Five Chain Reaction winners will set up shop in Slavic Village

Two of the six winners: BabyMunch Organics and Holmes Mouthwatering ApplesauceCourtesy of CLE Chain ReactionTwo of the six winners: BabyMunch Organics and Holmes Mouthwatering Applesauce

After spending the summer pitching their businesses to investors in the Cleveland Chain Reaction project, Fox 8’s morning show, Kickin’ It With Kenny announced this morning the six winning companies that will set up shop in the Slavic Village neighborhood.

The economic development project is a cooperative effort between Cleveland Neighborhood ProgressCOSE and GlazenUrban. The winners were chosen by five investors from a group of 10 finalists named in July from an initial group of 24 businesses.

The five investors—Fred Geis, owner of Hemingway Development; Andrew Jackson, owner of Elsons International; Lillian Kuri with the Cleveland Foundation; Justin Miller, owner of CleanLife Energy; and Claudia Young, owner of Citizen Pie—have each pledged a minimum of $130,000 toward a $1 million investment in Slavic Village.

Young is investing in two companies, Lina Wines LLC and Metro Croissants. Both will receive an investment, and the two companies are currently seeking one Slavic Village location for shared production and retail space.

Miller has selected Midwest Basics, a clothing manufacturer, while Geis and Jackson are partnering to invest in Sides to Go BBQ. The fast-casual BBQ operation will locate its food commissary in Slavic Village.

The Cleveland Foundation is investing in Holmes Mouthwatering Applesauce and Baby Munch. These two companies will share a production facility.

Fox 8 will air updates on the businesses’ growth over the next few months during Kickin' It with Kenny morning news broadcasts. In December, a program documenting this entire economic development project will also air on Fox 8.

Karin Connelly Rice
Karin Connelly Rice

About the Author: Karin Connelly Rice

Karin Connelly Rice enjoys telling people's stories, whether it's a promising startup or a life's passion. Over the past 20 years she has reported on the local business community for publications such as Inside Business and Cleveland Magazine. She was editor of the Rocky River/Lakewood edition of In the Neighborhood and was a reporter and photographer for the Amherst News-Times. At Fresh Water she enjoys telling the stories of Clevelanders who are shaping and embracing the business and research climate in Cleveland.