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dispatch covers ohio cities experiencing urban growth
In a Columbus Dispatch story titled “Cities’ hearts beating strong in Ohio’s three C’s,” writer Steve Wartenberg describes the various ways Ohio’s three largest cities are experiencing urban renewal and growth and the benefits that go along with it.
“In Cleveland, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance has helped spur $5 billion in investment, including about $3 billion in the central business district,” Michael Deemer, vice president of business development, was quoted as saying.
The $350 million Horseshoe Casino has been credited for drawing over a million visitors in its first two months, while the $465 million Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center is expected to draw thousands of health-care professionals to Cleveland permanently.
“It’s the first of its kind, a medical-innovation showplace,” notes David Gilbert, chief executive of Positively Cleveland.
Enjoy the tale of three cities here.
“In Cleveland, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance has helped spur $5 billion in investment, including about $3 billion in the central business district,” Michael Deemer, vice president of business development, was quoted as saying.
The $350 million Horseshoe Casino has been credited for drawing over a million visitors in its first two months, while the $465 million Cleveland Medical Mart & Convention Center is expected to draw thousands of health-care professionals to Cleveland permanently.
“It’s the first of its kind, a medical-innovation showplace,” notes David Gilbert, chief executive of Positively Cleveland.
Enjoy the tale of three cities here.
While spending his weekends crafting sauces and perfecting slow-smoked pulled pork, Bill Madansky used to joke around with his friends about quitting his day job to open a barbeque restaurant.
Five years after looking at an empty storefront on Waterloo Road, he's finally done it. Madansky has leased a space from Northeast Shores Development Corporation, which renovated a dilapidated building across from the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, and recently opened Blitz Barbeque.
Madansky's journey from grocery store employee to chef and small business owner was complicated by the recession (banks weren't lending to restaurants; or at least not his) as well as the renovation of the building, which was a gut job.
"I was tired of working for people, so I decided to go out on my own and give it a shot," says Medansky of his decision to lauch Blitz. Of the restaurant, he adds, "Everything is made from high-quality ingredients. I go the extra mile."
Extra mile indeed. Madansky preps all of his meats at least a full day in advance, giving his pork and other meats a chance to really soak up the sauces and spices. "There's a lot of prep," he says. "Mine stands out above everyone else's."
Although Madansky jokes that he must be the most patient man in Cleveland, he's also among the hardest-working. Blitz is open from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. seven days a week in order to serve concertgoers and other late-night revelers on Waterloo.
Blitz is mostly a takeout joint but has a counter, stools and a side bar with a flat screen and four chairs. Prices range from $6 Polish Boys to $13 half slab rib dinners and a $16 dinner for two that includes "two pieces of everything."
Madansky, who has been buying restaurant equipment for years, is happy to finally be open. As for the name, it's got a rock and roll connection: Madansky's brother John was 'Johnny Blitz' of the well-known punk band The Dead Boys.
Source: Bill Medansky
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Five years after looking at an empty storefront on Waterloo Road, he's finally done it. Madansky has leased a space from Northeast Shores Development Corporation, which renovated a dilapidated building across from the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, and recently opened Blitz Barbeque.
Madansky's journey from grocery store employee to chef and small business owner was complicated by the recession (banks weren't lending to restaurants; or at least not his) as well as the renovation of the building, which was a gut job.
"I was tired of working for people, so I decided to go out on my own and give it a shot," says Medansky of his decision to lauch Blitz. Of the restaurant, he adds, "Everything is made from high-quality ingredients. I go the extra mile."
Extra mile indeed. Madansky preps all of his meats at least a full day in advance, giving his pork and other meats a chance to really soak up the sauces and spices. "There's a lot of prep," he says. "Mine stands out above everyone else's."
Although Madansky jokes that he must be the most patient man in Cleveland, he's also among the hardest-working. Blitz is open from 11 a.m. until 1 a.m. seven days a week in order to serve concertgoers and other late-night revelers on Waterloo.
Blitz is mostly a takeout joint but has a counter, stools and a side bar with a flat screen and four chairs. Prices range from $6 Polish Boys to $13 half slab rib dinners and a $16 dinner for two that includes "two pieces of everything."
Madansky, who has been buying restaurant equipment for years, is happy to finally be open. As for the name, it's got a rock and roll connection: Madansky's brother John was 'Johnny Blitz' of the well-known punk band The Dead Boys.
Source: Bill Medansky
Writer: Lee Chilcote
league park project hailed in the new york times
League Park, in Cleveland's Hough neighborhood, was home to the Cleveland Indians until 1946. And it was the site of many of baseball's finest moments, including Babe Ruth's 500th homer and the only World Series triple play.
In this New York Times feature, writer Hillel Kuttler describes efforts to reopen the historic site.
