Downtown
Jim Russell, a geographer studying modern migration patterns, writes frequently on the topic of "Rust Belt Chic." The phrase, which refers to the increasing appeal of Rust Belt cities, has been popping up like mad in the national media. Recently, Russell put boots on the ground in C-Town.
The Cleveland Foundation recently awarded $19.9 million in grants, the second highest amount the foundation has awarded in a single quarter, including $2.25 million to strengthen college readiness and graduation rates among Cleveland students.
“Only 11 percent of Cleveland residents 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher,” said Robert Eckardt, executive vice president at the Cleveland Foundation, said in a news release. “Our team created a strategy last year to bolster secondary education success among local students. This quarter’s series of grants is a reflection of that commitment.”
The foundation's grants in this area include $1.01 million to College Now Greater Cleveland, $750,000 to Cuyahoga Community College for the College Success Program and $210,000 to support scholarships for nontraditional students.
The foundation also awarded $2.2 million to support economic development and $1.425 million to support the next phase of the Engaging the Future project, which is an initiative to attract a younger, more diverse audience to the arts.
Source: The Cleveland Foundation
Writer: Lee Chilcote
“Only 11 percent of Cleveland residents 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher,” said Robert Eckardt, executive vice president at the Cleveland Foundation, said in a news release. “Our team created a strategy last year to bolster secondary education success among local students. This quarter’s series of grants is a reflection of that commitment.”
The foundation's grants in this area include $1.01 million to College Now Greater Cleveland, $750,000 to Cuyahoga Community College for the College Success Program and $210,000 to support scholarships for nontraditional students.
The foundation also awarded $2.2 million to support economic development and $1.425 million to support the next phase of the Engaging the Future project, which is an initiative to attract a younger, more diverse audience to the arts.
Source: The Cleveland Foundation
Writer: Lee Chilcote
draft calls cleveland 'beertown, usa'
A recent feature in Draft Magazine calls Cleveland "Beertown, USA," in which it reports that, "there’s no doubt that Cleveland is in the midst of a Rust Belt Renaissance, and at the heart of its resurgence are beer-loving foodies."
The feature includes a nice round-up of local breweries, bars and restaurants, including Great Lakes Brewing, Market Garden Brewery, Happy Dog, La Cave du Vin, and Melt Bar & Grilled.
Drink in the rest right here.
The feature includes a nice round-up of local breweries, bars and restaurants, including Great Lakes Brewing, Market Garden Brewery, Happy Dog, La Cave du Vin, and Melt Bar & Grilled.
Drink in the rest right here.
Westleigh Harper, Brian Bernstein and Michael Horton like to share their view of Cleveland through their designs. The three -- Horton and Harper are project designers and Bernstein is a landscape architect -- often work 16-hour days at their day jobs, yet they repeatedly find themselves working on public art projects in their spare time.
So the three formed Maker, a multi-disciplinary design studio to create projects that have a positive impact on the city.
“Basically, we’re just an entity to enter design competitions,” says Harper. “It’s something that the three of us get together and look at the city a little differently.”
Their perspective has made an impact of various sites within Cleveland. Harper lists their recent projects: “Over the past several years the three of us have collaborated on small projects that pique our interest, including a four-level live/work space on Prospect Avenue, an installation for the June 2012 Made in the 216 event, and a proposal for re-conceptualizing the Euclid Arcade as an emerging design-based incubator.”
Maker is currently working on a small public art project along W. 25th Street for MetroHealth Hospital's 175th anniversary. The project was the result of a conversation the three had with LAND Studio in March.
“The three of us expressed a desire to get involved with local community organizations that we felt aligned with our motivations to positively impact our city,” explains Harper. “We've found that there are a lot of other people out there that want to maintain the sense of urgency to keep the momentum going in Cleveland, so we proactively seek out those opportunities and hope we can add to it.”
Source: Westleigh Harper
Writer: Karin Connelly
So the three formed Maker, a multi-disciplinary design studio to create projects that have a positive impact on the city.
“Basically, we’re just an entity to enter design competitions,” says Harper. “It’s something that the three of us get together and look at the city a little differently.”
Their perspective has made an impact of various sites within Cleveland. Harper lists their recent projects: “Over the past several years the three of us have collaborated on small projects that pique our interest, including a four-level live/work space on Prospect Avenue, an installation for the June 2012 Made in the 216 event, and a proposal for re-conceptualizing the Euclid Arcade as an emerging design-based incubator.”
