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LA times calls cle 'tale of optimism and renewal'
A recent article in the Los Angeles Times examines the debate surrounding Cleveland's economic renewal.
"Cleveland has weathered this recession much better than past slumps, as local industries have retooled and reinvented themselves. Old shops and factories have embraced new technologies. And for the first time in a while, there are grounds for optimism," the article states.
During his recent visit to Cleveland for the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business, President Obama pushed the idea of public investment. "The American economy should update itself Cleveland-style," he believes, "and the federal government should nudge it along with smartly placed investments."
Republicans such as House Speaker John A. Boehner, however, believe that Cleveland's success is due to innovation by business, and that government should help by cutting spending and taxes. Last week, the House proposed cutting $61 billion from the government's budget for 2011, including funds for local economic-development programs. President Obama's budget for 2012, on the other hand, increases investments in infrastructure, technology, and education.
"In Cleveland, the remaining steel mills have come to specialize in higher-end materials. Old plastics and glassware factories now make things such as cellphone heat-shields that compete with the best products coming out of Japan. A Lake Erie wind farm could soon stand just miles away from where the Cleveland Browns play football."
The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals also contribute to the growing biomedical industry.
Obama believes the government should invest in these private businesses as well as medical and scientific research and education programs to create a more technically educated workforce. He also pledges to decreases taxes for many corporations and reform the corporate tax code to promote a more level playing field.
Republicans, however, argue that government spending will only inhibit growth and hinder the creation of new jobs. They support cutting federal spending and encouraging private-sector investment.
Read the rest here.
"Cleveland has weathered this recession much better than past slumps, as local industries have retooled and reinvented themselves. Old shops and factories have embraced new technologies. And for the first time in a while, there are grounds for optimism," the article states.
During his recent visit to Cleveland for the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business, President Obama pushed the idea of public investment. "The American economy should update itself Cleveland-style," he believes, "and the federal government should nudge it along with smartly placed investments."
Republicans such as House Speaker John A. Boehner, however, believe that Cleveland's success is due to innovation by business, and that government should help by cutting spending and taxes. Last week, the House proposed cutting $61 billion from the government's budget for 2011, including funds for local economic-development programs. President Obama's budget for 2012, on the other hand, increases investments in infrastructure, technology, and education.
"In Cleveland, the remaining steel mills have come to specialize in higher-end materials. Old plastics and glassware factories now make things such as cellphone heat-shields that compete with the best products coming out of Japan. A Lake Erie wind farm could soon stand just miles away from where the Cleveland Browns play football."
The Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals also contribute to the growing biomedical industry.
Obama believes the government should invest in these private businesses as well as medical and scientific research and education programs to create a more technically educated workforce. He also pledges to decreases taxes for many corporations and reform the corporate tax code to promote a more level playing field.
Republicans, however, argue that government spending will only inhibit growth and hinder the creation of new jobs. They support cutting federal spending and encouraging private-sector investment.
Read the rest here.
President Obama came to Cleveland on Tuesday to hear what small business owners say they need to grow their businesses and thus strengthen the U.S. economy. But the President took the time to praise the region for its growth in biotechnology, sustainability and other innovations.
"Cleveland is a city founded on manufacturing," the President said during his closing remarks on the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business, held at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center, which this writer attended.
"A lot of people wrote off Cleveland as a shell of what it used to be, but you knew different," the President said to the small business owners and entrepreneurs who had been selected to attend the forum.
The President talked about the united effort of local universities, hospitals and entrepreneurs to advance innovations in biotechnology and clean energy. "They've made Cleveland a global leader in both fields," the President added.
Cleveland's ability to reinvent itself, the President noted, can be an inspiration for other areas of the country, as well as the United States in general. "How will America reinvent itself?" the President asked the audience.
Obama also pointed out the success of several long-standing businesses in Cleveland, including Miceli Dairy Products, which has operated a facility on E. 90th Street since 1949. Miceli's received a $5.5 million SBA loan to build a new factory and expand its production, according to the President. "This will double the output of ricotta cheese and add 60 workers," said Obama, joking that he'd like some cheese samples once the expansion project is complete.
SOURCE: President Obama
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
"Cleveland is a city founded on manufacturing," the President said during his closing remarks on the Winning the Future Forum on Small Business, held at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center, which this writer attended.
"A lot of people wrote off Cleveland as a shell of what it used to be, but you knew different," the President said to the small business owners and entrepreneurs who had been selected to attend the forum.
The President talked about the united effort of local universities, hospitals and entrepreneurs to advance innovations in biotechnology and clean energy. "They've made Cleveland a global leader in both fields," the President added.
Cleveland's ability to reinvent itself, the President noted, can be an inspiration for other areas of the country, as well as the United States in general. "How will America reinvent itself?" the President asked the audience.
Obama also pointed out the success of several long-standing businesses in Cleveland, including Miceli Dairy Products, which has operated a facility on E. 90th Street since 1949. Miceli's received a $5.5 million SBA loan to build a new factory and expand its production, according to the President. "This will double the output of ricotta cheese and add 60 workers," said Obama, joking that he'd like some cheese samples once the expansion project is complete.
SOURCE: President Obama
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
The Capitol Theatre, a three-screen movie theater at Detroit and W. 65th Street that opened in late 2009, has met its projections by attracting 45,000 patrons in its first year.
The pioneering venue is the only indie movie theater on Cleveland's west side. The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DCSDO), the nonprofit developer, secured financing and broke ground on the project just a few months before the collapse of the financial markets in 2008. The theater, which contains a beautifully restored main room and two smaller rooms, is a centerpiece of the burgeoning Gordon Square Arts District.