"The site has remained virtually untouched since the stadium was razed in 1951. But it is expected to reopen in turn-back-the-clock glory, featuring a baseball diamond aligned as it was during its major league heyday. The field will be made of artificial turf to reduce postponements in Little League, high school, college and recreational baseball games. It may also be used for soccer and football games, as well as concerts and other events. A second baseball diamond and a children’s water park, surrounded by a winding walking track, are to be built on the property."
The article describes how this one single project can reinvigorate the entire neighborhood.
“I can see things beginning to change,” Robert Denson, an insurance manager and vice president of the League Park Heritage Association, is quoted in the piece. “I think League Park will also be an attraction. Maybe people will think, ‘I can come in and start a business.’ ”
Read all the great news here.
In this New York Times feature, writer Hillel Kuttler describes efforts to reopen the historic site.
"The site has remained virtually untouched since the stadium was razed in 1951. But it is expected to reopen in turn-back-the-clock glory, featuring a baseball diamond aligned as it was during its major league heyday. The field will be made of artificial turf to reduce postponements in Little League, high school, college and recreational baseball games. It may also be used for soccer and football games, as well as concerts and other events. A second baseball diamond and a children’s water park, surrounded by a winding walking track, are to be built on the property."
The article describes how this one single project can reinvigorate the entire neighborhood.
“I can see things beginning to change,” Robert Denson, an insurance manager and vice president of the League Park Heritage Association, is quoted in the piece. “I think League Park will also be an attraction. Maybe people will think, ‘I can come in and start a business.’ ”
Read all the great news here.
next city explores cleveland's future in casino gambling
In a Next City post titled “Downtown Roulette: Will Casinos Be a Win for Ohio Cities?” writer Anna Clark questions if casino gambling belongs in urban centers such as downtown Cleveland.
“Last year, after Ohio became the latest state to legalize casino gambling, its first gaming complex opened in downtown Cleveland. Casinos in Toledo and Columbus appeared soon thereafter, and another is slated for Cincinnati. But will these glitzy institutions deliver the new tax revenues that political and business leaders expect?”
Can the casino industry continue to flourish and will Cleveland be among the cities to benefit from the industry?
Find out the answers here.
“Last year, after Ohio became the latest state to legalize casino gambling, its first gaming complex opened in downtown Cleveland. Casinos in Toledo and Columbus appeared soon thereafter, and another is slated for Cincinnati. But will these glitzy institutions deliver the new tax revenues that political and business leaders expect?”
Can the casino industry continue to flourish and will Cleveland be among the cities to benefit from the industry?
Find out the answers here.
4 Walls, a Cleveland designer and manufacturer of digital wall coverings for residential and commercial markets, has partnered with Sherwin-Williams in a new program, SurroundDecor.
The program caters primarily to the health care, hospitality, retail and corporate markets, and features new original digital designs printed on premium recycled PVC-free material. Customers choose their designs, colors and sizes and SurroundDesign creates custom murals for their spaces.
4 Walls and Sherwin-Williams are long term partners, and SurroundDecor is a natural fit, says4 Walls founder Patrick Walker.
“We have a good and close relationship with the decor group at Sherwin Williams, and have for many years,” he says. “They are familiar with our commitment to quality in both product design and manufacturing. When we presented the program, they felt we'd be a great partner.”
Sherwin-Williams announced the program at its annual show last week. Their sales network will handle initial requests and quotes, then 4 Walls will take over. “They not only handle 100-percent of the sales process with their rep network, but they also field the incoming requests for quotes and information,” says Walker “As soon as the questions get more complex and technical -- things we like to handle and take off their plate -- they pass the calls to us. They are great to work with, and provide solid guidance regarding their needs, and those of their customers.”
Because one order can typically take between three and 12 months to complete, Walker anticipates sales in the SurroundDecor program to ramp up by second quarter of this year. “We are planning for 15 to 20 percent sales growth, and to hire one to two additional people,” Walker predicts. “This is our forecast, and is certainly achievable. Getting there will of course depend on both the overall economy and the trends in our industry. As always, we are cautiously optimistic.”
Source: Patrick Walker
Writer: Karin Connelly
The program caters primarily to the health care, hospitality, retail and corporate markets, and features new original digital designs printed on premium recycled PVC-free material. Customers choose their designs, colors and sizes and SurroundDesign creates custom murals for their spaces.
4 Walls and Sherwin-Williams are long term partners, and SurroundDecor is a natural fit, says4 Walls founder Patrick Walker.
“We have a good and close relationship with the decor group at Sherwin Williams, and have for many years,” he says. “They are familiar with our commitment to quality in both product design and manufacturing. When we presented the program, they felt we'd be a great partner.”
Sherwin-Williams announced the program at its annual show last week. Their sales network will handle initial requests and quotes, then 4 Walls will take over. “They not only handle 100-percent of the sales process with their rep network, but they also field the incoming requests for quotes and information,” says Walker “As soon as the questions get more complex and technical -- things we like to handle and take off their plate -- they pass the calls to us. They are great to work with, and provide solid guidance regarding their needs, and those of their customers.”