Maker is currently working on a small public art project along W. 25th Street for MetroHealth Hospital's 175th anniversary. The project was the result of a conversation the three had with LAND Studio in March.
“The three of us expressed a desire to get involved with local community organizations that we felt aligned with our motivations to positively impact our city,” explains Harper. “We've found that there are a lot of other people out there that want to maintain the sense of urgency to keep the momentum going in Cleveland, so we proactively seek out those opportunities and hope we can add to it.”
Source: Westleigh Harper
Writer: Karin Connelly
The State of Ohio has awarded $35.8 million in tax credits to 18 owners who are planning to rehabilitate 44 historic buildings across the state. Two of the projects, the Vincent building and the Truman building, are located in downtown Cleveland.
The Truman building, located on Euclid Avenue between E. 9th and 12th streets, will be renovated to include retail storefronts, office space, 18 market rate apartments and parking. Construction is expected to create at least 50 jobs.
The Vincent Tower, whose upper floors were refurbished for the digital marketing agency Rosetta, will be rehabbed to include 85 market rate apartments. The building, which is located at 629 Euclid Avenue, will receive a $7 million investment. The project will retain 400-plus jobs and create at least 50 construction jobs.
Both projects will feed the strong demand for apartments downtown. Currently, occupancy rates are at about 96 percent and many buildings have waiting lists.
Source: Ohio Department of Development
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Truman building, located on Euclid Avenue between E. 9th and 12th streets, will be renovated to include retail storefronts, office space, 18 market rate apartments and parking. Construction is expected to create at least 50 jobs.
The Vincent Tower, whose upper floors were refurbished for the digital marketing agency Rosetta, will be rehabbed to include 85 market rate apartments. The building, which is located at 629 Euclid Avenue, will receive a $7 million investment. The project will retain 400-plus jobs and create at least 50 construction jobs.
Both projects will feed the strong demand for apartments downtown. Currently, occupancy rates are at about 96 percent and many buildings have waiting lists.
Source: Ohio Department of Development
Writer: Lee Chilcote
ght's matt danko selected as eater 'young gun'
Each year the popular culinary focused website Eater.com announces their Eater Young Guns Class, which honors the most distinguished young industry professionals who are a mere step or two away from becoming a culinary star.
“[This year’s] class of 16 is composed of four women and 12 men; nine chefs, two sommeliers, two pastry chefs, and three front-of-house leaders. The youngest person on the list is 25 and the oldest, with just two-and-a-half years in the business, is 32.”
Among the 16 honored is pastry chef Matt Danko of The Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat.
“Matt started at Greenhouse Tavern on the savory side of the kitchen, but has made pastry his own over the last year. He's now the pastry chef at both Greenhouse and Noodlecat and has become the dessert guy in Cleveland and beyond. He's on the cusp of serious national heat, too: his selection committee champion was none other than Marc Vetri.”
“[This year’s] class of 16 is composed of four women and 12 men; nine chefs, two sommeliers, two pastry chefs, and three front-of-house leaders. The youngest person on the list is 25 and the oldest, with just two-and-a-half years in the business, is 32.”
Among the 16 honored is pastry chef Matt Danko of The Greenhouse Tavern and Noodlecat.
“Matt started at Greenhouse Tavern on the savory side of the kitchen, but has made pastry his own over the last year. He's now the pastry chef at both Greenhouse and Noodlecat and has become the dessert guy in Cleveland and beyond. He's on the cusp of serious national heat, too: his selection committee champion was none other than Marc Vetri.”
Read the full eater.com feature here.
The Cleveland Public Library recently unveiled TechCentral, a new downtown computing hub that offers free use of laptops, tablets and desktop computers, wireless access and 3-D printing.
A library card is all one needs to access the center, which cost $1 million to build and is located in 7,000 square feet in the lower level of the Louis Stokes Wing.
In addition to being able to explore the latest technology on site, card holders will be able to borrow iPads and Kindles to take home for a week at a time. They will also be able to borrow laptops for use anywhere in the building -- including the Eastman Reading Garden -- but won't be able to take them off premises.
Other features of TechCentral include a flexible learning space and SMART board, cloud computing and computer instruction at the main library as well as branches.
CPL created TechCentral in part to provide city residents access to technology. Yet the library's intentions go beyond serving its core constituency of Cleveland residents to better connecting the library to new developments in downtown.
