that wouldn't matter).

Therefore, the implied premise of the statement was that "downtown" is "Cleveland," whereas "Mayfield Heights" is not Cleveland.  At least, that's the implied premise unless you also assume that people would move to Greater Cleveland with no jobs awaiting, just because it was "cool."

[McCleveland]

if you don't see the importance of having a strong downtown (and the effects it has in turn on the entire region, perception and otherwise), I don't know what to tell you...

yes I 100% believe it is more important to have 45 jobs downtown than it is to have those same 45 jobs in mayfield heights.  For countless reasons.

[3231]

Gramarye,

What would happen if Key moved to an office campus in Westlake. Then, Sherwin Williams move to Strongsville. Next, Forest City moved to Solon, Huntington moved to Brecksville, PNC moved to Mayfield. If this all happened, would you think that the sum change would be even for the region or would it have a detrimental effect on the region?

[Gramarye]

I agree with your first paragraph, not with your second.  It's important to have a strong downtown, yes.  If that downtown gets strong by pillaging its suburbs, however, then it violates one of the main reasons for wanting a strong downtown: to be an engine of regional growth.

As I said, if the downtown location enables Crowe Horwath to expand more than it could have in Mayfield Heights, then the region will be able to say that it's actually gained from the move.  Otherwise, it's just playing musical chairs, as another poster already said.

I look to see downtowns grow by growing existing businesses (small businesses to mid-size ones, mid-size ones to big MNCs), forming new ones, and bringing in businesses from outside the region (preferably outside the country).

That said, Crowe Horwath obviously thought it was worth the move, and it's a partnership, so all the principal employees are also the principal decisionmakers, so they obviously thought it was worth their while to make this move, and I respect that.

[MyTwoSense]

I agree with your first paragraph, not with your second.  It's important to have a strong downtown, yes. If that downtown gets strong by pillaging its suburbs, however, then it violates one of the main reasons for wanting a strong downtown: to be an engine of regional growth.

As I said, if the downtown location enables Crowe Horwath to expand more than it could have in Mayfield Heights, then the region will be able to say that it's actually gained from the move.  Otherwise, it's just playing musical chairs, as another poster already said.

I look to see downtowns grow by growing existing businesses (small businesses to mid-size ones, mid-size ones to big MNCs), forming new ones, and bringing in businesses from outside the region (preferably outside the country).

That said, Crowe Horwath obviously thought it was worth the move, and it's a partnership, so all the principal employees are also the principal decisionmakers, so they obviously thought it was worth their while to make this move, and I respect that.

Its a reversal of fortune.  Lets use Eaton as an example ( i know I said leave it alone) but didn't Beachwood pillage?  Why did they negotiate instead of saying, "in our regions best interest, Eaton should stay downtown?"  If Beachwood didn't want Eaton, they would have found another 'burb to move to.  It's a horrible business decision that they want a "campus" and to move to a place with a tacky horrible suburban bland design.  However, like most of those company's their employees are going to find limited locations that they can entertain their clients and it's going to make it more difficult to do business as clients, especially out of town clients that are trying to maximize meetings and need to stay over night.  Those people will then have to rent a car and pay for a hotel. 
 
I honestly think this move will haunt and hurt Eaton for years to come.
 
Moving that company from downtown to the beachwood corridor, give the impression that the city & county government along with other business leaders couldn't work to keep Eaton DT and creates the perception that businesses are leaving Cleveland when in fact with the loss of some major company's it's still one of the top 10 CBDs in the country.
 
When young employees want to come to a company, they want to come to the city center, not the bland 'burbs which could be emulated in any market.
 
The fact that a small company, is moving downtown today, will possibly change peer company's perception and business practices. 
 
In addition it will put more money back into our local economy.  As the person may ride the bus, shop downtown, dine downtown and entertain clients downtown, something they most likely could not do efficiently or economically in the 'burbs.