Because one order can typically take between three and 12 months to complete, Walker anticipates sales in the SurroundDecor program to ramp up by second quarter of this year. “We are planning for 15 to 20 percent sales growth, and to hire one to two additional people,” Walker predicts. “This is our forecast, and is certainly achievable. Getting there will of course depend on both the overall economy and the trends in our industry. As always, we are cautiously optimistic.”
Source: Patrick Walker
Writer: Karin Connelly
Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies (GLNT), which creates biomedical technologies for the treatment of movement disorders, announced last week that they will be leading a study to improve algorithms for deep brain stimulation in treating Parkinson’s disease.
The study will use GLNT’s Kinesia technology and is funded by a $283,828 phase I Small Business Innovative Research grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It will take place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham this spring.
Deep brain stimulation involves implanting an electrode in a certain area of the brain to treat the side effects of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. But the technology has varied results. GLNT hopes to improve the outcomes.
“Implanting the electrode is more art than science right now,” says Dustin Heldman, biomedical researcher and principal investigator for GLNT, explaining that outcomes depend on amplitude and frequency -- leaving a lot of variables on the individual programmer.
“With the existing Kinesia system we’re trying to level the playing field for everyone by making an objective standard way of programming,” explains Heldman. “We’re taking the guesswork out of it.”
While phase I will just collect preliminary data, deep brain stimulation could be another application for GLNT’s Kinesia. “It’s great for us,” Heldman says. “We have this sensor technology now, it’s released and it’s FDA cleared. This is just another application. Assuming we get good results, we'll apply for a much larger study.”
GLNT grew from 15 to 23 employees last year, and is hiring three additional people now.
Source: Dustin Heldman
Writer: Karin Connelly
The study will use GLNT’s Kinesia technology and is funded by a $283,828 phase I Small Business Innovative Research grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. It will take place at the University of Alabama at Birmingham this spring.
Deep brain stimulation involves implanting an electrode in a certain area of the brain to treat the side effects of Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders. But the technology has varied results. GLNT hopes to improve the outcomes.
“Implanting the electrode is more art than science right now,” says Dustin Heldman, biomedical researcher and principal investigator for GLNT, explaining that outcomes depend on amplitude and frequency -- leaving a lot of variables on the individual programmer.
“With the existing Kinesia system we’re trying to level the playing field for everyone by making an objective standard way of programming,” explains Heldman. “We’re taking the guesswork out of it.”
While phase I will just collect preliminary data, deep brain stimulation could be another application for GLNT’s Kinesia. “It’s great for us,” Heldman says. “We have this sensor technology now, it’s released and it’s FDA cleared. This is just another application. Assuming we get good results, we'll apply for a much larger study.”
GLNT grew from 15 to 23 employees last year, and is hiring three additional people now.
Source: Dustin Heldman
Writer: Karin Connelly
cleveland public theatre recognized for production of women's work
In a Huffington Post feature titled “Women Playwrights Applaud Theaters,” Monica Bauer reports on theaters that make an effort to feature the work of female playwrights, but are not considered a female-centered establishment.
“The Applause Awards are based on the previous year's season, so the first awards go to theaters for their 2011-2012 productions," she writes. "Theaters whose mission is to produce women's work were not eligible. The winners are: Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland, OH; Little Colonel Theatre, Pee Wee Valley, KY; Nora Theater, Cambridge, MA; Playwrights Horizons, New York, NY; and, Symmetry Theatre, Berkeley, CA.”
While women have been making great strides, still only 18 percent of productions done in the U.S. are from female playwrights.
Enjoy the full feature here.
“The Applause Awards are based on the previous year's season, so the first awards go to theaters for their 2011-2012 productions," she writes. "Theaters whose mission is to produce women's work were not eligible. The winners are: Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland, OH; Little Colonel Theatre, Pee Wee Valley, KY; Nora Theater, Cambridge, MA; Playwrights Horizons, New York, NY; and, Symmetry Theatre, Berkeley, CA.”
While women have been making great strides, still only 18 percent of productions done in the U.S. are from female playwrights.
Enjoy the full feature here.
Wannabe downtown Cleveland residents who are on waiting lists for the hottest apartment buildings can expect some relief soon. MRN Ltd. plans to open the Lofts at Rosetta Center, an 85-unit building at 629 Euclid Avenue, within just a few short months.
The units, which start at $715 per month for a studio and climb to $1,600 for a spacious two bedroom, began pre-leasing on January 15. MRN already has accepted deposits on several units, and the first residents are expected to move in around March 29.
During a recent preview tour with Leasing Manager Tammy Oliver, Fresh Water observed drywalled units with sleek white kitchens, open loft-style living spaces, walk-in closets and large windows offering views of Euclid Avenue and Lake Erie. The building also has an on-site fitness center and game room, laundry available on every floor, and a tucked-away breakfast and lunch spot called Sammy's.