TechCentral is the first phase of CPL’s $12-13.5 million Downtown Destination Plan, which aims to better connect CPL’s downtown buildings with East 4th Street, the Horseshoe Casino, Public Square, the Medical Mart and Convention Center.
Source: Cleveland Public Library
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A library card is all one needs to access the center, which cost $1 million to build and is located in 7,000 square feet in the lower level of the Louis Stokes Wing.
In addition to being able to explore the latest technology on site, card holders will be able to borrow iPads and Kindles to take home for a week at a time. They will also be able to borrow laptops for use anywhere in the building -- including the Eastman Reading Garden -- but won't be able to take them off premises.
Other features of TechCentral include a flexible learning space and SMART board, cloud computing and computer instruction at the main library as well as branches.
CPL created TechCentral in part to provide city residents access to technology. Yet the library's intentions go beyond serving its core constituency of Cleveland residents to better connecting the library to new developments in downtown.
TechCentral is the first phase of CPL’s $12-13.5 million Downtown Destination Plan, which aims to better connect CPL’s downtown buildings with East 4th Street, the Horseshoe Casino, Public Square, the Medical Mart and Convention Center.
Source: Cleveland Public Library
Writer: Lee Chilcote
When Alison Musser and her husband traveled to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the vacation turned stressful when they couldn’t find a crib for their one-year-old daughter. “We called every hotel to see if they had a crib available,” recalls Musser.
While the Mussers were able to eventually rent a crib, the difficulty of finding one prompted the idea for Babies Travel Too. The company rents cribs and other baby equipment to parents traveling to Cleveland who don’t or can’t lug all the necessities with them.
“It seemed like a no-brainer,” Musser says of the business idea. “It’s impossible to bring everything you really need for a child when you’re traveling. If you’re flying into town, we’ll meet you at the airport.” Musser will also deliver to area hotels, Cedar Point or someone’s house.
Musser researched the idea and found she could provide a resource for traveling families. “What we found out was that even large hotels – with 300 rooms – only have three to four cribs.”
Babies Travel Too rents everything from cribs and car seats to baby monitors and bouncer seats. “We do a lot of high chair rentals,” Musser says. “We even do boxes of toys. That’s been really popular.”
Babies Travel Too recently won $25,000 in Bad Girl Ventures’ business plan competition, which Musser plans to use for marketing. “People don’t even know they can look for this type of service,” she says.
The long term goal is to expand Babies Travel Too to a national level. In the meantime, Musser is hiring a couple of delivery drivers to help her out with the summer peak season.
Source: Alison Musser
Writer: Karin Connelly
While the Mussers were able to eventually rent a crib, the difficulty of finding one prompted the idea for Babies Travel Too. The company rents cribs and other baby equipment to parents traveling to Cleveland who don’t or can’t lug all the necessities with them.
“It seemed like a no-brainer,” Musser says of the business idea. “It’s impossible to bring everything you really need for a child when you’re traveling. If you’re flying into town, we’ll meet you at the airport.” Musser will also deliver to area hotels, Cedar Point or someone’s house.
Musser researched the idea and found she could provide a resource for traveling families. “What we found out was that even large hotels – with 300 rooms – only have three to four cribs.”
Babies Travel Too rents everything from cribs and car seats to baby monitors and bouncer seats. “We do a lot of high chair rentals,” Musser says. “We even do boxes of toys. That’s been really popular.”
Babies Travel Too recently won $25,000 in Bad Girl Ventures’ business plan competition, which Musser plans to use for marketing. “People don’t even know they can look for this type of service,” she says.
The long term goal is to expand Babies Travel Too to a national level. In the meantime, Musser is hiring a couple of delivery drivers to help her out with the summer peak season.
Source: Alison Musser
Writer: Karin Connelly
Vocon, a Cleveland architecture and design firm, had been looking for a way to improve its partnership with BDG Architecture and Design in London. The two firms have had a partnership for a couple of years, but they wanted to take it a step further. So they sent Vocon project designer Lindsey Masarik to London for three weeks in May, while BDG associate Geoff Anderson came to Cleveland in a job swap.
“We discovered the firms had a lot of the same philosophies,” says Susan Austin, head of human resources and strategic marketing for Vocon. “We decided to do a swap to find out how we could do things better.”
The exposure to new cultures was highly stimulating for Masarik and Anderson. Both employees noticed that design is dictated by the amount of space available. Cleveland has more space, while real estate is at a premium in London.
