In This Issue
The CEO's Corner - We're Better than We Think. Why don't we know that?
Team NEO Board Strengthened
The Art and Science of Grant Writing
Neotechjobs.com Launched
Wayne Economic Development Council Surpasses Goal
New Industrial Building Planned for Stow Commerce Center
InfoCision Holds Groundbreaking for new Boardman Facility
Timken Invests $60 Million in Canton
Pass the Plus
The CEO's Corner - We're Better than We Think. Why don't we know that?
Tom Waltermire

What if I told you that Northeast Ohio's economy has grown every year for the last 5 years?

What if I said that employment in Northeast Ohio is at its highest level in 5 years?

What if I said that manufacturing output in our region is actually higher than 15 years ago?

Would you believe me?

Each of these statistics is TRUE, and yet, many Northeast Ohioans continue to think otherwise. Why is that?

Well, there are a lot of reasons, but I would suggest two:

First, no one, up to now, has regularly published data about our 16 county Cleveland Plus, Northeast Ohio region. Without data for our region, how can we understand what is going on in the region? Team NEO is now filling that gap with a quarterly economic report focused on economic indicators only for the region as a whole. Each quarter we look at employment, total earnings by our workforce and estimates of our region's total economic output, plus a special topic of interest. Viewed as 16 counties, we are doing better in most measures than popular perception. You can access our most recent report by clicking here. In this report you will find the facts behind the questions above and much more, including:
  • Unemployment has averaged 5.4% the past year, relatively low by historical standards.
  • The total payroll for the region's workforce is $7 billion per year higher than 5 years ago, after subtracting inflation. The average worker is better paid in real terms than 5 years ago.
  • Manufacturing still leads Northeast Ohio's economy, with 22% of our economic output, and that output is indeed higher than 15 years ago.
  • Output per manufacturing worker has jumped 35% in just the last 6 years. We are more productive and competitive.
  • Our total economy is 32% larger than 15 years ago. Yes, 32% LARGER.
There are many remarkable insights in this quarter's report. Yes, compared to the US as a whole, our growth has been slower. But we all know the hits we have taken to some of our long-standing economic pillars. And yet, we have grown by nearly a third since the early 1990s. Underlying economic vitality and innovation are more than offsetting those big hits. None of us should be satisfied with where we are, but we all should have the confidence that we are in fact building on the foundation of the past to create a better future. There are a lot of talented people here doing amazing things.

So why is this not perceived and widely reported? It is human nature and unavoidable journalistic practice to focus on the big changes that hit us. Economic downturns often are noisy. Growth hums. Between the tortoise and the hare, when the hare crashes and burns, he gets the headlines, while the steady progress of the tortoise doesn't make the cut for your favorite media homepage.

We also find it hard to describe our complex, heterogeneous region in media-friendly sound bites. Jobs are up in some parts of the region and down in others. We have core cities with low personal incomes and other communities where incomes are strong. The City of Cleveland loses population, but more people live downtown than ever before and the condos keep coming. Akron progresses while the other core cities lag.

It is right for the headlines to be about our challenges. They urge us to action. But, unfortunately, those negative headlines about one slice of our region tend to morph into an image of the region as a whole. Federal statistics do show that per capita income for the 400,000 residents of the City of Cleveland is low compared to other large cities. But, those same statistics show that income for the 2,100,000 residents of the 5 county metro-Cleveland ranks in the top 25% of all metropolitan areas, higher than metro-Atlanta and Charlotte. Both views are true.

We are still learning how to think and talk about ourselves as a region. This requires both a regional view and views that address the realities of our many, disparate parts. As a whole, we are better than we think. That knowledge and confidence that we are making progress, in the face of strong headwinds, is vital, if we are to pick up the pace for the benefit of the region as a whole and for the benefit of each community.

Tom Waltermire
Tom
Top
Team NEO Highlights
Team NEO Board Strengthened
Team NEO's governing Board of Trustees is strengthened with the recent addition of Christopher M. Connor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Sherwin-Williams Company and Kenneth D. Hardy, President and CEO of Bonnie Speed Delivery, Inc. Both of these outstanding leaders have successfully grown their businesses and will help Team NEO fulfill its mission of attracting new business investment to Northeast Ohio. For the full release, including bios, click here.
Top
Regional Business News
The Art and Science of Grant Writing
Through the generosity of the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Team NEO is able to offer, on a first-come-first-served basis, the opportunity for one economic development professional per community to attend a special two-day workshop on grant writing at the reduced fee of $75.00. The session will be held September 10-11, 2007 at Middleburg Heights Community Center and includes key winning strategies to get more money, including:
  • Where to get new money
  • Why 50% of grant proposals fail
  • Case studies
  • Sample winning grant proposals
  • Five step process for program planning
If you would like to get one of the six slots Team NEO has available at this reduced rate, please contact Carin Rockind, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at crockind@teamneo.org.
Top
Neotechjobs.com Launched
Talent attraction and retention will continue to be a major force in the economic revitalization of the region. NorTech recently launched Neotechjobs.com, the high-tech talent and opportunity matching website. There are currently 5,300 jobs in IT, Electronics, Engineering, Healthcare and Bioscience and more than 1,300 registered technology job seekers, the majority being in IT. Click here to register as a job seeker or employer.
Top
Wayne Economic Development Council Surpasses Goal
The Wayne Economic Development Council (WEDC) set out to raise $1.5 million for funding the "Growing A Quality Future" campaign for economic development. They recently announced that they have secured commitments from the public and private sector of more than $1.8 million for four years, exceeding its campaign goal.