"We used Stanley Saitowitz, a San Francisco architect with Natoma Architects, who also designed the units in our Uptown project," explains Oliver. "It's a historic renovation project with super modern interiors and really efficient living spaces."
Indeed, the sales pitch holds true. There's little wasted space in these units, which feel roomy even when the square footage says otherwise. The lack of interior hallways and the presence of big, beautiful windows add to the airy, light-flooded feel.
In addition to studios, one bedrooms and two bedrooms, the building also contains loft-style units with semi-open bedrooms (a floor-to-ceiling wall offers separation).
The most heartening trend Oliver has seen is that prospective tenants are coming from outside of downtown, not MRN's other buildings. She's received calls from apartment-seekers from Chagrin Falls, Strongsville, Columbus and other cities.
"We were a little afraid of doing the downtown shuffle, where our residents move to a newer building," she says. "But we're not poaching from other buildings."
Opening new buildings should also make the market more competitive. "The rents were being raised on existing stock faster than the Cleveland employment market could keep up," she says. "We want to offer units students can afford without breaking the bank, and give professionals options so they can move up."
Interested in checking out the latest in downtown living? MRN and Downtown Cleveland Alliance are hosting an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 5-7 p.m. (NOTE: This event is now sold out, according to the event organizers.)
Source: Tammy Oliver
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The units, which start at $715 per month for a studio and climb to $1,600 for a spacious two bedroom, began pre-leasing on January 15. MRN already has accepted deposits on several units, and the first residents are expected to move in around March 29.
During a recent preview tour with Leasing Manager Tammy Oliver, Fresh Water observed drywalled units with sleek white kitchens, open loft-style living spaces, walk-in closets and large windows offering views of Euclid Avenue and Lake Erie. The building also has an on-site fitness center and game room, laundry available on every floor, and a tucked-away breakfast and lunch spot called Sammy's.
"We used Stanley Saitowitz, a San Francisco architect with Natoma Architects, who also designed the units in our Uptown project," explains Oliver. "It's a historic renovation project with super modern interiors and really efficient living spaces."
Indeed, the sales pitch holds true. There's little wasted space in these units, which feel roomy even when the square footage says otherwise. The lack of interior hallways and the presence of big, beautiful windows add to the airy, light-flooded feel.
In addition to studios, one bedrooms and two bedrooms, the building also contains loft-style units with semi-open bedrooms (a floor-to-ceiling wall offers separation).
The most heartening trend Oliver has seen is that prospective tenants are coming from outside of downtown, not MRN's other buildings. She's received calls from apartment-seekers from Chagrin Falls, Strongsville, Columbus and other cities.
"We were a little afraid of doing the downtown shuffle, where our residents move to a newer building," she says. "But we're not poaching from other buildings."
Opening new buildings should also make the market more competitive. "The rents were being raised on existing stock faster than the Cleveland employment market could keep up," she says. "We want to offer units students can afford without breaking the bank, and give professionals options so they can move up."
Interested in checking out the latest in downtown living? MRN and Downtown Cleveland Alliance are hosting an open house on Tuesday, Feb. 5 from 5-7 p.m. (NOTE: This event is now sold out, according to the event organizers.)
Source: Tammy Oliver
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Back in 2011, Fresh Water ran a feature about Ohio's newly instituted Film Production Tax Credit, which helped attract big-budget productions like "The Avengers" and "Alex Cross," plus smaller films like "Take Shelter" and "Fun Size." We decided to revisit the topic to see how it's working out for Cleveland, and Ohio.
horseshoe casino buzzed about in usa today
In a USA Today special titled “All in: Gambling options proliferate across USA,” Matt Villano discusses the increase in casino gambling and entertainment options across the nation.
As the numerous casinos vie for entertainment dollars, many are going a step beyond slot machines and gaming tables. For example, Cleveland’s Horseshoe Casino, currently housed in the historic Higbee building, gets props for its architecture.
“Smack in the middle of the Public Square neighborhood in downtown Cleveland, the Horseshoe's claim to fame is the building in which it occupies. The Art Deco Higbee Building dates to 1931, and was the city's first department store. The building (and surrounding Tower City Center complex) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.” Villano notes.
Check out the full piece here.
As the numerous casinos vie for entertainment dollars, many are going a step beyond slot machines and gaming tables. For example, Cleveland’s Horseshoe Casino, currently housed in the historic Higbee building, gets props for its architecture.
“Smack in the middle of the Public Square neighborhood in downtown Cleveland, the Horseshoe's claim to fame is the building in which it occupies. The Art Deco Higbee Building dates to 1931, and was the city's first department store. The building (and surrounding Tower City Center complex) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.” Villano notes.
Check out the full piece here.
Jenni Baker and three of her friends were talking one day and realized they all had some degree of background in event planning. The realization sparked an idea. “We decided to come together and form this company,” says Baker.