“You’re working with a smaller footprint in London,” says Anderson. “It dictates the way you approach your design. It was interesting to see how the American market works.”
Both Anderson and Masarik say it was great experience. “We have the confidence we could work together, we approach things in the same way,” says Anderson. “If we have a joint project we could be in the same room and feel comfortable with each other. It’s an opportunity I hope everyone can experience. It’s very beneficial.”
Sources: Lyndsey Masarik, Geoff Anderson, Susan Austin
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We discovered the firms had a lot of the same philosophies,” says Susan Austin, head of human resources and strategic marketing for Vocon. “We decided to do a swap to find out how we could do things better.”
The exposure to new cultures was highly stimulating for Masarik and Anderson. Both employees noticed that design is dictated by the amount of space available. Cleveland has more space, while real estate is at a premium in London.
“You’re working with a smaller footprint in London,” says Anderson. “It dictates the way you approach your design. It was interesting to see how the American market works.”
Both Anderson and Masarik say it was great experience. “We have the confidence we could work together, we approach things in the same way,” says Anderson. “If we have a joint project we could be in the same room and feel comfortable with each other. It’s an opportunity I hope everyone can experience. It’s very beneficial.”
Sources: Lyndsey Masarik, Geoff Anderson, Susan Austin
Writer: Karin Connelly
hgtv’s front door praises cycling in cleveland
Once a center of industry and mass-production, Cleveland is becoming recognized for green initiatives and sustainability. What a turn of events for the place we call home.
The latest bump of good press comes in the form of HGTV's article, "The 10 Greatest Cycling Cities in America."
“The underdog of this list, this historic rust belt city is home to an impassioned and persevering community of bike riders." states the writer.
In comparison to the leaders on the list, which contain the likes of Portland, New York, and San Francisco, it is easy to see why Cleveland is once again referred to as an “underdog.”
"Cleveland was one of the first cities in the country to temporarily close streets to motorized traffic so they can be enjoyed by cyclists and pedestrians," say local rider Jeff Sugalski.”
The article also notes, “Another exciting feature of Cleveland's urban cycling scene is its Metroparks, or nature preserves with walking, hiking and bicycling trails along river paths and creeks.”
The latest bump of good press comes in the form of HGTV's article, "The 10 Greatest Cycling Cities in America."
“The underdog of this list, this historic rust belt city is home to an impassioned and persevering community of bike riders." states the writer.
In comparison to the leaders on the list, which contain the likes of Portland, New York, and San Francisco, it is easy to see why Cleveland is once again referred to as an “underdog.”
"Cleveland was one of the first cities in the country to temporarily close streets to motorized traffic so they can be enjoyed by cyclists and pedestrians," say local rider Jeff Sugalski.”
The article also notes, “Another exciting feature of Cleveland's urban cycling scene is its Metroparks, or nature preserves with walking, hiking and bicycling trails along river paths and creeks.”
Check out the full series in addition to the Cleveland piece here.
cleveland’s trans fat ban draws national attention
In light of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposing a ban on the sale of large-sized sugary drinks, Joe Palazzolo of the Wall Street Journal points out that citizens need to look no further than Cleveland, Ohio, when it comes to local government determining what can and cannot be consumed by residents and guests.
“The Cleveland city council passed a law last year to ban restaurants from using cooking oils containing trans fats.”
In the meantime, those both for and against the ban have been battling it out in court whether it is within the local government’s jurisdiction to impose such a ban.
On Monday, June 11, “Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy Russo sided with the city, finding that Cleveland was within its powers to outlaw trans fatty cooking oils.”
This might serve as proof that local government may have more say about what its citizens can and cannot do than anyone ever thought.
Read the full WSJ story here.
“The Cleveland city council passed a law last year to ban restaurants from using cooking oils containing trans fats.”
In the meantime, those both for and against the ban have been battling it out in court whether it is within the local government’s jurisdiction to impose such a ban.
On Monday, June 11, “Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy Russo sided with the city, finding that Cleveland was within its powers to outlaw trans fatty cooking oils.”
This might serve as proof that local government may have more say about what its citizens can and cannot do than anyone ever thought.
Read the full WSJ story here.
If there's one thing we Clevelanders can count on, it's that when the weather heats up, so too does the festival schedule. Summers here are filled with all matter of artsy, edgy and just-plain-fun festivals. Here is a visual tour of some of the best in town, including Parade the Circle, Cleveland Asian Fest, Hessler Street Fair, Gay Pride, the Feast, and more.