To ensure continued viability, the Capitol must grow its audience by 10 percent per year for the next five years, says Jenny Spencer, Project Manager with DSCDO. "Right now, we're building an audience," says Spencer. "We're doing about as well as we'd expected, but we need to keep growing."
Spencer cited the strong attendance during recent screenings of Black Swan and True Grit as indication that the Capitol's audience will continue to grow.
Since the Capitol opened, it has broken the corporate mold by offering special events, resident discounts, partnerships with local restaurants and other creative strategies to entice moviegoers. Currently, it is offering a promotion for Lakewood residents, who can see a movie for $6 through the end of March. The Capitol is run by Cleveland Cinemas, which manages eight theaters, including the Cedar Lee.
The Capitol Theatre's growing audience will also help to attract more independent films, Spencer said. When the Capitol Theatre project was first launched, the venue was billed as the "Cedar Lee of the West Side" by promoters. However, the theater had difficulty attracting the indie hit "Waiting for Superman" because attendance wasn't high enough. Thus, the theater has been forced to screen a mix of independent and larger Hollywood films, and Spencer says that will likely continue.
Although movie theaters across the country continue to face competition from Netflix and other online services, Spencer says that special events such as "Sunday Classic Movies" and partnerships with restaurants are attracting patrons seeking a unique movie-going experience. And while Crocker Park has 16 screens, she adds, the Capitol is still the only West Side venue where you can order a beer.
Source: Jenny Spencer
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The pioneering venue is the only indie movie theater on Cleveland's west side. The Detroit Shoreway Community Development Organization (DCSDO), the nonprofit developer, secured financing and broke ground on the project just a few months before the collapse of the financial markets in 2008. The theater, which contains a beautifully restored main room and two smaller rooms, is a centerpiece of the burgeoning Gordon Square Arts District.
To ensure continued viability, the Capitol must grow its audience by 10 percent per year for the next five years, says Jenny Spencer, Project Manager with DSCDO. "Right now, we're building an audience," says Spencer. "We're doing about as well as we'd expected, but we need to keep growing."
Spencer cited the strong attendance during recent screenings of Black Swan and True Grit as indication that the Capitol's audience will continue to grow.
Since the Capitol opened, it has broken the corporate mold by offering special events, resident discounts, partnerships with local restaurants and other creative strategies to entice moviegoers. Currently, it is offering a promotion for Lakewood residents, who can see a movie for $6 through the end of March. The Capitol is run by Cleveland Cinemas, which manages eight theaters, including the Cedar Lee.
The Capitol Theatre's growing audience will also help to attract more independent films, Spencer said. When the Capitol Theatre project was first launched, the venue was billed as the "Cedar Lee of the West Side" by promoters. However, the theater had difficulty attracting the indie hit "Waiting for Superman" because attendance wasn't high enough. Thus, the theater has been forced to screen a mix of independent and larger Hollywood films, and Spencer says that will likely continue.
Although movie theaters across the country continue to face competition from Netflix and other online services, Spencer says that special events such as "Sunday Classic Movies" and partnerships with restaurants are attracting patrons seeking a unique movie-going experience. And while Crocker Park has 16 screens, she adds, the Capitol is still the only West Side venue where you can order a beer.
Source: Jenny Spencer
Writer: Lee Chilcote
korea times talks up cle museum of art
The Korea Times, the oldest English-language newspaper published in South Korea, featured the Cleveland Museum of Art in a recent article. The museum will hold an exhibition called "The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art" from March 27 to August 28.
Korean and Japanese artists have combined visual art and poetry for centuries, using the themes of classical Chinese poetry as inspiration for calligraphy, painting, and the decorative arts.
The works in this exhibition, like the Chinese poems upon which they are based, explore the theme of "spiritual utopia and liberation from a mundane life." Contemporary objects as well as works from the Muromachi, Momoyama, and Edo periods of Japan (1392-1867) and the Joseon Kingdom of Korea (1392-1910) will be featured.
The exhibition was organized by Sun Seung-hye, associate curator of Japanese and Korean Art for the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Peruse the piece here.
Korean and Japanese artists have combined visual art and poetry for centuries, using the themes of classical Chinese poetry as inspiration for calligraphy, painting, and the decorative arts.
The works in this exhibition, like the Chinese poems upon which they are based, explore the theme of "spiritual utopia and liberation from a mundane life." Contemporary objects as well as works from the Muromachi, Momoyama, and Edo periods of Japan (1392-1867) and the Joseon Kingdom of Korea (1392-1910) will be featured.
The exhibition was organized by Sun Seung-hye, associate curator of Japanese and Korean Art for the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Peruse the piece here.
When TV crews descended on Slavic Village three years ago, the neighborhood was dubbed the "epicenter" of the foreclosure crisis. While that infamy was brief -- the crisis soon expanded to other parts of the country, with California, Florida and Nevada among the hardest hit -- the damage it left behind was real.
However, this resilient neighborhood is now becoming known for its innovative response to foreclosures. Through its Neighbors Invest in Broadway program, Slavic Village has been acquiring vacant, bank-owned homes and selling them to qualified rehabbers.
"After the housing market collapsed, we began to look at how we could rebuild our neighborhood," explains Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of Slavic Village Development (SVD), the nonprofit community group that serves the neighborhood.
Since launching the program, SVD has acquired 28 homes and sold 17. Eight of these homes were sold to owner-occupants. "When we launched the program, we were selling most of the homes to investors," says Kittredge. "But recently we've had more owner-occupants."
