Valerie Mayen may have left Season 8 of Project Runway prematurely, but she won't be leaving Cleveland anytime soon. In addition to headquartering her burgeoning fashion label Yellowcake here, the Corpus Christie native will soon launch an innovative sewing co-op for budding designers. And that is just the beginning.

Northeast Ohio's ingenuity in polymers and advanced materials is having a positive impact on the region's production of flexible electronics products for the global market. FlexMatters, a cluster of businesses, suppliers, service providers and institutions within the flexible electronics industry, has attracted a significant amount of capital from public and private sources in the last several months.

NorTech, which launched FlexMatters to address low-cost manufacturing of electronic devices printed on flexible plastic materials, recently released information on funding for members of the cluster. In all, FlexMatters members garnered $14 million in capital, according to NorTech.

The funds were offered at a variety of stages and for different purposes. Cleveland's Blue Spark Technologies, for example, received a $6 million private equity series B investment, which will be used to accelerate new applications for thin, printed, disposable batteries.

The FlexMatters cluster connects member organizations with funding, revenue and technology partnership opportunities. "We are building a robust innovation cluster in Northeast Ohio that is going to put our region at the forefront of the global flexible electronics industry," says Rebecca Bagley, NorTech president and CEO.

SOURCE: NorTech
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Inspired by one of Mahatma Ghandi's famous mantras -- "we must become the change we wish to see in the world" -- Open Yoga Gallery, a yoga studio with a mission, will launch this weekend at 4736 Lorain Avenue in Ohio City.

"One of our goals is to get people onto the yoga mat for the first time," says April Arotin, the studio's founder. To that end, Open Yoga offers several classes per week that merely suggest a donation. During the opening weekend, the studio will offer free classes on Saturday from 12-6 p.m., as well as a free workshop for beginners on Sunday.

Open Yoga is a labor of love for Arotin, who lived in San Francisco before she moved back to Cleveland last summer. The studio is located in a storefront that was last used as an antique store -- 10 years ago. Arotin and the friends whom she corralled into helping her spent six months renovating the space.

To cut costs and keep with their green business practices, Arotin reused much of the existing space, cleaning the 1940s tile floor, for instance, rather than replacing it with shiny hardwood planks.

"Ninety percent of the furniture in our space is up-cycled," explains Arotin, meaning that it's been reclaimed from other spaces or purchased from thrift stores and refurbished. In addition, the studio has set an ambitious goal to produce zero waste.

To encourage walking, bicycling and carpooling, Open Yoga offers patrons a chance to win free classes if they choose alternative transportation. The 1,000-square-foot studio also functions as an art gallery, with local artists' work adorning the walls.

Although yoga is not often associated with inner city neighborhoods, Arotin wants to change this. "There's a perception that yoga is only for a specific demographic -- women with a lot of disposable income -- but we want to make it accessible," she says.

After all, yoga is not just about staying healthy and flexible; it's also about unlocking the potential for change. "Yoga helps us move our bodies in a way that we never thought possible," says Arotin, "and that can help us realize our true potential."


Source: April Arotin
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Two weeks ago, we told you about the many jobs likely to develop in the area over the next several years thanks to a wind turbine project on Lake Erie. Lorry Wagner, Ph.D., president of Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo), which is overseeing the project, says that Cleveland's growing expertise in the wind energy industry could reach well beyond the local shores.

The wind turbine pilot project, which is in its infant stages, will be a learning process for those involved, according to Wagner, but will likely establish Cleveland and Northeast Ohio as the source for wind energy expertise.

"As offshore wind develops on the Great Lakes, many of our services can be exported," Wagner says. "Canada, for example, has a huge plan for offshore wind development, but it will only have a 50 percent Canadian content requirement. That gives us tremendous incentive to develop our industry here."

In addition to Canada, Michigan and New York are reviewing opportunities for wind energy along the Great Lakes.

"If Ohio doesn't become the biggest in the world, the fact is we are the first in the region to do this, and if we develop the infrastructure, it will help us to serve the entire Great Lakes region," Wagner says.