NEOSA recently completed its quarterly survey of Northeast Ohio’s tech sector, which measures how tech businesses are succeeding and their hiring trends and expectations, and the results are strong.
“What we’re seeing right now is not overly aggressive growth, but steady growth,” says NEOSA director Brad Nellis. “What I see are generally positive trends. When we compare results from previous surveys, we’re moving in the right direction. We’re really going on measured expansion going on two years.”
The survey showed that 67 percent of respondents said first quarter business was either good or very good; 87 percent expect their overall business to improve within the next year; and 73 percent plan to increase their staff.
Eighty-two percent of the companies surveyed reported they are currently hiring, which Nellis says is an all-time high in the seven years NEOSA has conducted the survey. The downside is companies are still struggling to find the right talent.
“I’m worried about the lack of talent," says Nellis. "The problem is we don’t have a pipeline in the colleges – they’re not graduating enough IT students.”
While the lack of IT talent graduating from college is a national problem, Nellis said Cleveland's reputation is improving. “The challenge is it can be difficult to get people to move here from outside the region,” says Nellis. “But Business Week listed Cleveland as one of the hottest tech jobs markets in the country.”
And area organizations are working diligently to attract the talent to Cleveland. For instance, Global Cleveland is planning an online career fair for tech jobs.
Source: Brad Nellis
Writer: Karin Connelly
“What we’re seeing right now is not overly aggressive growth, but steady growth,” says NEOSA director Brad Nellis. “What I see are generally positive trends. When we compare results from previous surveys, we’re moving in the right direction. We’re really going on measured expansion going on two years.”
The survey showed that 67 percent of respondents said first quarter business was either good or very good; 87 percent expect their overall business to improve within the next year; and 73 percent plan to increase their staff.
Eighty-two percent of the companies surveyed reported they are currently hiring, which Nellis says is an all-time high in the seven years NEOSA has conducted the survey. The downside is companies are still struggling to find the right talent.
“I’m worried about the lack of talent," says Nellis. "The problem is we don’t have a pipeline in the colleges – they’re not graduating enough IT students.”
While the lack of IT talent graduating from college is a national problem, Nellis said Cleveland's reputation is improving. “The challenge is it can be difficult to get people to move here from outside the region,” says Nellis. “But Business Week listed Cleveland as one of the hottest tech jobs markets in the country.”
And area organizations are working diligently to attract the talent to Cleveland. For instance, Global Cleveland is planning an online career fair for tech jobs.
Source: Brad Nellis
Writer: Karin Connelly
Groundworks Dance Theater recently presented an original work choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett that featured rousing Broadway-style choreography set to the music of the 80s band the Pretenders.
The show wasn't exactly what comes to mind when one thinks of contemporary dance, and audiences loved it. Groundworks General Manager Beth Rutkowski says her organization is using performances like this to reach new audiences in Cleveland.
"There are a lot of people who say, 'I'm not really a modern dance person and modern dance is weird,'" says Rutkowski. "Yet if we're able to get them in the door, they find our work is extremely accessible. It's getting past that barrier."
Connecting diverse, new audiences to Cleveland's rich arts and culture groups is the purpose of Engaging the Future, an initiative by the Cleveland Foundation to help arts organizations think differently about how to grow their audiences.
"It's about more than just putting butts in seats," says Rutkowski. "We're looking at ways to engage different people and a more diverse audience. Audiences for many arts organizations in Cleveland are getting older and are for the most part white. We want to look at new ways of thinking and share best practices."
Some of the new ideas Groundworks is considering include collaborating with other groups; stressing a more interactive relationship with its audience; offering performances online for younger audiences that want to "self-curate"; hosting evening gatherings of creative individuals, including entrepreneurs, to explore the relationship between art and creativity; and developing a series of videos called "It's Your Move" that connect dance to regular, everyday body movements.
Engaging the Future recently released a survey and hopes to glean audience information from it that will help organizations to chart a course in the future.
Source: Beth Rutkowski, Kristin Puch
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The show wasn't exactly what comes to mind when one thinks of contemporary dance, and audiences loved it. Groundworks General Manager Beth Rutkowski says her organization is using performances like this to reach new audiences in Cleveland.
"There are a lot of people who say, 'I'm not really a modern dance person and modern dance is weird,'" says Rutkowski. "Yet if we're able to get them in the door, they find our work is extremely accessible. It's getting past that barrier."