So, in January 2012, Baker, Holly Lauch, Timi Kormos and Jane Diemer started Cardigan Events. Baker and Lauch work on the development and business side of the company, while Diemer and Kormos apply their talents on the creative and design side.
Instead of just serving as another party planning company, Cardigan focuses on helping clients attain certain goals with respect to their events. “We’re really focused on events for companies trying to reach specific objectives,” says Baker. “Whether it’s raising awareness -- helping nonprofits tell their stories or raise supporters -- or showcasing a new program or facility, we really try to hone in on the reasons to have the event.”
Cardigan’s first event was a fundraising dinner for St. Vincent DePaul. Other clients include a March Madness fundraising event for In it Together, a support organization for families of children with cancer, and the Catholic Community Foundation.
“I never thought that working on this kind of stuff could be so much fun,” says Baker. “Someone said to us, ‘All of this gives me a headache.’ So our unofficial motto became, ‘Your headache is our fun.”
Source: Jenni Baker
Writer: Karin Connelly
So, in January 2012, Baker, Holly Lauch, Timi Kormos and Jane Diemer started Cardigan Events. Baker and Lauch work on the development and business side of the company, while Diemer and Kormos apply their talents on the creative and design side.
Instead of just serving as another party planning company, Cardigan focuses on helping clients attain certain goals with respect to their events. “We’re really focused on events for companies trying to reach specific objectives,” says Baker. “Whether it’s raising awareness -- helping nonprofits tell their stories or raise supporters -- or showcasing a new program or facility, we really try to hone in on the reasons to have the event.”
Cardigan’s first event was a fundraising dinner for St. Vincent DePaul. Other clients include a March Madness fundraising event for In it Together, a support organization for families of children with cancer, and the Catholic Community Foundation.
“I never thought that working on this kind of stuff could be so much fun,” says Baker. “Someone said to us, ‘All of this gives me a headache.’ So our unofficial motto became, ‘Your headache is our fun.”
Source: Jenni Baker
Writer: Karin Connelly
cma among museums that give back 'looted' art
In a New York Times story titled “The Great Giveback,” Hugh Eakin writes how major American museums are relinquishing antiquities due to foreign claims that various objects were looted.
The piece goes on to talk about the aggressive nature of some foreign governments and the demands they make on the museums to give back what they claim is rightfully theirs.
“Other museums across the country -- including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Cleveland Museum of Art -- have also given up prized antiquities,” Eakin writes.
What's more: "In nearly every case, the museums have not been compelled by any legal ruling to give up the art, nor are they receiving compensation for doing so. And while a few of the returned works have been traced to particular sites or matched with other fragments residing in the claimant country, many of them have no known place of origin."
"Foreign governments’ tactics have become so threatening that some museums are now combing through their permanent collections and pre-emptively giving up works that might become the targets of future claims."
Read the lengthy feature here.
The piece goes on to talk about the aggressive nature of some foreign governments and the demands they make on the museums to give back what they claim is rightfully theirs.
“Other museums across the country -- including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Cleveland Museum of Art -- have also given up prized antiquities,” Eakin writes.
What's more: "In nearly every case, the museums have not been compelled by any legal ruling to give up the art, nor are they receiving compensation for doing so. And while a few of the returned works have been traced to particular sites or matched with other fragments residing in the claimant country, many of them have no known place of origin."
"Foreign governments’ tactics have become so threatening that some museums are now combing through their permanent collections and pre-emptively giving up works that might become the targets of future claims."
Read the lengthy feature here.
In 2012, Northeast Ohio was a popular place for venture capitalists and angel investors to back startup companies. Investments nationally decreased by 10 percent last year, and decreased in the rest of Ohio by 33 percent, according to a study in The MoneyTree Report by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association.
But in Northeast Ohio, according to the Northeast Ohio Venture Capital Advisory Task Force, 105 tech-based companies in Greater Cleveland raised $201 million from venture capitalists and angel investors -- a 34-percent increase over the amount raised by companies in 2011.
“We’ve been on an upward trajectory of the number of companies that have been able to raise money,” says Samantha Fryberger, vice president of marketing for JumpStart. “There’s a strong angel community here and our angels are well organized and well educated.”
In fact, Northeast Ohio has the first and fifth largest angel funds in the country. Fryberger says the diversity of businesses and the number of support organizations attract investors to Northeast Ohio.
“We have a very robust early-stage investment ecosystem right here in Northeast Ohio,” says Clay Rankin, managing member of the North Coast Angel Fund, which invests in life sciences companies and is the country’s fifth largest angel group. “We’ve been building a lot of momentum in the last six to eight years. We’ve been very fortunate in supporting early stage ventures.”
Citing successful companies like Juventas Therapeutics, Cleveland HeartLab and Neuros Medical, Rankin says it’s no wonder Cleveland is growing in investments. “There really are world class companies being developed right here in our backyard,” he says. “When you have world class companies, you attract support from angel groups.”