Purchasers, who must demonstrate the financial ability to bring the properties up to code, obtain the homes for $5,000. Such bank-owned properties are often stripped of plumbing and need major repairs. Due to the investment required to repair them, and because supply outstrips demand, they often hold little value. Lenders have been willing to donate the properties to SVD or the city of Cleveland.
After acquiring the property, SVD issues a Request for Proposals. It then selects the most qualified proposal, giving preference to owner-occupants. After selling the home, SVD follows up to ensure the work is completed according to the specifications.
"We want to make sure the home is decent, but it doesn't need a new Jacuzzi or kitchen," explains Kittredge. "We'll work with the owner throughout the process."
Source: Marie Kittredge
Writer: Lee Chilcote
However, this resilient neighborhood is now becoming known for its innovative response to foreclosures. Through its Neighbors Invest in Broadway program, Slavic Village has been acquiring vacant, bank-owned homes and selling them to qualified rehabbers.
"After the housing market collapsed, we began to look at how we could rebuild our neighborhood," explains Marie Kittredge, Executive Director of Slavic Village Development (SVD), the nonprofit community group that serves the neighborhood.
Since launching the program, SVD has acquired 28 homes and sold 17. Eight of these homes were sold to owner-occupants. "When we launched the program, we were selling most of the homes to investors," says Kittredge. "But recently we've had more owner-occupants."
Purchasers, who must demonstrate the financial ability to bring the properties up to code, obtain the homes for $5,000. Such bank-owned properties are often stripped of plumbing and need major repairs. Due to the investment required to repair them, and because supply outstrips demand, they often hold little value. Lenders have been willing to donate the properties to SVD or the city of Cleveland.
After acquiring the property, SVD issues a Request for Proposals. It then selects the most qualified proposal, giving preference to owner-occupants. After selling the home, SVD follows up to ensure the work is completed according to the specifications.
"We want to make sure the home is decent, but it doesn't need a new Jacuzzi or kitchen," explains Kittredge. "We'll work with the owner throughout the process."
Source: Marie Kittredge
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Justin Husher graduated with an MBA from Cleveland State University in May of 2008 -- just in time for the collapse of the financial markets.
Instead of wringing his hands, Husher considered his bleak job prospects as a sign. "I never wanted to be a banker," he told the audience at last week's forum on vacant land reuse at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. His college major had been botany, and he'd always dreamed of tending the soil.
That's when Husher learned about Reimagining Cleveland, a small grants program that was launched to support the creative reuse of vacant land in the city.
Husher applied to the program, which is managed by Neighborhood Progress (NPI) and funded by the Surdna Foundation and the City of Cleveland. After he was awarded a $7,500 grant, Husher worked with Cleveland's land bank program and Bellaire Puritas Community Development Corp. to cobble together a half-acre of land on W. 130th. Pretty soon, Old Husher's Farm was born.
Husher, who sells his produce at the Gordon Square farmers market and other venues, has a passion for local food. "I like to grow vegetables with storylines, such as heirloom tomatoes," he said. "It's important to learn where our food comes from."
At last week's forum, the young farmer also offered recommendations for improving the business climate for urban agriculture. Husher's wish list includes longer-term leases with property owners and an initiative to help farmers purchase land at affordable prices. He'd also like to see a cooperative stand for urban farmers to sell locally grown food at the West Side Market.
Since Reimagining Cleveland launched in 2008, the program has funded 56 projects to creatively reutilize vacant land in Cleveland. According to the Reimagining Cleveland website, there are an estimated 3,300 acres of vacant land in the city of Cleveland.
Source: Justin Husher, Reimagining Cleveland
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Instead of wringing his hands, Husher considered his bleak job prospects as a sign. "I never wanted to be a banker," he told the audience at last week's forum on vacant land reuse at Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. His college major had been botany, and he'd always dreamed of tending the soil.
That's when Husher learned about Reimagining Cleveland, a small grants program that was launched to support the creative reuse of vacant land in the city.
Husher applied to the program, which is managed by Neighborhood Progress (NPI) and funded by the Surdna Foundation and the City of Cleveland. After he was awarded a $7,500 grant, Husher worked with Cleveland's land bank program and Bellaire Puritas Community Development Corp. to cobble together a half-acre of land on W. 130th. Pretty soon, Old Husher's Farm was born.
Husher, who sells his produce at the Gordon Square farmers market and other venues, has a passion for local food. "I like to grow vegetables with storylines, such as heirloom tomatoes," he said. "It's important to learn where our food comes from."
At last week's forum, the young farmer also offered recommendations for improving the business climate for urban agriculture. Husher's wish list includes longer-term leases with property owners and an initiative to help farmers purchase land at affordable prices. He'd also like to see a cooperative stand for urban farmers to sell locally grown food at the West Side Market.
Since Reimagining Cleveland launched in 2008, the program has funded 56 projects to creatively reutilize vacant land in Cleveland. According to the Reimagining Cleveland website, there are an estimated 3,300 acres of vacant land in the city of Cleveland.
Source: Justin Husher, Reimagining Cleveland
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Rachel Talton, Ph.D. was one of the entrepreneurs invited by the Obama Administration to attend Tuesday's Winning the Future Forum on Small Business. Talton, co-founder of Cleveland-based Trust, a marketing and management consultant agency, and founder and CEO of Fairlawn-based Synergy Marketing Strategy & Research, joined about 20 other small business owners and entrepreneurs in a discussion on entrepreneurism. They had the ear of President Obama himself, who took the time to listen in on various breakout sessions during the forum.