The campaign will fund proactive initiatives for business retention and expansion, new business attraction, entrepreneurship and product development. Click here for The Daily Record coverage of this successful campaign.
Top
New Industrial Building Planned for Stow Commerce Center
The Geis Companies plans to construct a 62,412-square-foot industrial building on 5.2 acres of land in the Stow Commerce Center. Construction is expected to begin in late July, and should be completed by October. Consolidated Plastics is the proposed tenant for the building. The location of their operation in this building will create at least 20 full-time jobs and generate about $1.25 million in annual payroll.
Top
InfoCision Holds Groundbreaking for new Boardman Facility
The Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber announced that InfoCision held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of its newest facility in Boardman. The $1.5 million project is expected to create at least 120 new jobs and retain 240 current positions. The Regional Chamber assisted InfoCision in securing at 35% Job Creation Tax Credit form the State of Ohio. For more details on the call center's new facility, click here.
Top
Timken Invests $60 Million in Canton
The Stark Development Board announced that The Timken Company is investing $60 million in its steel rolling mill operations in Canton to increase the company's capability to produce differentiated steel products, including specialty steel bars down to 1-inch diameter. Construction was scheduled to begin earlier this summer and is expected to be completed by mid-2008. Click here for the full announcement.
Top
Cleveland Plus
Regional Marketing Newsletter
 
As a founding partner of the Cleveland Plus Marketing Alliance, we'd like to once again share the Pass the Plus, the alliance's new monthly newsletter, with Team NEO subscribers.
Pass the Plus
+ July 2007 +
  
Cleveland+
Welcome to the second edition of the Pass the Plus e-newsletter. This monthly newsletter is intended to spread some of the good news (the pluses) of the Cleveland Plus region.

What exactly is the Cleveland Plus region, you ask?
Cleve•land plus n. (klev'l?nd plus)
A region located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie. Its geographic footprint is one of the most widespread in the United States, with a $140 billion economy, four major cities, and 4 million people in 6,000 square miles.
See also: Cleveland+
Synonyms: Northeast Ohio; Cleveland + Akron + Canton + Youngstown

YOU are a vital part of Cleveland Plus. As a resident or employee in the Cleveland Plus region, you are one of its most important assets. You can help the campaign promoting Cleveland Plus by simply sharing what you think makes our region so special, and why it's the perfect area to LIVE + WORK + LEARN + PLAY.

Take advantage of the clevelandplus.com Web site, PASS the PLUS by forwarding this e-newsletter and/or submit your video to our YouTube page. Every one of us can make a positive impact on the Cleveland Plus region.

