Hough
Bob PerkoskiLacey Talley worked on the Hough Mural Project at East 66th Street and Hough Avenue with other students and members of Oriana House.
Just to the west of Rockefeller Park and University Circle,
the neighborhood was named after early landowners Oliver and Eliza Hough. The
neighborhood is home to historic League Park—home to the Cleveland Spiders
baseball team. By the 1950s, financial insecurity and racial tensions led to
the famous Hough Riots. Today, the neighborhood is home to the African American
Museum. Today, the neighborhood is in the midst of a revitalization, with new
housing and commercial projects happening under the leadership of Famicos
Foundation.
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Manufacturing Growth Advocacy Network (MAGNET) says Ohio manufacturers are maintaining a cautiously optimistic outlook for 2026, with 70% planning to increase headcount despite challenges. A new statewide survey reveals that companies are prioritizing operational efficiency, technology upgrades, and workforce development over innovation as they navigate a more challenging business environment.
Destination Cleveland issued a call for artists in its Murals Across the City program. Three artists will be chosen to create murals on Cleveland buildings—adding to the nine existing murals in city neighborhoods. Artists have until March 30 to submit their portfolios.
Literary Cleveland and partner organizations this week are launching a year-long celebration honoring the legacy of author and Lorain native Toni Morrison, the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The celebration kicks off in Cleveland on Feb. 18 at Karamu House, followed by monthly events throughout Ohio exploring Morrison's 11 novels.
Local blues legend Wallace Coleman didn't begin his music career until his early 50s, but has spent nearly four decades touring internationally, playing with other legends, and recording seven albums. The musician celebrates his 90th birthday tonight with a free concert at The Sixty6 in Cleveland's Midtown neighborhood.
The Trump administration’s December suspension of millions in funding for Ohio manufacturing support programs has caused uncertainty and layoffs, including 37 positions at MAGNET. Despite broad government and industry calls to restore the funds, the outlook remains unclear.
A recent survey conducted by MAGNET reveals that tariffs are creating both opportunities and challenges for Ohio manufacturers, with about one-third of respondents reporting impacts on sales. While some companies benefit from reshoring efforts, losses are often cutting deeper than gains.
MAGNET and other Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnerships (MEPs) are facing an abrupt funding suspension, threatening 90 jobs and support for nearly 14,000 manufacturers statewide. The move eliminates $5.9 million in funding for MAGNET alone, with several smaller centers expected to close immediately.
The Manufacturing Sector Partnership )MSP) in Cuyahoga County has created 3,000 jobs with average annual salaries of $38,000 since its 2019 launch—generating more than $2 million in incremental tax revenue while addressing the manufacturing workforce shortage. Through MAGNET programs like ACCESS and Early College Early Career, the partnership connects underserved populations with attractive manufacturing careers.
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Once considered America's least connected major city, Cleveland is now bridging the digital divide through DigitalC's municipal internet program. The nonprofit has connected 6,000 households with affordable and free high-speed internet since January 2024, is on track to connect 23,500 households by 2028, and just received additional support from Google Fiber.
Sustainability is growing in importance in the manufacturing industry, with companies of all sizes integrating eco-friendly practices into their operations. Sustainable practices can reduce waste and energy consumption, lower costs, incorporate recycled materials, and improve public trust.
This summer, local musicians have enriched Northeast Ohio neighborhoods with performances at unconventional venues—from grocery stores to prisons, to residential front porches. Funded by Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, these initiatives make live music more accessible to diverse populations and create harmony throughout the region.
Startups face many challenges in the current economic climate, particularly companies in the manufacturing sector. Applications are open for MAGNET's 2025 Mspire Pitch Competition, which supports manufacturing innovation through funding, exposure, and guidance to entrepreneurs—with a focus on fostering physical product development.
Cuyahoga County officials and MAGNET celebrated the successful launch of 3,000 manufacturing careers over the past three years through MAGNET's Manufacturing Sector Partnership. The initiative brought together manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and government leaders to build a stronger, more inclusive manufacturing economy in the region.
MAGNET's Advanced Manufacturing Fund addresses the funding gap for physical product startups, which often struggle to attract traditional venture capital. Through a $4 million allocation, the fund attempts to accelerate growth of early-stage manufacturing startups and cultivate a niche investment network.
Cleveland organizations are preparing for Juneteenth celebrations with support from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture, offering a variety of events that honor the holiday's historical significance. Organizers say they hope the events will educate, entertain, and foster community engagement while highlighting the contributions of Black artists and entrepreneurs in the region.
The MidTown Collaboration Center, a new 98,000-square-foot innovation hub in the Hough neighborhood, is celebrating its grand opening with a community block party on May 16. The center, developed by the Cleveland Foundation, JumpStart, KeyBank, and other partners, aims to boost economic activity and create jobs while bringing together multiple organizations focused on community-centered research and programming initiatives.
MAGNET has been at the forefront of driving innovation and growth in Northeast Ohio's manufacturing sector for 40 years. From its origins in engineering support to its current role as a key resource for more than 10,000 businesses, MAGNET continues to play a key role in embracing new methodologies, technologies, and workforce development. strategies.
The FreshWater staff put together this comprehensive guide for a variety of local Cleveland holiday gift ideas. The list highlights some of our favorite products and experiences from local businesses and organizations to encourage shopping locally.
MAGNET's ninth annual Mspire pitch competition awarded $85,000 to seven innovative manufacturing startups in a diverse range of concepts and industries, from sustainable energy solutions with Accelerate Wind's turbines to cake pop molds made by Daisy Makes, to health technology developed by Auxilium Health.
Slow Roll Cleveland, a community cycling group that takes leisurely 10-mile bike rides each week through various Cleveland neighborhoods, concludes its 2024 season next week with a Halloween ride—costumes and bike decorations encouraged.
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