May 2013 E-Directions

The City of Akron and the Greater Akron Chamber hosted a delegation from Lithuania in town to sign a business development agreement between the Akron Global Business Accelerator and Kaunas University of Technology. The two entities will collaborate in development and promotion of biomedical initiatives through commercialization of products and services.

The Lithuanian delegation consisted of more than 20 representatives from both public and private sectors. They spent several days touring Greater Akron and meeting with the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron, City of Akron, Greater Akron Chamber, NEOMED and The University of Akron.

During the historic signing ceremony in Akron City Council Chambers, Rick Rebadow, Executive Vice President of the Greater Akron Chamber, welcomed the Lithuanian delegation to Akron.

"All of us have realized the potential strengths of working together," said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "If we continue to develop our relationship around the best practices of our local innovative companies, we will realize new investments and new jobs in both communities."

In addition to Lithuania, the City of Akron has formally entered into other "technology bridges" with Finland, Germany, Israel and Slovenia.

106th Greater Akron Chamber Annual Meeting

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A sold-out audience of 1,100 people packed the John S. Knight Center for the 106th annual meeting, The Elements of Excellence, on March 19. The evening included a public Board of Directors meeting and presentation of the H. Peter Burg Award to Mayor Donald Plusquellic.

Greater Akron Chamber President and CEO Dan Colantone described recent accomplishments for the Chamber, including 13 companies investing nearly $360 million, creating 406 new jobs and retaining 4,158 existing jobs.

Colantone also touched on the Economic Outlook Program and the Excellence in Business Awards, recognizing the increasing contributions of small businesses to the economy. A short video by Kleidon and Associates highlighted the Chamber's successes. See the video.

CEO of Main Street Gourmet and former Burg award winner Steve Marks presented the H. Peter Burg Award to Mayor Plusquellic, who has, Marks said, "made Akron a familiar name around the globe and a primary reason why Akron is known as a place where you can get things done."

Plusquellic's exceptional international and regional economic development campaign for Akron, the city he has led for 26 years, helped make him the first elected official to receive the

award.

"It's different when your hometown recognizes your work," Plusquellic said. "Every day I try to find a way to live up to the trust and support you have given me."

BCG & Company, annual meeting sponsor, announced a donation of $5,000 to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, while the evening's silent auction raised $12,000 for the Akron Regional Development Board Educational Fund.

Chamber Hosts Annual Forum, Celebrates International Activity

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Greystone Hall in downtown Akron was the venue for more than 125 Northeast Ohio economic development professionals at the Greater Akron Chamber's 9th Annual Economic Development Forum, sponsored by Roetzel & Andress.

The theme of this year's forum was international activity. In his opening remarks, Sam DeShazior, Deputy Planning Director for the City of Akron, focused on the City of Akron's longstanding collaboration with the Greater Akron Chamber in attendance at global trade shows and highlighted some recent international investments in our community.

Dr. Roy Norton, Consul General of Canada, gave the keynote address. He reviewed the relationship of the U.S. and Canada - the world's two largest trading partners - and the benefits of doing business in Canada. Dr. Norton also noted the positive economic development impact that the State of Ohio has realized with regard to exports, investment and job creation.

"This year's focus on international activity highlights the important opportunities beyond our borders, particularly Canada," said Rick Rebadow, Executive Vice President of the Greater Akron Chamber.

"Whether in Asia or Europe, our community has proven, time and time again, that it can compete in the global marketplace, and the Greater Akron Chamber and our local economic development partners will expand this circle of opportunity."

Greater Akron Partnership Visits 500 Businesses in 2012, a New Milestone

The Greater Akron Partnership conducted a record of 500 business visitations in the Tri-County region in 2012. This is the largest number ever recorded in one year, a significant year-over-year increase in business visitations.

The Greater Akron Partnership, an economic development program of the Greater Akron Chamber, is a business retention and expansion outreach program covering Medina, Portage and Summit Counties.

"This milestone shows a truly collaborative effort that has been well received by the local business community," said Rick Rebadow, Executive Vice President of the Greater Akron Chamber. "Every time we meet with a company, we can uncover potential investment in our region, as well as identify issues that could stand in the way of job creation."

The Greater Akron Partnership has brought public and private sectors together by working with companies already located in the Greater Akron Region. It is a business-friendly program that has successfully acted as a "one-stop shop" to help local companies with their economic development needs at local, state and federal levels.

The program commenced in 2003 in Summit County, and it was expanded to include both Medina and Portage Counties in 2011. The program, funded in part by JobsOhio, is a collaborative effort of the Greater Akron Chamber, Medina County Economic Development Corporation, Portage Development Board and the Summit County Department of Community & Economic Development.

Since its inaugural year, 3,021 business visitations have been conducted in the metro region.

Economic Development Correspondents

Robert Y. Bowman, Deputy Mayor, City of Akron
Samuel D. DeShazior, Deputy Director, City of Akron
Stephen Kidder, President, German Link, Inc.
Richard F. Rebadow, Executive Vice President, Greater Akron Chamber
Gregg P. Cramer, Vice President, Economic Development, Greater Akron Chamber