"President Obama was very engaged in intensive and substantive conversation," says Talton. She and her fellow entrepreneurs in the group shared with the President a list of ways that the administration could help both small and large businesses thrive: access to capital, formalized mentorship programs, access to capacity-building services and less onerous processes for doing business with the federal government.
Talton says she was encouraged to hear that Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and a career entrepreneur, will be taking a lead role in President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. "The initiative will be quasi-government. Decisions will be made more quickly -- without much red tape," she says.
Talton was also happy to hear that Obama expects to engage large corporations in mentor-protegee programs. "I think this approach can be truly sustainable," she notes.
The President's "real commitment on this issue [of spurring small business growth to strengthen the economy] can move people within the federal and state government, even those who disagree," Talton says. "He can also attract large corporations to participate, for the greater good and for their own good."
SOURCE: Rachel Talton, Ph.D.
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
"President Obama was very engaged in intensive and substantive conversation," says Talton. She and her fellow entrepreneurs in the group shared with the President a list of ways that the administration could help both small and large businesses thrive: access to capital, formalized mentorship programs, access to capacity-building services and less onerous processes for doing business with the federal government.
Talton says she was encouraged to hear that Steve Case, co-founder of AOL and a career entrepreneur, will be taking a lead role in President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. "The initiative will be quasi-government. Decisions will be made more quickly -- without much red tape," she says.
Talton was also happy to hear that Obama expects to engage large corporations in mentor-protegee programs. "I think this approach can be truly sustainable," she notes.
The President's "real commitment on this issue [of spurring small business growth to strengthen the economy] can move people within the federal and state government, even those who disagree," Talton says. "He can also attract large corporations to participate, for the greater good and for their own good."
SOURCE: Rachel Talton, Ph.D.
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Last week, the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (MOCA) figuratively broke ground on its new home at Euclid Avenue and Mayfield Road in University Circle.
Yet much like spring in Cleveland, MOCA's literal ground breaking, one hopes, isn't too far off. The 34,000-square-foot facility, which will cost nearly $27 million to build, is scheduled to begin construction within the next two months. The grand opening is slated to follow one year later.
Like other contemporary art museums, MOCA started small. In fact, the new museum represents something of a homecoming, since MOCA's original, late-1960s home was a rented house on nearby Bellflower Avenue. As modern art began to receive its due, so too did MOCA, expanding to the second floor of the Cleveland Playhouse on Carnegie, a spot that it has occupied for decades.
The new building, which was designed by London-based Foreign Office Architects (FOA), is itself a showpiece of modern architecture. Renderings of MOCA's new home show a sleek black stainless steel and glass exterior, with the luminescent, gem-like building lighting up the prominent corner at Euclid and Mayfield.
"This is the prow of the ship, the entry point into University Circle's Uptown neighborhood, and MOCA will be a beacon for something new and different," said Stuart Kohl, the co-chair of MOCA's capital campaign, at the groundbreaking.
The possibility of relocating to University Circle became real five years ago when Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), which owned the site, approached MOCA. "You don't just walk up and buy land in this unique principality," Kohl joked to supporters.
Jill Snyder, the museum's director, said that "pathological optimism" is required to make a large building project such as this one happen in the midst of a recession.
David Abbott, President of the Gund Foundation, told supporters that projects like this one are necessary for Cleveland to remain competitive in the global economy.
"Successful communities are in competition for global talent," he said. "Creating vibrant places is an essential part of recruiting and keeping talent in Northeast Ohio."
Source: Jill Snyder, Stuart Kohl, David Abbott
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet much like spring in Cleveland, MOCA's literal ground breaking, one hopes, isn't too far off. The 34,000-square-foot facility, which will cost nearly $27 million to build, is scheduled to begin construction within the next two months. The grand opening is slated to follow one year later.
Like other contemporary art museums, MOCA started small. In fact, the new museum represents something of a homecoming, since MOCA's original, late-1960s home was a rented house on nearby Bellflower Avenue. As modern art began to receive its due, so too did MOCA, expanding to the second floor of the Cleveland Playhouse on Carnegie, a spot that it has occupied for decades.
The new building, which was designed by London-based Foreign Office Architects (FOA), is itself a showpiece of modern architecture. Renderings of MOCA's new home show a sleek black stainless steel and glass exterior, with the luminescent, gem-like building lighting up the prominent corner at Euclid and Mayfield.
"This is the prow of the ship, the entry point into University Circle's Uptown neighborhood, and MOCA will be a beacon for something new and different," said Stuart Kohl, the co-chair of MOCA's capital campaign, at the groundbreaking.
The possibility of relocating to University Circle became real five years ago when Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), which owned the site, approached MOCA. "You don't just walk up and buy land in this unique principality," Kohl joked to supporters.
Jill Snyder, the museum's director, said that "pathological optimism" is required to make a large building project such as this one happen in the midst of a recession.
David Abbott, President of the Gund Foundation, told supporters that projects like this one are necessary for Cleveland to remain competitive in the global economy.
"Successful communities are in competition for global talent," he said. "Creating vibrant places is an essential part of recruiting and keeping talent in Northeast Ohio."
Source: Jill Snyder, Stuart Kohl, David Abbott
Writer: Lee Chilcote
POTUS is in the house
A recent TIME posting mentions President Obama's upcoming visit to Cleveland. President Obama and members of his cabinet, in association with Cleveland State University and Northeast Ohio organizations JumpStart and NorTech, will hold a "Winning the Future Forum on Small Business" on February 22.
The Forum will present an opportunity for small business owners to communicate their ideas for economic growth and creating jobs directly to the President and his economic team.