To get there, Cleveland needs to leverage the talents and resources it already has and encourage other companies and individuals to join the wave. "We have to develop the expertise so that wherever this alternative energy occurs, we will be able to provide the most cost effective and the technologically best service," Wagner says.


SOURCE: Lorry Wagner
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

The same day that President Obama unveiled Startup America to boost entrepreneurship in the United States, Jumpstart Inc. came out with its own impressive launch: JumpStart America.

The operating structure for JumpStart America will be set up over the next few months, with Ray Leach, CEO of JumpStart Inc., also serving as the leader for this new entity. JumpStart America will be a 501c(3) nonprofit and will act independently of JumpStart Inc. New staff members are not likely to be added to JumpStart Inc. because of this new venture, according to Leach.

JumpStart America's work will be different than that of JumpStart Inc., Leach adds. "JumpStart's programmatic work in Northeast Ohio focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and investing in their companies, and collaborating with other organizations in the entrepreneurial ecosystem."

"JumpStart America will be raising and aggregating public, private and philanthropic dollars to fund the development and implementation of plans in regions across the country -- plans that will enable these regions to leverage their existing strengths and fill gaps in their ecosystems that help entrepreneurs grow their companies," Leach explains.

Nevertheless, the success of JumpStart Inc. in helping to grow local companies has cast a positive light on the organization and the region it serves, which in turn lends credibility to the JumpStart America program. "It's the successes of the companies and entrepreneurs with which JumpStart has worked that have helped Northeast Ohio earn national recognition as a growing entrepreneurial hotbed," Leach says.

"JumpStart America is credible in pursuing its mission because policy makers, foundations and investors across the country are learning that Northeast Ohio is one of the best entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country."


SOURCE: Ray Leach
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Soon celebrating 100 years, the West Side Market continues to offer a bountiful spread of foods, from pierogi to empanadas, and to attract thousands of shoppers each week. The public market is an emblem of Cleveland's rich ethnic heritage and present-day diversity.

The recent opening of Alaturka, a Turkish restaurant at 1917 West 25^th Street, is further cementing the area's reputation as a hub for international cuisine.

To the delight of Ohio City residents,Yashar Yildirim, the owner of the popular Anatolia Café in Cleveland Heights, has marched across town and opened shop near the West Side Market. Anatolia originally opened in a South Euclid strip center before moving in 2008 to Lee Road.

"I knew there was potential for a Turkish restaurant here because I had customers from the West Side traveling to Cleveland Heights to visit Anatolia Café," says Yildirim.

Yildirim chose Ohio City's Market District because of the area's reputation for ethnic cuisine, the revitalization taking place, and its proximity to downtown and highways. "The people here are diverse and open-minded," he says.

Yildirim himself has something of an American immigrant success story. Born and raised in Istanbul, he moved to New York City in 1996 to attend college. He migrated to Columbus and then to Cleveland after his friends told him Northeast Ohio lacked a decent Turkish restaurant. "I like it here because it's affordable, but there's a sense of big city," he says.

Of Turkish cuisine, Yildirim says, "Turkey is in the Middle East, but it's very close to Europe, so the region is a mixture of ethnicities. So our food is a well-balanced combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean styles."

Although he stops short of offering a money-back guarantee, Yildirim says that if you eat off Alaturka's health-conscious menu, you can cancel your gym membership. "We have a lot of vegetarian options, and all of the food is freshly made," he says.


Source: Yashar Yildirim
Writer: Lee Chilcote

The Flaming Ice Cube. When this strange moniker debuted on a downtown storefront in July, the phrase alone was buzzworthy.

No, it's not a new superhero or Cirque du Soleil act. It's a restaurant in downtown Cleveland. Located in the Park Building on Public Square, Flaming Ice Cube (aka the Cube), is a tasty new vegan restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Yet the Cube didn't just one day appear in a puff of smoke, if you will. The opening was the result of careful planning and plotted enticement by two downtown residents, Robert Carillio and Jesse Howells, whose family owns the Park Building. The pair contacted the café's owners, who opened the original location in Boardman, Ohio, and recruited them to open a second location in Cleveland.

And Howells and Carillio didn't meet by accident either. They're both recent grads of the City Advocates program, an effort by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) to engage young professionals in the revitalization of downtown.