Connecting diverse, new audiences to Cleveland's rich arts and culture groups is the purpose of Engaging the Future, an initiative by the Cleveland Foundation to help arts organizations think differently about how to grow their audiences.
"It's about more than just putting butts in seats," says Rutkowski. "We're looking at ways to engage different people and a more diverse audience. Audiences for many arts organizations in Cleveland are getting older and are for the most part white. We want to look at new ways of thinking and share best practices."
Some of the new ideas Groundworks is considering include collaborating with other groups; stressing a more interactive relationship with its audience; offering performances online for younger audiences that want to "self-curate"; hosting evening gatherings of creative individuals, including entrepreneurs, to explore the relationship between art and creativity; and developing a series of videos called "It's Your Move" that connect dance to regular, everyday body movements.
Engaging the Future recently released a survey and hopes to glean audience information from it that will help organizations to chart a course in the future.
Source: Beth Rutkowski, Kristin Puch
Writer: Lee Chilcote
connecticut post posts about sawyer and wusthof campaign
It appears as if Cleveland’s other culinary golden boy, Jonathon Sawyer, is lending his name and reputation to a popular cookware manufacturer.
Olivia Just from the Connecticut Post reports that the "Defining the Edge" campaign from Wusthof cutlery centers around three chefs, "The Rebel," Richie Nakano from San Francisco; "The Poet," Camas Davis from Portland, Ore.; and "The Believer," Jonathon Sawyer from Cleveland, Ohio.
“Each of the chefs has a story that fits in with the spirit of the campaign: Nakano started with a pop-up food stand Hapa Ramen, Davis learned the art of butchery and founded the Portland Meat Collective, and Sawyer opened the Greenhouse Tavern, Ohio's first certified green restaurant.”
The campaign is not just about lending their culinary celebrity to a commercial brand but also educating consumers on improving their techniques and knife skills.
"We are looking to target food-centric and hyper-connected college-educated, 25- to 35-year-olds," Garaghty said. "We are also trying to reach those who are newly married, a first-home buyer, or someone in the process of updating their kitchen."
Read the full story here.
Olivia Just from the Connecticut Post reports that the "Defining the Edge" campaign from Wusthof cutlery centers around three chefs, "The Rebel," Richie Nakano from San Francisco; "The Poet," Camas Davis from Portland, Ore.; and "The Believer," Jonathon Sawyer from Cleveland, Ohio.
“Each of the chefs has a story that fits in with the spirit of the campaign: Nakano started with a pop-up food stand Hapa Ramen, Davis learned the art of butchery and founded the Portland Meat Collective, and Sawyer opened the Greenhouse Tavern, Ohio's first certified green restaurant.”
The campaign is not just about lending their culinary celebrity to a commercial brand but also educating consumers on improving their techniques and knife skills.
"We are looking to target food-centric and hyper-connected college-educated, 25- to 35-year-olds," Garaghty said. "We are also trying to reach those who are newly married, a first-home buyer, or someone in the process of updating their kitchen."
Read the full story here.
Before a packed house at Severance Hall, Cleveland Foundation President Ronn Richard touted the city's accomplishments in becoming a hub of innovation and taking bold steps to address big problems at the foundation's annual meeting this Tuesday.
Waxing poetic on the gilded stage for a moment, Richard harkened back to the foundation's early days in the 1910's as a time of tremendous innovation in Cleveland. "I still wonder if the past might be prologue," he mused, noting that the foundation's centennial is just two years away. "Can we envision the spirit of a second renaissance in Cleveland?"
Richard also posed a challenge to civic leaders to remain focused on true economic development and social change within the city. "Physical development, as wonderful as it is, must be coupled with investment in people and placemaking," he said, noting that the building spree of the 1990s was too focused on bricks and mortar projects. "We need to invest in connecting communities."
Among the foundation's projects, Richard touted the Cleveland schools plan that recently passed the state legislature, ongoing investments in high quality urban education, economic development programs such as the HealthTech Corridor and the Evergreen Cooperatives, and programs to connect new audiences to the arts.
Richard also told the audience that later this year the Cleveland Foundation will unveil a new microlending program for entrepreneurs seeking loans under $50,000 to help spur job creation and assist the creation of startups.
Source: Ronn Richard
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Waxing poetic on the gilded stage for a moment, Richard harkened back to the foundation's early days in the 1910's as a time of tremendous innovation in Cleveland. "I still wonder if the past might be prologue," he mused, noting that the foundation's centennial is just two years away. "Can we envision the spirit of a second renaissance in Cleveland?"