"In his State of the Union address, President Obama spoke of the need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build our competitors in order to sustain our leadership and secure prosperity for all Americans."
Read the post here.
The Forum will present an opportunity for small business owners to communicate their ideas for economic growth and creating jobs directly to the President and his economic team.
"In his State of the Union address, President Obama spoke of the need to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build our competitors in order to sustain our leadership and secure prosperity for all Americans."
Read the post here.
Increasing the college attainment rate in Northeast Ohio by just one percent would mean an additional $2.8 billion for the region's economy. That statistic, courtesy of CEOs for Cities, a national civic lab composed of urban leaders, was part of the impetus for leaders of the Cleveland Scholarship Program to change the name of the 40-year-old organization and renew its focus to make college attainable for teens and young adults.
College Now Greater Cleveland, as the organization is officially now known, will continue to assist more than 20,000 students annually through advising, financial aid counseling and scholarship services. Some partners of the organization have stepped in to provide additional funding or opportunities. The PNC Foundation, for one, awarded a grant to College Now for advising services. PNC will also provide financial education programming, and Cleveland Clinic will offer college preparatory programs aimed at minority and disadvantaged students who want to attend college and pursue careers in science, medicine and business.
Other partners of College Now include the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), Cleveland State University and Tri-C.
College Now connects with local educational institutions to bolster higher education resources. According to Eric S. Gordon, chief academic officer for CMSD, College Now's strengthened focus meshes well with CMSD's own efforts to boost college attendance by graduates of the city's high schools. "CMSD is excited to continue our partnership with College Now to ensure high quality college counseling is available to all juniors and seniors as part of our Cleveland Goes to College program," Gordon says.
SOURCE: Eric S. Gordon
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
College Now Greater Cleveland, as the organization is officially now known, will continue to assist more than 20,000 students annually through advising, financial aid counseling and scholarship services. Some partners of the organization have stepped in to provide additional funding or opportunities. The PNC Foundation, for one, awarded a grant to College Now for advising services. PNC will also provide financial education programming, and Cleveland Clinic will offer college preparatory programs aimed at minority and disadvantaged students who want to attend college and pursue careers in science, medicine and business.
Other partners of College Now include the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), Cleveland State University and Tri-C.
College Now connects with local educational institutions to bolster higher education resources. According to Eric S. Gordon, chief academic officer for CMSD, College Now's strengthened focus meshes well with CMSD's own efforts to boost college attendance by graduates of the city's high schools. "CMSD is excited to continue our partnership with College Now to ensure high quality college counseling is available to all juniors and seniors as part of our Cleveland Goes to College program," Gordon says.
SOURCE: Eric S. Gordon
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
A new Mediterranean-themed restaurant will open this April in the Tudor Arms, a landmark at East 107th and Carnegie Avenue that is undergoing a $22-million makeover to a Double Tree Hotel.
The restaurant will be operated by Samir Khouri, owner of Somer's restaurants in Cleveland, Bedford and North Ridgeville, and Serge Elias, owner of Cedarland at the Clinic, a popular Middle Eastern Restaurant.
Tentatively called the Canopy, the restaurant will feature a menu offering both Mediterranean and American cuisine. It will serve hotel guests as well as the visiting public. It will also have a coffee bar, a party room, and a lounge that will stay open for late-night revelry.
"In addition to serving hotel guests and providing room service, we're marketing it as a meeting place for people who work in University Circle," says Khouri. "We will have valet service, and we're toying with the idea of offering a shuttle for Clinic employees."
The new restaurant offers a testament to the buying power of the University Circle area. With almost 40,000 full-time positions, the Circle is the second largest employment center in the region. A 2010 study by Real Estate Strategies Inc. showed the area is on track to produce about 10,000 new jobs between 2005 and 2015.
Although Cedarland may eventually close -- the building is slated to be demolished to accommodate the Cleveland Clinic's ever-growing appetite for expansion -- the timeline is uncertain, and Khouri says it will stay open at least another two years.
Source: Samir Khouri
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The restaurant will be operated by Samir Khouri, owner of Somer's restaurants in Cleveland, Bedford and North Ridgeville, and Serge Elias, owner of Cedarland at the Clinic, a popular Middle Eastern Restaurant.
Tentatively called the Canopy, the restaurant will feature a menu offering both Mediterranean and American cuisine. It will serve hotel guests as well as the visiting public. It will also have a coffee bar, a party room, and a lounge that will stay open for late-night revelry.
"In addition to serving hotel guests and providing room service, we're marketing it as a meeting place for people who work in University Circle," says Khouri. "We will have valet service, and we're toying with the idea of offering a shuttle for Clinic employees."
The new restaurant offers a testament to the buying power of the University Circle area. With almost 40,000 full-time positions, the Circle is the second largest employment center in the region. A 2010 study by Real Estate Strategies Inc. showed the area is on track to produce about 10,000 new jobs between 2005 and 2015.
Although Cedarland may eventually close -- the building is slated to be demolished to accommodate the Cleveland Clinic's ever-growing appetite for expansion -- the timeline is uncertain, and Khouri says it will stay open at least another two years.
Source: Samir Khouri
Writer: Lee Chilcote
paragon consulting 'hiring as fast as it can'
Founded in 1993, the IT consulting company Paragon Consulting has built an impressive client list that includes Cleveland Clinic, Charles Scwab and Heinen's. Paragon recently announced a partnership that will make it the Northeast Ohio distributor of iAPPS Product Suite, a web engagement platform developed by Bridgeline Digital that integrates e-commerce, e-marketing, SEO and web analysis with content management. Paragon also has partnerships with Microsoft and Site Core.