"The Flaming Ice Cube was one of Robert's favorite Youngstown restaurants, and when he met Jesse through the City Advocates program, they contacted the café and sold them on opening a downtown location," explains Laura Kushnick, Development and Community Relations Manager for DCA. So far, more than 40 people have graduated from the program.

Here's how it works. For two years, City Advocates attend monthly meetings and take on a project that will advance downtown. When they emerge from the program, they are skilled community leaders.

Besides recruiting new retailers, DCA's City Advocates have created YouTube marketing videos, are developing a free bus loop to connect entertainment districts in the summer, and are working with the city to create a dog park in the central business district."

Currently, the City Advocate program is seeking new applicants. For information, visit the DCA website or contact Laura Kushnick. The deadline is Feb. 21st.


Source: Laura Kushnick
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Damon Taseff's job is scouring Northeast Ohio's commercial real estate market to find the best deals for his clients. So it's no surprise that as he began looking for a new headquarters for his own company, Allegro Realty Advisors, he knew exactly what he wanted.

He rattles off the list with ease: "A downtown building that is unique, close to highways, with parking, in a place you could get in and out of easily and within walking distance to other downtown areas."

The desired criteria made for a short list. Literally. "We were looking for a unique work environment for our employees and to recruit talent. There were only a handful of options," says Taseff, a principal at Allegro, the largest exclusive tenant representation company based in Ohio.

That's when Taseff and his team discovered the former Morse Graphic Arts building at 1938 Euclid Avenue, which is located on the Euclid Corridor and in Cleveland State University's "collegetown" block (Euclid Ave. between E. 18th and the Innerbelt). The two-story, 15,000-square-foot building had what Allegro wanted: convenience in a vibrant, walkable, urban neighborhood.

In October, Allegro moved its headquarters from Independence to downtown Cleveland. Allegro's offices are located in a modern, 5,000-square-foot space on the second floor of the building, while the first floor houses three new storefronts. In total, 28 new full-time employees now call the building "home."

The structure had been vacant for several years and was "unusable" when Allegro purchased it, Taseff says. Allegro restored the terra cotta facade, replaced the windows, and developed a new western facade that includes a second-floor balcony. The firm also gutted the interior of the building, renovating it to modern standards.

The project, which was granted a Vacant Properties Initiative loan from the City of Cleveland, also benefited from Cleveland State University's purchase of the building to the west. CSU tore the structure down and created a park that is an oasis of green space, complete with walkway that threads together the disparate, urban campus.

Taseff says Allegro moved their headquarters downtown because it's more convenient for their employees and clients, and the firm wants to be part of the city's redevelopment. "We work on many projects for downtown clients and occasionally also work for the city," he says. "We felt that having our presence downtown would speak to our commitment to the city core and the things happening here."


Source: Damon Taseff
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Just a few short years ago, Cleveland State University students who wanted a meal before a grueling, four-hour evening class had limited options, meaning if Rascal House pizza wasn't your thing, you were limited to starving.

That was before CSU's master plan, a $300 million initiative to transform its urban campus into a friendlier, more vibrant environment with new student housing, classrooms and retail.

Recently, Jimmy John's opened a sandwich shop at 1938 Euclid Avenue in the "collegetown" block of campus (Euclid between E. 18th and the Innerbelt). And Moe's Southwest Grill is banging out a new franchise in the storefront next door.

"Due to the building's location in the heart of CSU's campus, with a growing student body, tenants expressed a lot of interest in leasing storefronts despite the slow economy," said Damon Taseff, a principal at Allegro Realty Advisors, the firm that purchased and renovated the property. "They viewed it as a no-brainer because of CSU's investment in the area."

He adds that CSU, like other urban universities, is wisely using its clout to redevelop the area. CSU's investment is one of the reasons why Allegro Realty Advisors decided last year to move their headquarters to the second floor of 1938 Euclid, Taseff says.

"Five years ago, we probably would not have bought the building," Taseff says. "The investment along the Euclid Corridor by the City, RTA and Cleveland State University has fundamentally changed the area."