Richard also posed a challenge to civic leaders to remain focused on true economic development and social change within the city. "Physical development, as wonderful as it is, must be coupled with investment in people and placemaking," he said, noting that the building spree of the 1990s was too focused on bricks and mortar projects. "We need to invest in connecting communities."
Among the foundation's projects, Richard touted the Cleveland schools plan that recently passed the state legislature, ongoing investments in high quality urban education, economic development programs such as the HealthTech Corridor and the Evergreen Cooperatives, and programs to connect new audiences to the arts.
Richard also told the audience that later this year the Cleveland Foundation will unveil a new microlending program for entrepreneurs seeking loans under $50,000 to help spur job creation and assist the creation of startups.
Source: Ronn Richard
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Jessica Cantrall and her husband Brian like to make life easy -- especially grocery shopping. So the couple developed Empty Aisle, a web-based grocery shopping platform that makes wandering the aisles unnecessary.
“We are constantly looking at the world and thinking of ways to make it better,” says Cantrall. “People need a way to find food quickly and easily. They want to find what they want and get out the door.”
Empty Aisle allows shoppers to create a food profile with their preferences and allergies. “You can filter things out you don’t want,” explains Cantrall. Using Empty Aisle, customers select exactly what they want, pay for it, then go to their local grocery store to pick up their order.
Cantrall envisions a day that in-store grocery shopping is a thing of the past. The Empty Aisle system automatically archives order histories, saves grocers’ rewards cards and tracks buying preferences.
The Cantralls are currently trying to get the word out to consumers, sell the concept to grocers, and raise money through Indiegogo. “We’re focusing on the consumers more heavily at this point,” says Cantrall. “And we have to prove to grocers there is a demand for it. We really want to position ourselves as a middle man between grocers and shoppers.”
Source: Jessica Cantrall
Writer: Karin Connelly
“We are constantly looking at the world and thinking of ways to make it better,” says Cantrall. “People need a way to find food quickly and easily. They want to find what they want and get out the door.”
Empty Aisle allows shoppers to create a food profile with their preferences and allergies. “You can filter things out you don’t want,” explains Cantrall. Using Empty Aisle, customers select exactly what they want, pay for it, then go to their local grocery store to pick up their order.
Cantrall envisions a day that in-store grocery shopping is a thing of the past. The Empty Aisle system automatically archives order histories, saves grocers’ rewards cards and tracks buying preferences.
The Cantralls are currently trying to get the word out to consumers, sell the concept to grocers, and raise money through Indiegogo. “We’re focusing on the consumers more heavily at this point,” says Cantrall. “And we have to prove to grocers there is a demand for it. We really want to position ourselves as a middle man between grocers and shoppers.”
Source: Jessica Cantrall
Writer: Karin Connelly
nasa + rta + h = h2o + go
A new partnership between NASA and the Greater Cleveland RTA has resulted in a space-age bus (oxymoron alert!).
Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which converts hydrogen gas into water and electricity, the bus can travel the streets of Cleve for up to 100 miles per "fill-up."
The plan is to install a hydrogen fueling station at the RTA garage in East Cleveland that will power a fuel cell bus.
"The purpose of the project is to demonstrate alternative energy technologies and build awareness for hydrogen fuel cells," reports WKSU's Jeff St. Clair. "Northeast Ohio is a center for fuel cell research. The state's Third Frontier Fuel Cell program, from 2003 to 2011, pumped $90 million into fuel cell research and manufacturing in Ohio."
For a great description on how fuel cells work, listen to this broadcast from WKSU.
Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which converts hydrogen gas into water and electricity, the bus can travel the streets of Cleve for up to 100 miles per "fill-up."
The plan is to install a hydrogen fueling station at the RTA garage in East Cleveland that will power a fuel cell bus.
"The purpose of the project is to demonstrate alternative energy technologies and build awareness for hydrogen fuel cells," reports WKSU's Jeff St. Clair. "Northeast Ohio is a center for fuel cell research. The state's Third Frontier Fuel Cell program, from 2003 to 2011, pumped $90 million into fuel cell research and manufacturing in Ohio."
For a great description on how fuel cells work, listen to this broadcast from WKSU.
Downtown's growing base of residents and office employees, as well as the visitors coming into the city for the new Horseshoe Casino and other amenities, have spurred a mini restaurant boom here.