With all of this opportunity knocking on its door, Paragon is answering by expanding its workforce over the next few months.
"We will double the size of the company in May," says Frank McGee, Paragon business development executive. "We're hiring as fast as we can, mostly developers and QA people." Once the hirings are complete, Paragon will have 60 employees, McGee says.
Paragon has built relationships with businesses like Bridgeline Digital by strengthening its content management systems and e-commerce expertise. "Bridgeline went through a search process" for a Northeast Ohio distributor of iAPPS, McGee says. "They vetted us and saw we knew what we were doing."
McGee says Paragon concentrates on large, local clients, such as Forest City and major law firms, although from time to time the company ventures outside the regional boundaries to form relationships with clients. Bridgeline purchased Tenth Floor, a Cleveland-based web application company, in 2008.
You can learn more about Paragon's new partnership with Bridgeline by visiting http://www.paragon-inc.com/index.php/partners.
SOURCE: Frank McGee
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
With all of this opportunity knocking on its door, Paragon is answering by expanding its workforce over the next few months.
"We will double the size of the company in May," says Frank McGee, Paragon business development executive. "We're hiring as fast as we can, mostly developers and QA people." Once the hirings are complete, Paragon will have 60 employees, McGee says.
Paragon has built relationships with businesses like Bridgeline Digital by strengthening its content management systems and e-commerce expertise. "Bridgeline went through a search process" for a Northeast Ohio distributor of iAPPS, McGee says. "They vetted us and saw we knew what we were doing."
McGee says Paragon concentrates on large, local clients, such as Forest City and major law firms, although from time to time the company ventures outside the regional boundaries to form relationships with clients. Bridgeline purchased Tenth Floor, a Cleveland-based web application company, in 2008.
You can learn more about Paragon's new partnership with Bridgeline by visiting http://www.paragon-inc.com/index.php/partners.
SOURCE: Frank McGee
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
rainey institute's new digs opens door for new program
The Rainey Institute recently moved a few doors down on East 55th from where it has been providing arts instruction for urban youth since the 1960s. The move has proven to be even more significant than those involved with the organization could have imagined. Since opening the 25,000-square-foot facility in the Hough neighborhood, Rainey has discovered new opportunities to bring arts offerings to its students.
One of the most significant of these is the selection of Rainey to host an intensive music program that began several years ago in Venezuela and has made its way around the world.
Lee Lazar, executive director of the Insitute, says that Rainey will be the home of a new El Sistema USA program. El Sistema started in Venezuela in the 1980s to empower disadvantaged youth through ensemble music. El Sistema USA brings this opportunity to communities around the United States.
Cleveland Orchestra violinist Isabel Trautwein recently received a one-year fellowship to study the concepts of El Sistema. After touring the new Rainey facilities, Trautwein and others involved with the project decided it would be an ideal location for the program.
Students selected for the El Sistema USA program take part in an intensive, five-day-a-week musical workshop. After several months in the program, which will begin sometime this year, the students will have the opportunity to perform at Severance Hall.
Lazar credits Rainey's new music studios, sound-proof private lesson rooms and state-of-the-art theater as being a large part of what attracted Trautwein and El Sistema to Rainey. "It's all because of the building," he says.
SOURCE: Rainey Institute
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
One of the most significant of these is the selection of Rainey to host an intensive music program that began several years ago in Venezuela and has made its way around the world.
Lee Lazar, executive director of the Insitute, says that Rainey will be the home of a new El Sistema USA program. El Sistema started in Venezuela in the 1980s to empower disadvantaged youth through ensemble music. El Sistema USA brings this opportunity to communities around the United States.
Cleveland Orchestra violinist Isabel Trautwein recently received a one-year fellowship to study the concepts of El Sistema. After touring the new Rainey facilities, Trautwein and others involved with the project decided it would be an ideal location for the program.
Students selected for the El Sistema USA program take part in an intensive, five-day-a-week musical workshop. After several months in the program, which will begin sometime this year, the students will have the opportunity to perform at Severance Hall.
Lazar credits Rainey's new music studios, sound-proof private lesson rooms and state-of-the-art theater as being a large part of what attracted Trautwein and El Sistema to Rainey. "It's all because of the building," he says.
SOURCE: Rainey Institute
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
In 2010, MetroHealth
began testing a surgical solution for high blood pressure, became the
only Ohio hospital chosen to participate in the Major Extremity Trauma
Research Consortium to benefit injured servicemen and women, launched
MetroExpressCare to address the needs of urgent care patients, and
provided resources for the identification of the first gene associated
with age-related cataracts.
All the while, the hospital system has kept its eye on sustainable business practices that resulted in a budget surplus last year. MetroHealth currently has about 6,000 employees.
Revenue over expenses for MetroHealth in 2010 totaled $27 million, and operating income decreased from $37.7 million in 2009 to $23.8 million last year. These numbers are in keeping with the health system's goal of maintaining sustainable business practices, which, according to MetroHealth CEO and president Mark Moran, means being able to support the hospital's mission of providing high-quality and affordable care.
Throughout 2011, MetroHealth will be addressing challenges that include a continuing decline in inpatient volumes and rising charity care. The total cost of charity care provided by MetroHealth last year was up $9 million over the previous year.
SOURCE: MetroHealth
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
All the while, the hospital system has kept its eye on sustainable business practices that resulted in a budget surplus last year. MetroHealth currently has about 6,000 employees.