Source: Damon Taseff
Writer: Lee Chilcote

When it opens next week, XYZ Tavern will fill what Detroit Shoreway residents say is a need for good, casual and affordable fare. And that's just what they'll get, promises owner Randy Kelley, who along with partners Linda Syrek and Alan Glazen will dish out scratch-made comfort food in a modern tavern setting. For nearly five months, Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski documented the progression that transformed Perry's Family Restaurant, a long-shuttered greasy spoon, into XYZ Tavern.

Last year, 12 companies brought their business to Northeast Ohio, thanks in part to efforts from the nonprofit regional business attraction agent TeamNEO. The companies brought with them more than 670 jobs and about $40 million in annual direct payroll, according to information recently released by TeamNEO.

Among the companies that have opened offices or relocated to the region are Rosetta, a strategy, marketing and technology services company; NI Medical, a privately held biotech company that manufactures a device to detect concealed cardiac disease; and Explorys, which was formed in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic to provide a secure cloud-computing platform for research and product development.

Tom Waltermire, CEO of TeamNEO, points out that six of the new companies are international and two are minority-owned. Five of the companies are related to healthcare, which will continue to be a focus of TeamNEO's efforts in recruiting businesses and jobs to Greater Cleveland, according to Waltermire.

SOURCE: TeamNEO
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Key Bank will open a new branch in October at Steelyard Commons, adding another retailer to the pioneering Tremont shopping center that debuted in 2007.

The bank will open five new branches and create 30 new jobs in Northeast Ohio during the next 15 months. Key Bank, which is headquartered in downtown Cleveland, cites available real estate, lower costs of construction, and "market disruption" -- the void left by banks that close or reduce services -- as factors driving its expansion. The other four new branches will be in Concord, Lyndhurst, Eastlake and Middleburg Heights.

The new Steelyard branch, scheduled to open in October, has been announced at a time when many competitors have cut branch operations and encouraged customers to bank online. A handful of banks, including Huntington and Key, have bucked the industry trend by expanding hours or opening new branches.

The new branch will be built on one of the last parcels in Steelyard Commons Phase I, says Chris Goodrich, Vice President of Asset Management with First Interstate Properties, the company that owns Steelyard.

"Our retailers are very happy with sales [at Steelyard]," says Goodrich. "While the national retail climate has slowed in the last few years, the environment is changing again as things pick up -- now I'm getting more calls from national retailers."

The key to Steelyard's success has been tapping into Cleveland's underserved market, Goodrich says. He cites the fact that Steelyard required two to three years to reach four million vehicle trips per year, whereas Legacy Village took five years to get to the same level.

The new Key branch will be a stand-alone building whose design incorporates elements of Steelyard's industrial heritage theme. The mall was built on the site of a former steel mill.

First Interstate hopes to start Phase II of Steelyard Commons, which will include an additional 200-250,000 square feet of retail, within the next few years.


Source: Chris Goodrich
Writer: Lee Chilcote

When Holly Harlan first started talking to people about Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S) ten years ago, "people looked at me like I had three eyes. But I said, 'I think they're going to get this and they're going to love it.'"

Today, Harlan notes that the E4S network has been growing by more than 20 percent every year since it was founded. "We've attracted nearly 10,000 people from all sectors," Harlan says. "We've helped over 50 companies create a strategic plan for sustainability." The organization has also created a foundation on which Greater Cleveland can build a successful approach to sustainability. "We've gotten much better known since Mayor Frank Jackson has stepped in and held sustainability summits the last two years," Harlan says.

E4S is a networking organization that unites professionals interested in sustainability for their businesses and their community, but its scope goes beyond that. "We're an economic development group that sees sustainability as way to create value in the world," Harlan says.

Harlan steps down from the post of president and founder of E4S in mid-February to take on new projects. Mike Dungan, president and CEO of Bee Dance, a Cleveland business that repurposes materials classified as waste, will take over as interim president of E4S.

Harlan looks forward to visiting other cities and gauging their take on Cleveland's sustainability efforts. "We were one of the first business networks in the country focused on sustainability," she says. "The buzz is that Cleveland is known for innovative sustainability ideas, particularly in the area of local foods."


SOURCE: Holly Harlan
WRITER: Diane DiPiero