Source: Samantha Fryberger and Clay Rankin
Writer: Karin Connelly
But in Northeast Ohio, according to the Northeast Ohio Venture Capital Advisory Task Force, 105 tech-based companies in Greater Cleveland raised $201 million from venture capitalists and angel investors -- a 34-percent increase over the amount raised by companies in 2011.
“We’ve been on an upward trajectory of the number of companies that have been able to raise money,” says Samantha Fryberger, vice president of marketing for JumpStart. “There’s a strong angel community here and our angels are well organized and well educated.”
In fact, Northeast Ohio has the first and fifth largest angel funds in the country. Fryberger says the diversity of businesses and the number of support organizations attract investors to Northeast Ohio.
“We have a very robust early-stage investment ecosystem right here in Northeast Ohio,” says Clay Rankin, managing member of the North Coast Angel Fund, which invests in life sciences companies and is the country’s fifth largest angel group. “We’ve been building a lot of momentum in the last six to eight years. We’ve been very fortunate in supporting early stage ventures.”
Citing successful companies like Juventas Therapeutics, Cleveland HeartLab and Neuros Medical, Rankin says it’s no wonder Cleveland is growing in investments. “There really are world class companies being developed right here in our backyard,” he says. “When you have world class companies, you attract support from angel groups.”
Source: Samantha Fryberger and Clay Rankin
Writer: Karin Connelly
Call it a small business grant competition with a twist. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance 5th Street Arcades Retail Development Grant Competition will award $1,500 to $20,000 to startup businesses. Along with free and reduced rent for the first year, tenants will also have a chance to win matching funds and garner community support through online crowdfunding.
Downtown Cleveland Alliance and developer Dick Pace are hoping that the recently launched program, which is being funded by Charter One Growing Communities, will help kickstart new downtown retail and fill up long-vacant spaces in the 5th Street Arcades (formerly the Colonial Arcade).
"I already have people calling me," says Pace, who has added several new shops since taking over a master lease for the arcades, including Curious Cleaveland, Chocolate 76 and Different Things Gallery. "We need more than one single shop, but a group of retailers that feed off each other and create that synergy."
The crowdfunding campaigns, which will take place after winners are selected, will give retailers a chance to raise funds and generate buzz. "They get capital support from DCA, and support from crowdfunding. It's a pretty powerful combination."
Carrie Carpenter of Charter One Growing Communities says that providing gap funding to new urban retailers has been so successful that the program is being rolled out in other cities outside of Northeast Ohio. "When you look at it from a small business perspective, we have tons of entrepreneurs in Cleveland, tons of great ideas," she says. "The challenge is that they simply lack funding to make it happen. Growing Communities is about helping neighborhoods succeed."
The competition began Tuesday, January 29 and runs through Friday, March 1, 2013. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on March 1 to be eligible. Finalists will be notified on or before March 20, 2013. Grant applications will be judged on their merits by a selection committee.
Finalists will run crowdfunding campaigns from March 25 to April 24. Winners and grant amounts are scheduled to be announced the week of April 29.
Source: Carrie Carpenter, Dick Pace
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Downtown Cleveland Alliance and developer Dick Pace are hoping that the recently launched program, which is being funded by Charter One Growing Communities, will help kickstart new downtown retail and fill up long-vacant spaces in the 5th Street Arcades (formerly the Colonial Arcade).
"I already have people calling me," says Pace, who has added several new shops since taking over a master lease for the arcades, including Curious Cleaveland, Chocolate 76 and Different Things Gallery. "We need more than one single shop, but a group of retailers that feed off each other and create that synergy."
The crowdfunding campaigns, which will take place after winners are selected, will give retailers a chance to raise funds and generate buzz. "They get capital support from DCA, and support from crowdfunding. It's a pretty powerful combination."
Carrie Carpenter of Charter One Growing Communities says that providing gap funding to new urban retailers has been so successful that the program is being rolled out in other cities outside of Northeast Ohio. "When you look at it from a small business perspective, we have tons of entrepreneurs in Cleveland, tons of great ideas," she says. "The challenge is that they simply lack funding to make it happen. Growing Communities is about helping neighborhoods succeed."
The competition began Tuesday, January 29 and runs through Friday, March 1, 2013. Applications must be received by 5 p.m. on March 1 to be eligible. Finalists will be notified on or before March 20, 2013. Grant applications will be judged on their merits by a selection committee.
Finalists will run crowdfunding campaigns from March 25 to April 24. Winners and grant amounts are scheduled to be announced the week of April 29.
Source: Carrie Carpenter, Dick Pace
Writer: Lee Chilcote
whopperjaw jaws about lottery league
In a Lottery League of Their Own
In an awesome post on Whopperjaw, an online music and arts blog, writer Sam Fryberger interviews the founders -- Jae Kristoff, Michael Pultz and Ed Sotelo -- of the popular Lottery League event on the unexpected success of their wacky idea.