Many new venues are of the casual variety, offering tasty, reasonably-priced fare in a place where one would be as comfortable opening a laptop as wearing a tie.
The idea behind such fresh dining concepts is to cater to a gap in the downtown scene, which has plenty of destination dining spots and quick lunch joints but not many comfortable cafes in which to grab a sandwich or entree on a Wednesday night.
Three of these new restaurants -- Charka Exotic Indian Cuisine, BRGR 9 and El Guerro -- have recently opened on W. 9th Street. Traditionally, this has been a quiet corner of the Warehouse District, thus a perfect spot to add such options.
Charka is owned by purveyors who have a similar restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania. BRGR 9 is owned by the folks behind the ever-popular Heck's Cafe in Ohio City and offers more than two dozen types of jaw-dropping burgers (including veggie options). El Guerro specializes in fresh Mexican food.
Source: BRGR 9, Charka Exotic Indian Cuisine, El Guerro
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Many new venues are of the casual variety, offering tasty, reasonably-priced fare in a place where one would be as comfortable opening a laptop as wearing a tie.
The idea behind such fresh dining concepts is to cater to a gap in the downtown scene, which has plenty of destination dining spots and quick lunch joints but not many comfortable cafes in which to grab a sandwich or entree on a Wednesday night.
Three of these new restaurants -- Charka Exotic Indian Cuisine, BRGR 9 and El Guerro -- have recently opened on W. 9th Street. Traditionally, this has been a quiet corner of the Warehouse District, thus a perfect spot to add such options.
Charka is owned by purveyors who have a similar restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania. BRGR 9 is owned by the folks behind the ever-popular Heck's Cafe in Ohio City and offers more than two dozen types of jaw-dropping burgers (including veggie options). El Guerro specializes in fresh Mexican food.
Source: BRGR 9, Charka Exotic Indian Cuisine, El Guerro
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Global Cleveland will host a job coaching event on Saturday, June 23 to help people find a job in Northeast Ohio. Job coaches will be available by appointment to review resumes, provide job search resources or simply serve as a personal connection to Cleveland.
“It’s always been a part of our program,” says Global Cleveland president Larry Miller. “We have HR professionals who help newcomers with their job search. But this is the first time we’re doing it as an event.”
Global Cleveland has partnered with the Society for Human Resource Management Cleveland to provide job coaching. “We have a crew of 60 volunteer coaches signed up,” says Miller. “We are delighted about that partnership and how these HR professionals have participated in our program.”
Nearly 100 people have asked for job coaching assistance since February. Miller says participants usually have one of three questions: How do I find a job, what are the communities in Cleveland, and how do I start a business in Cleveland.
“We try to build a personal relationship,” says Miller. “The very first thing we do is shake their hand, look at them eyeball to eyeball and say, ‘You’ve come to the right place.’ We’re trying to get the word out that jobs are available in Cleveland and it’s a wonderful place.”
Appointments will be scheduled every 30 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. The last appointment will be scheduled for 1:30 p.m. All appointments must be scheduled and confirmed by Thursday, June 21. Contact Joel Matos at joel@globalcleveland.org or by calling (216) 472-3282.
Source: Larry Miller
Writer: Karin Connelly
“It’s always been a part of our program,” says Global Cleveland president Larry Miller. “We have HR professionals who help newcomers with their job search. But this is the first time we’re doing it as an event.”
Global Cleveland has partnered with the Society for Human Resource Management Cleveland to provide job coaching. “We have a crew of 60 volunteer coaches signed up,” says Miller. “We are delighted about that partnership and how these HR professionals have participated in our program.”
Nearly 100 people have asked for job coaching assistance since February. Miller says participants usually have one of three questions: How do I find a job, what are the communities in Cleveland, and how do I start a business in Cleveland.
“We try to build a personal relationship,” says Miller. “The very first thing we do is shake their hand, look at them eyeball to eyeball and say, ‘You’ve come to the right place.’ We’re trying to get the word out that jobs are available in Cleveland and it’s a wonderful place.”
Appointments will be scheduled every 30 minutes beginning at 10 a.m. The last appointment will be scheduled for 1:30 p.m. All appointments must be scheduled and confirmed by Thursday, June 21. Contact Joel Matos at joel@globalcleveland.org or by calling (216) 472-3282.
Source: Larry Miller
Writer: Karin Connelly