Keep reading for more information on:
  • Major events that have all eyes on the region
  • Celebrate Cleveland month
  • Cleveland ranks high in another global study
  • New regional economy findings
  • Plus Place of the Month: Ashtabula County
  • Where to take out-of-towners in July and early August
Cleveland Plus News
The spotlight shines on the region
This month, two major events will take place in the Cleveland Plus region that will draw the attention of national and international media and fans:
  • The Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement will be featured on primetime television on Saturday, August 4. Leading up to the Enshrinement is the Hall of Fame Festival which kicks off in Canton on Friday, July 27. Saturday's activities include the Timken Grand Parade, fireworks and concerts. The Hall of Fame game on Sunday, August 5, has the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints facing off in front of a national broadcast audience.
  • The 2007 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational will take place from Tuesday, July 31 to Sunday, August 5, at Firestone Country Club in Akron. Tickets and entertainment packages are available by calling 1-877-942-4849 or logging on to bridgestoneinvitational.com. This year, the Invitational will be broadcast in more than 140 countries.
Cleveland Ranks High for Business Travelers
Cleveland was ranked the sixth best city worldwide as a potential destination for business travelers. The Economist Intelligence Unit compared 127 cities, examining factors such as cost, culture and stability. Cleveland was the second highest-ranking U.S. city, surpassed only by Honolulu. View the report here.
( Editor's note: Check out clevelandplus.com to view other national media stories covering the Cleveland Plus region.)
Regional Economy More Positive Than Expected
Team NEO's recently published June edition of its Northeast Ohio Quarterly Economic Review revealed surprising statistics about our region's economy. Some of the highlights include:
+ Regional employment has been stable the last 2 quarters, remaining at the highest level the region has seen in 5 years
+ 2007 is expected to be the sixth consecutive year of growth in regional economic output
+Manufacturing productivity has increased, and output is stable, keeping this sector globally competitive. In fact, the Cleveland Plus region's GRP (Gross Regional Product) per worker for the manufacturing sector has increased, much due to new technologies and capital investments
Visit TeamNEO.org to download a copy.
Akron Art Museum Grand Opening
A new world-class cultural destination is ready to be unveiled in Akron. The new Akron Art Museum will open in July with fun-filled activities for the entire family, including a free sneak peek day on Sunday, July 15. Celebrate the Ribbon Cutting and Inaugural Day of the new John S. and James L. Knight Building on Tuesday, July 17, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
No zzzzzz's Here
When a successful Broadway musical goes on tour, where does its cast, crew and set designers perfect the show in advance? In Cleveland, of course. The producers of the hit Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone selected Playhouse Square in downtown Cleveland over any other city in North America to build, teach and rehearse for its 2007 North American Tour. The six week process will bring money, travelers and lots of creative energy to the Cleveland Plus region. In addition, the show's first performance on its United States tour will be at the Palace Theatre on October 16, 2007.
Cleveland Plus Happenings
New Cleveland Visitors Center: NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS
There is a new Cleveland Visitors Center in the Higbee Building located on the southeast corner of Public Square. Also in the Higbee building, The Greater Cleveland Partnership, COSE and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland have a new home, TOGETHER in the redesigned space. The unique and historical building still features the original Higbee chandeliers, revolving doors and detailed woodwork.
Networking in the Middle III
Young Professionals, mark your calendars. The next YP Networking in the Middle event is scheduled for Thursday, August 23, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. in Youngstown. More details will be available in the August Pass the Plus e-newsletter.
Cleveland Plus TOOL KIT
The Cleveland Plus Marketing Alliance has paired up with BrandMuscle to create a customization tool kit for marketers in organizations, corporations, institutions and civic groups in our region. The kit allows easy access to Cleveland Plus ads, logos and designs for new and existing marketing materials. The Medina County CVB, The City of Akron and Tower City Center are three organizations who have already used this tool kit to create their own pieces. If you're interested in learning more, please contact clevelandplus@BrandMuscle.com.
Plus Places of the Month
Ashtabula County, Ohio
Ashtabula is geographically the largest of all the counties in the Cleveland Plus region, and in Ohio. Made up of 27 townships, the county boasts more than 16 historic covered bridges, quaint towns and villages, wineries, shopping, train rides and lots of outdoor adventures.

Tourists can take a trip back in time by visiting Ashtabula's heritage destinations including the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum, the Great Lakes Marine & Coast Guard Museum, and the Finnish American Cultural Center.

How to get there:
Ashtabula County is easily accessible via I-90, and is situated just east of Lake and Geauga counties. Check out Ashtabula's special interest map, featuring its covered bridges, wine regions, parks and trails.
Find Your Plus in Ashtabula County:
Lake Shore Park + AC&J Scenic Train Rides + Ashtabula County Fair + Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum + Historic Ashtabula Harbor + FinFest USA 2007 + Pymatuning State Park + Wild Waterworks Waterslides + Fishing Galore + Grand River Alpaca Farm
It's cool. It sticks. It's free.
Cleveland+ Sticker
Get your free CLE+ sticker! Send an e-mail to clevelandplus@yahoo.com with "sticker" in the subject line. Include your name and address in the body of the e-mail, and we'll send one out to you ASAP.
Cleveland Plus Adventures
Do you have friends and family visiting for a wedding or reunion? Take them to...
Burning River Festival + 41 North Kayak Adventures + 2007 World Golf Championships -Bridgestone Invitational + Open Air in Market Square + Hale Farm and Village + Ingenuity Festival + National Hamburger Festival + Fishing in Lorain County + Amish Country + Lake County Wineries + Mosquito Lake State Park + Rally in the Alley + Holden Arboretum
   
Want your group, business or organization to learn more about Cleveland Plus? Email hKessen@LandauPR.com to book a Cleveland Plus representative to speak at your next event.

We need your help!
The Pass the Plus e-newsletter is looking for "Regional Reporters" to keep us updated on regional events, organizations, activities, awards and/or issues in your area. Please contact Lexi Robinson at aRobinson@LandauPR.com if interested.

For more information:
  • Pass the Plus is distributed the second Tuesday of every month. The deadline for any newsletter suggestions or submissions is the first Tuesday of the month.
  • Do you have a favorite place in the Cleveland Plus region? Send it to us at clevelandplus@yahoo.com or upload a video to our YouTube channel.
  • For additional information or to contact a member of the Cleveland Plus Marketing Alliance, email clevelandplus@yahoo.com or visit clevelandplus.com.