Revenue over expenses for MetroHealth in 2010 totaled $27 million, and operating income decreased from $37.7 million in 2009 to $23.8 million last year. These numbers are in keeping with the health system's goal of maintaining sustainable business practices, which, according to MetroHealth CEO and president Mark Moran, means being able to support the hospital's mission of providing high-quality and affordable care.
Throughout 2011, MetroHealth will be addressing challenges that include a continuing decline in inpatient volumes and rising charity care. The total cost of charity care provided by MetroHealth last year was up $9 million over the previous year.
SOURCE: MetroHealth
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Artist Nicolette Capuano has spent the past year painstakingly restoring the ornate plaster trim and low relief sculptures in the Tudor Arms building.
Yet she's doing more than simply recreating the past; she has worked closely with building owner Rick Maron and designer Cindy Rae Cohen to create her own masterpieces -- original, hand-painted murals -- that will grace the landmark structure.
"We wanted to highlight the beauty of this historic building while adding a more contemporary touch," says Capuano, who started her company, Beyond the Wall Mural Design, after graduating from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2005.
"Blending the historic and contemporary is definitely a trend in interior design these days," Capuano adds. "We wanted to create something that felt somewhat timeless."
In April, MRN Ltd. will complete a $22 million restoration of the Tudor Arms building, converting it to a new 154-room Double Tree Hotel. The vestibule that Capuano restored will be the hotel's main entrance, while the rejuvenated ballrooms will be used for special events. (See comprehensive Tudor Arms feature in next week's Fresh Water.)
In addition to the mural restoration, Capuano also helped repair the building's one-of-a-kind plaster work where it was damaged or missing pieces. This labor-intensive process required making custom molds, recreating each piece by hand, and patching it in.
When she couldn't find the color she wanted for the trim, Capuano created one from scratch.
"The Tudor umber that we used to glaze the plaster work was hand-mixed," says Capuano. "I went through all of the Sherwin-Williams colors, but I couldn't find exactly what we wanted. I'm a perfectionist, so I kept mixing colors until I got it right."
Source: Nicolette Capuano
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Yet she's doing more than simply recreating the past; she has worked closely with building owner Rick Maron and designer Cindy Rae Cohen to create her own masterpieces -- original, hand-painted murals -- that will grace the landmark structure.
"We wanted to highlight the beauty of this historic building while adding a more contemporary touch," says Capuano, who started her company, Beyond the Wall Mural Design, after graduating from Columbus College of Art and Design in 2005.
"Blending the historic and contemporary is definitely a trend in interior design these days," Capuano adds. "We wanted to create something that felt somewhat timeless."
In April, MRN Ltd. will complete a $22 million restoration of the Tudor Arms building, converting it to a new 154-room Double Tree Hotel. The vestibule that Capuano restored will be the hotel's main entrance, while the rejuvenated ballrooms will be used for special events. (See comprehensive Tudor Arms feature in next week's Fresh Water.)
In addition to the mural restoration, Capuano also helped repair the building's one-of-a-kind plaster work where it was damaged or missing pieces. This labor-intensive process required making custom molds, recreating each piece by hand, and patching it in.
When she couldn't find the color she wanted for the trim, Capuano created one from scratch.
"The Tudor umber that we used to glaze the plaster work was hand-mixed," says Capuano. "I went through all of the Sherwin-Williams colors, but I couldn't find exactly what we wanted. I'm a perfectionist, so I kept mixing colors until I got it right."
Source: Nicolette Capuano
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) will soon break ground on SmartHome Cleveland, a passively-heated home that does not require a furnace and is designed to challenge the way that people think about the issue of climate change.
The 2,500-square-foot, three-bedroom home will be presented in conjunction with the traveling exhibit, Climate Change, from June to September 2011.
"The SmartHome will show that it's possible to use dramatically less energy in our buildings -- and they can be wonderful places to live," says David Beach, Executive Director of Green City Blue Lake (GCBL), a center for regional sustainability located at the museum.
The SmartHome, which was designed by Doty and Miller Architects and will be the first of its kind in Cleveland, incorporates Passive House Methodology. This approach includes high levels of insulation, featuring wall thicknesses of up to 18 inches, a carefully sealed building envelope that combines minimal air leakage with efficient heat-recovery ventilation, and triple-pane windows.
Heated by a small, supplementary heater, the SmartHome's energy efficient design along with the solar panels on a detached garage will make it a net-zero energy consumer.
Beach describes bringing the SmartHome to University Circle as "something of a barn raising." While planning the project, GCBL worked with neighboring institutions and community groups to identify how the home could best fit into the community.
Ultimately, they decided that a home this smart couldn't remain a museum showpiece for long. This fall, the home will be transported to a vacant lot on nearby Wade Park Avenue in Glenville, where it will be offered for sale to a buyer. The home, which will cost about $525,000 to build, will be priced between $300,000 and $400,000.
Beach is already honing his sales pitch for winter-weary Northeast Ohioans. Tired of paying high heating bills? "You could heat this house with a hairdryer," he jokes.
Source: David Beach
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The 2,500-square-foot, three-bedroom home will be presented in conjunction with the traveling exhibit, Climate Change, from June to September 2011.
"The SmartHome will show that it's possible to use dramatically less energy in our buildings -- and they can be wonderful places to live," says David Beach, Executive Director of Green City Blue Lake (GCBL), a center for regional sustainability located at the museum.
The SmartHome, which was designed by Doty and Miller Architects and will be the first of its kind in Cleveland, incorporates Passive House Methodology. This approach includes high levels of insulation, featuring wall thicknesses of up to 18 inches, a carefully sealed building envelope that combines minimal air leakage with efficient heat-recovery ventilation, and triple-pane windows.
