Kent Revitalization Project Named Ohio's "Best Project"
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The $106 million Downtown Kent Revitalization project that is a regional success story of public and private partnership was recognized as the state's "Best Project" by the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA). Greater Akron Chamber executive vice president and OEDA board member Richard Rebadow presented the award to the Kent City Council.
The project incorporates several initiatives, including development of the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center, the Fairmount Properties downtown redevelopment project, Acorn Alley, the PARTA Kent Central Gateway transit center, the Esplanade extension between campus and downtown and the new Portage County Municipal Courthouse. In conjunction with this project, 32 businesses have opened in the past two years, with another 20 anticipated next year.
More than 900 construction jobs have been created by the project. Once finished, it is expected to yield 700 permanent jobs.
"This project is a catalyst that will have a lasting effect on Kent, Kent State University, Portage County and Northeast Ohio," said Rebadow.
Rebadow also noted that the award celebrates the project's use of tax increment financing, such as a $20 million federal TIGER grant and an Ohio 629 Infrastructure grant.
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Chamber and UARF Partner for Entrepreneur Conference
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John Myers, executive-in-residence at The University of Akron Research Foundation and entrepreneurial outreach specialist at the Greater Akron Chamber, shown here talking to KSU student. |
The Greater Akron Chamber, in collaboration with The University of Akron Research Foundation (UARF), participated in the 7th annual Kent State University Entrepreneurship Extravaganza held on the KSU campus in October. The two-day event provided a unique learning experience for students, entrepreneurs and local businesses. The keynote speaker for the event was Jeff Hoffman, co-founder of Priceline.com.
As an exhibitor at the event, the Chamber had the opportunity to meet one on one with individual entrepreneurs. During these interactions, students and local entrepreneurs had the opportunity to discuss their ideas and the issues they face during the "start-up" phase of their companies. The Greater Akron Chamber is continually working with our economic development partners such as UARF to draw attention to an increasingly important part of the local economy and to facilitate interaction between entrepreneurs, investors and potential customers.
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PolymerOhio Brings Workshop Series to Chamber Offices
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 In November, The Greater Akron Chamber partnered with PolymerOhio to present the second in a series of workshops developed for local manufacturers. This event, part of the Lunch & Learn series, was titled "Improving Your Profits through Supply Chain Management."
The companies in attendance learned ways to increase sales and profits, improve customer service and reduce inventory by using techniques and software that help manage orders and materials and realistically forecast their business' needs.
PolymerOhio is planning their next Lunch & Learn at the Chamber on a date to be determined in February.
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Chamber App Gives Members a Platform to Offer Deals, Save Money
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 The Greater Akron Chamber has partnered with Save Local Now™ to create a mobile app to promote the services and products of our members. Save Local Now™ allows members to create special deals, discounts, coupons or events for consumers wanting to support local businesses. Each Chamber member is given a unique login to be able to update its offer or listing information as often as it would like. All of this is available for free to Chamber members. Vicki Lantz of Vicki Lantz Photography in Akron calls Save Local Now™ "a very user-friendly and efficient way for consumers to patronize local businesses." Chad Hamman, the Chamber's vice president of membership, said, "We felt it was important to find a program that would change consumer behavior by rewarding them for shopping at our local member businesses." The Save Local Now™ app is available for free on iPhones and Android phones. To download the iPhone app, click here. To download the Android app, click here. For questions about how your business can use Save Local Now™, contact Heather Taylor at (330) 237-1255. |
2013 Annual Meeting, March 19
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The Greater Akron Chamber celebrates its 106th Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 19, at the John S. Knight Center. Join us in our recognition of the outstanding work accomplished by our board members and business leaders of the Greater Akron region. This annual meeting will feature an overview of the Chamber's accomplishments for the year, installation of the officers and presentation of the H. Peter Burg Award. The program also features a reception with hors d'oeuvres and entertainment.
Where & When
John S. Knight Center
77 E. Mill St.
Akron, OH 44308
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
5:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Click here for more information and to register.
Sponsored by BCG & Company
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Greater Akron Region Represented in Lithuania
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Stephen Kidder, Robert Anthony, Dr. Arnold Caplan, Robert Bowman and Linas Klimavicius at the Akron, USA booth in Vilnius, Lithuania. |
Akron's Deputy Mayor of Economic Development Robert Bowman lead a delegation representing Akron at the Life Sciences Baltics Conference and Trade Fair in Vilnius, Lithuania. Akron's attendance was part of the Akron Global Business Accelerator, City of Akron and Greater Akron Chamber's effort to develop a Technology Bridge with Lithuania, a country with enormous economic potential and resources in both the life science and biomedical arena.
The Chamber has worked closely with the City of Akron to develop an aggressive international marketing plan for 2013, and the outreach to Lithuania is the latest effort to bring international investment - and jobs - to the Greater Akron Region. In addition to Lithuania, the Chamber and City of Akron are scheduled to attend trade shows in both China and Germany during the first half of 2013.
While at the conference in Lithuania, the Akron delegation participated in seminars by Professor Arnold Caplan from Case Western Reserve University and Professor Ada Yonath who earned a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009. Assisting Akron's participation were Ingrida Bublys, Honorary General Counsel of the Republic of Lithuania in Ohio and Linas Klimavicius, Co-Director of the Lithuanian Trade Office in Chicago. The event was the first of its kind in Lithuania, and a number of companies have expressed an interest in traveling to Akron to conduct additional due diligence with regard to the commercialization of their technologies.
"International events like the Life Sciences Baltics Conference and Trade Fair are an integral part of our coordinated effort to promote the 'Akron Story' with the global marketplace," stated Greater Akron Chamber executive vice president Rick Rebadow. "A number of collaborative efforts are underway, and our team is working together to cultivate these leads into future investment opportunities within the Greater Akron Region."
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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
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