"Lottery League is a large-scale recurring experiment that brings together diverse Cleveland musicians and forces them to form new bands on the spot with people they definitely have never played with and may never have even met before. Each new group gets two months to come together, develop their band’s identity and, of course, practice for the Big Show on April 13 (which is free and open to the public)," Fryberger writes.
The numbers are staggering: nearly 200 participants in the event are randomly matched to create 42 brand new bands.
“At the end of this you are booked for a gig. You aren’t getting paid, but you have a show and you are expected to perform,” the musicians are told.
Regarding the creation, Kristoff says: Ed Sotelo had posted a long rant on there about the lousy music he had seen the night before and about how he thought all city’s bands should break up and be part of sports-like draft. I was like, “Holy shit.” Then, Nate and I started talking about it. Eventually I ended up calling Ed and said, “Remember that thing you posted earlier? We can totally do that.”
Sotelo: I don’t remember, but I am pretty sure I said, “Whatever, dude.” But it was definitely a fun idea even then when he laid it out. Jae was assuring me, “It’s going to happen.”
Sotelo continues: Here’s a chance to completely take a risk and have fun. Some cats are really hungry for something like that. I can go play my own stuff for three hours or I can play someone else’s stuff for three hours. But you know what would be great? If I could just say “fuck it” and hang out with people I’ve never met for a while and do something completely different musically. I believe that every musician, regardless of genre, deep down inside would like to be challenged and wants to create.
Check out the rest here.
In an awesome post on Whopperjaw, an online music and arts blog, writer Sam Fryberger interviews the founders -- Jae Kristoff, Michael Pultz and Ed Sotelo -- of the popular Lottery League event on the unexpected success of their wacky idea.
"Lottery League is a large-scale recurring experiment that brings together diverse Cleveland musicians and forces them to form new bands on the spot with people they definitely have never played with and may never have even met before. Each new group gets two months to come together, develop their band’s identity and, of course, practice for the Big Show on April 13 (which is free and open to the public)," Fryberger writes.
The numbers are staggering: nearly 200 participants in the event are randomly matched to create 42 brand new bands.
“At the end of this you are booked for a gig. You aren’t getting paid, but you have a show and you are expected to perform,” the musicians are told.
Regarding the creation, Kristoff says: Ed Sotelo had posted a long rant on there about the lousy music he had seen the night before and about how he thought all city’s bands should break up and be part of sports-like draft. I was like, “Holy shit.” Then, Nate and I started talking about it. Eventually I ended up calling Ed and said, “Remember that thing you posted earlier? We can totally do that.”
Sotelo: I don’t remember, but I am pretty sure I said, “Whatever, dude.” But it was definitely a fun idea even then when he laid it out. Jae was assuring me, “It’s going to happen.”
Sotelo continues: Here’s a chance to completely take a risk and have fun. Some cats are really hungry for something like that. I can go play my own stuff for three hours or I can play someone else’s stuff for three hours. But you know what would be great? If I could just say “fuck it” and hang out with people I’ve never met for a while and do something completely different musically. I believe that every musician, regardless of genre, deep down inside would like to be challenged and wants to create.
Check out the rest here.
If you've enjoyed a drink at Lolita on a weekend night during the past two and a half years, chances are good Will Hollingsworth poured it. During that same period of time, Hollingsworth has been formulating his greatest recipe yet: The perfect bar, which will open this summer in Tremont.
art daily talks up cma's tech-heavy gallery one
In an Art Daily article titled “Gallery One: A new, unique and interactive gallery opens at the Cleveland Museum of Art,” the journal highlights the level of technology and its role in art appreciation in the new exhibit.
“Throughout the space, original works of art and digital interactives engage visitors in new ways, putting curiosity, imagination and creativity at the heart of their museum experience. Innovative user-interface design and cutting-edge hardware developed exclusively for Gallery One break new ground in art museum interpretation, design and technology.”
It is certainly a break from the standard observation and appreciation of artistic pieces enjoyed in the traditional manner.
“It’s very important to us that visitors interact with real objects, rather than digital reproductions,” David Franklin is quoted in the piece. “We want visitors to look closely at original art works and to make personal connections to what they are seeing.”
Check out the full story here.
“Throughout the space, original works of art and digital interactives engage visitors in new ways, putting curiosity, imagination and creativity at the heart of their museum experience. Innovative user-interface design and cutting-edge hardware developed exclusively for Gallery One break new ground in art museum interpretation, design and technology.”
It is certainly a break from the standard observation and appreciation of artistic pieces enjoyed in the traditional manner.
“It’s very important to us that visitors interact with real objects, rather than digital reproductions,” David Franklin is quoted in the piece. “We want visitors to look closely at original art works and to make personal connections to what they are seeing.”
Check out the full story here.
Phil Alexander and Mohit Ahluwalia realized something when they were earning their MBAs at CWRU: that people in all segments of businesses are charged with creating presentations at some point in their careers. However, not everyone has the talent -- or budget to hire an agency -- to create an eye-catching presentation.