Heated by a small, supplementary heater, the SmartHome's energy efficient design along with the solar panels on a detached garage will make it a net-zero energy consumer.
Beach describes bringing the SmartHome to University Circle as "something of a barn raising." While planning the project, GCBL worked with neighboring institutions and community groups to identify how the home could best fit into the community.
Ultimately, they decided that a home this smart couldn't remain a museum showpiece for long. This fall, the home will be transported to a vacant lot on nearby Wade Park Avenue in Glenville, where it will be offered for sale to a buyer. The home, which will cost about $525,000 to build, will be priced between $300,000 and $400,000.
Beach is already honing his sales pitch for winter-weary Northeast Ohioans. Tired of paying high heating bills? "You could heat this house with a hairdryer," he jokes.
Source: David Beach
Writer: Lee Chilcote
At a public meeting held last week at Market Avenue Wine Bar, planners showed off designs for the future Market Square Park, an Ohio City park slated to receive a $1.5 million makeover this year from the city.
"We hope the new Market Square Park will become the de facto outdoor dining room for the West Side Market," says Ben Trimble, Program Manager with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation (OCNW). Trimble says the park, located at the corner of Lorain and West 25th, will complement the redevelopment taking place elsewhere in the area.
Plans for revamping the park, which was completed in 1979, date back to at least 2004. OCNW selected it as a candidate for overhaul because of its dated design, lack of connection to the commercial district, and a perception that the park is unsafe.
The park, which was the original site for the West Side Market before the current building was constructed in 1912, has been a focus area for OCNW. The nonprofit helps to coordinate Open Air in Market Square, an outdoor bazaar that takes place on Saturdays throughout the summer, as well as other park programs.
When construction wraps up this fall, Trimble says the park will have "harvest tables" with bench seating, rows of new trees, public artwork with an "orchard ladder" theme defining the park's entranceway, attractive brick pavers, and an elevated stage that will be used for live music, outdoor movies, and other public performances.
Attractive new bus shelters will also be installed outside of Market Square Park. Parkworks and Cleveland Public Art, two nonprofit groups that worked on the park's redesign, say the bus shelters will be well-used. The Lorain and West 25th intersection has the second highest use of any transit waiting area in the city, second only to Public Square.
Source: Ben Trimble
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"We hope the new Market Square Park will become the de facto outdoor dining room for the West Side Market," says Ben Trimble, Program Manager with the Ohio City Near West Development Corporation (OCNW). Trimble says the park, located at the corner of Lorain and West 25th, will complement the redevelopment taking place elsewhere in the area.
Plans for revamping the park, which was completed in 1979, date back to at least 2004. OCNW selected it as a candidate for overhaul because of its dated design, lack of connection to the commercial district, and a perception that the park is unsafe.
The park, which was the original site for the West Side Market before the current building was constructed in 1912, has been a focus area for OCNW. The nonprofit helps to coordinate Open Air in Market Square, an outdoor bazaar that takes place on Saturdays throughout the summer, as well as other park programs.
When construction wraps up this fall, Trimble says the park will have "harvest tables" with bench seating, rows of new trees, public artwork with an "orchard ladder" theme defining the park's entranceway, attractive brick pavers, and an elevated stage that will be used for live music, outdoor movies, and other public performances.
Attractive new bus shelters will also be installed outside of Market Square Park. Parkworks and Cleveland Public Art, two nonprofit groups that worked on the park's redesign, say the bus shelters will be well-used. The Lorain and West 25th intersection has the second highest use of any transit waiting area in the city, second only to Public Square.
Source: Ben Trimble
Writer: Lee Chilcote
A drug that has shown promise in the treatment of cardiovascular disease
will now be evaluated for effectiveness in healing wounds, thanks to a
joint capital investment. SironRX Therapeutics has received a $500,000
investment from Cleveland Clinic and JumpStart Ventures.
The money will allow SironRX to continue evaluations on its lead drug,
JVS-100, which contains an engineered version of a naturally occurring
molecular factor called Stromal cell-Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1). SDF-1
promotes tissue repair.
"This investment will allow SironRX to make significant progress toward initiation of a Phase II clinical study evaluating the potential for JVS-100 to accelerate dermal wound repair and reduce scarring," says Rahul Aras, CEO of SironRX. "JVS-100 is already being evaluated for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and it is exciting to broaden the scope of therapeutic potential for this drug."
SironRX is an offshoot of Juventas Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company developing regenerative therapies to treat life-threatening diseases. Juventas licensed JVS-100's intellectual property from Cleveland Clinic in 2007. Aras also serves as CEO of Juventas.
SOURCE: Rahul Aras
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
"This investment will allow SironRX to make significant progress toward initiation of a Phase II clinical study evaluating the potential for JVS-100 to accelerate dermal wound repair and reduce scarring," says Rahul Aras, CEO of SironRX. "JVS-100 is already being evaluated for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, and it is exciting to broaden the scope of therapeutic potential for this drug."
SironRX is an offshoot of Juventas Therapeutics, a privately held biotechnology company developing regenerative therapies to treat life-threatening diseases. Juventas licensed JVS-100's intellectual property from Cleveland Clinic in 2007. Aras also serves as CEO of Juventas.
SOURCE: Rahul Aras
WRITER: Diane DiPiero
Winners of a new entrepreneurial contest will have the opportunity to develop a novel idea or product that embodies the innovative spirit described in President Obama's State of the Union address. Cleveland's recently launched Manufacturing Mart has announced a competition called "The Export Experiment," a new-product competition designed to grow business for American component manufacturers.
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.