“Thirty million PowerPoint presentations are made every day across America,” says Alexander.
So Alexander and Ahluwalia thought about starting a business that would help customers create their presentations.
“We wanted to do something with digital media,” recalls Alexander. “We were looking to figure out if we could automate the process and avoid paying the high rates of agencies.”
The two applied to LaunchHouse Accelerator last summer and developed Quick2Launch, a company that creates great visuals for any presentation. The company officially launched last week with its ConceptDrop technology.
With the company’s ConceptDrop, users login, upload their content outlines and fill out a creative brief questionnaire describing their presentation. They are then presented with a selection of pre-approved templates and themes, and Quick2Launch takes it from there and creates the visuals to go along with the content. The end result is a complete, professional presentation.
“We’re just trying to hold their hand throughout the creation of the presentation,” says Alexander. “We’ve tried to make it so it’s really simple.”
Quick2Launch partners with Reality Premedia Services, which provides access to 150 graphic designers. The company is about a month away from launching its business-to-business platform.
Alexander says they hope to hire a sales team and in-house designers soon. “The goal is to completely build our own entity,” he says. “We really want to be the all-in-one stop for presentations.”
Source: Phil Alexander
Writer: Karin Connelly
“Thirty million PowerPoint presentations are made every day across America,” says Alexander.
So Alexander and Ahluwalia thought about starting a business that would help customers create their presentations.
“We wanted to do something with digital media,” recalls Alexander. “We were looking to figure out if we could automate the process and avoid paying the high rates of agencies.”
The two applied to LaunchHouse Accelerator last summer and developed Quick2Launch, a company that creates great visuals for any presentation. The company officially launched last week with its ConceptDrop technology.
With the company’s ConceptDrop, users login, upload their content outlines and fill out a creative brief questionnaire describing their presentation. They are then presented with a selection of pre-approved templates and themes, and Quick2Launch takes it from there and creates the visuals to go along with the content. The end result is a complete, professional presentation.
“We’re just trying to hold their hand throughout the creation of the presentation,” says Alexander. “We’ve tried to make it so it’s really simple.”
Quick2Launch partners with Reality Premedia Services, which provides access to 150 graphic designers. The company is about a month away from launching its business-to-business platform.
Alexander says they hope to hire a sales team and in-house designers soon. “The goal is to completely build our own entity,” he says. “We really want to be the all-in-one stop for presentations.”
Source: Phil Alexander
Writer: Karin Connelly
In another example of a fleeting pop-up becoming permanent, local artists Dott Schneider and Bryon Miller recently opened the Miller Schneider Gallery on Waterloo Road in North Collinwood to showcase seldom-seen artists and add to the district's growing visual arts scene.
In recent years, there's been a rotating gallery at 16008 Waterloo Road. When the landlord approached Miller about opening a space, he soon reeled in Schneider.
The first show features Cincinnati tattoo artist Meghan Dietz, whose flash line paintings are influenced by American-style tattooing. As Schneider says, "What we have on the walls right now is some pretty risque bondage flash line work."
Expect more unusual offerings from this duo, who have plenty of experience.
"What's exciting is that we're both professional artists and have been doing this a long time," says Schneider. "We want to foster good, honest relationships with the artists we represent. It's our responsibility to mentor up-and-coming artists."
Schneider is a mixed-media artist who has been creating and exhibiting work since 1996, while Miller is a photographer with 15 years of experience. Upcoming shows may feature folk artists from Columbus and a printmaker from France, she says.
The gallery will stay open later on nights when there is an "interesting" show at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, says Schneider, who is enthused about the arts district. "We're looking forward to growing with the neighborhood," she says.
The gallery has regular weekend hours. It will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in February and will be open late for Walk All Over Waterloo on Feb. 1st.
Source: Dott Schneider
Writer: Lee Chilcote
In recent years, there's been a rotating gallery at 16008 Waterloo Road. When the landlord approached Miller about opening a space, he soon reeled in Schneider.
The first show features Cincinnati tattoo artist Meghan Dietz, whose flash line paintings are influenced by American-style tattooing. As Schneider says, "What we have on the walls right now is some pretty risque bondage flash line work."
Expect more unusual offerings from this duo, who have plenty of experience.
"What's exciting is that we're both professional artists and have been doing this a long time," says Schneider. "We want to foster good, honest relationships with the artists we represent. It's our responsibility to mentor up-and-coming artists."
Schneider is a mixed-media artist who has been creating and exhibiting work since 1996, while Miller is a photographer with 15 years of experience. Upcoming shows may feature folk artists from Columbus and a printmaker from France, she says.
The gallery will stay open later on nights when there is an "interesting" show at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern, says Schneider, who is enthused about the arts district. "We're looking forward to growing with the neighborhood," she says.
The gallery has regular weekend hours. It will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays starting in February and will be open late for Walk All Over Waterloo on Feb. 1st.
Source: Dott Schneider
Writer: Lee Chilcote