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Update from the Chamber's Government Affairs
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Over 35 candidates, elected officials and representatives networked with chamber members and community leaders at the Candidates and Elected Officials Reception in October. The event was sponsored by AT&T, Oriana House and Summa Health System and held at Roetzel & Andress.
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge met with business and community leaders on November 7 to discuss issues such as urban redevelopment, education, workforce development and economic development. Redistricting in 2010 extended the Congresswoman's district into Summit County, and she has been working to familiarize herself with this new portion of her district.
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The Chamber thanks you for supporting the successful levy renewal requests made by the Akron Zoo; The Summit County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Board; the Metro Parks Serving Summit County; and the Akron Charter Amendment, which allowed the City to gift Akron Children's Hospital its steam and chilled water systems. These levies were endorsed and supported by the Chamber.
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New Akron Region Relocation Guide Available
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 The Greater Akron Chamber takes advantage of opportunities to "tell the Akron story" and most recently published Experience Greater Akron, a relocation guide highlighting the outstanding amenities of the region. We encourage you to use this publication as a reference for your organization and as an employee recruitment tool. Click here to view the online version of the guide. For copies, call the Chamber at (330) 376-5550.
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Stuff the Stocking with a Trip to Canyon Country in June or to Italy in November
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For 2014, the Greater Akron Chamber is offering two exciting guided trips. On June 12-20, go out west to Canyon Country for amazing views, spectacular exploration of canyons in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. This trip includes time to roll the dice in Las Vegas. Act now and save $100!
On November 3-10, explore Tuscany and the Italian Riviera on a tour that includes rustic countryside and rich culture and history. This trip has several unique culinary experiences you can't get anywhere else. Book now and save $250!
Click here to learn more about Canyon Country.
Click here to learn more about Tuscany and the Italian Riviera.
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The mission of the Greater Akron Chamber is to drive economic development and prosperity for the people of the Greater Akron Region.
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| Update: Advance Greater Akron Seeks Investments |
The Greater Akron Chamber has completed an ambitious strategic plan that outlines the path we need to follow in order to keep Greater Akron competitive in the future.
Dan Colantone, president & CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, stated, "The growth and success of our region will be a result of business and community leaders working and investing together."
The vision requires investment in three areas: talent, innovation and leadership.
The goals for talent investment are
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Education connectivity
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Demand-side training
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Talent marketing
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Downtown vitality
The goals for innovation investment are
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Akron Metro marketing
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Increasing retention and expansion
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Regional places of opportunity
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Acceleration of innovation centers
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Building emerging business
The goals for leadership investment are
Our 2014-2018 strategic plan will require an annual investment of $4.3 million in order to fully implement all strategic priorities. For every dollar invested in the Greater Akron Chamber, we realize a return of almost 9:1 of new capital investment in our region.
The Chamber needs additional investor level members to help achieve these goals. Contact Chad Hamman at the Chamber to discuss upgrading your membership or to provide a referral. Chad can be reached at (330) 237-1247 or by e-mail.
Watch for more updates about this critical investment toward Greater Akron's future.
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InterCity Leadership Visit to Omaha a Success for Greater Akron
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The recent trip by a Greater Akron delegation of civic, business and community leaders to Omaha brought a sharing of ideas, insights into best practices and a renewed sense of commitment for all who went. In total, 58 community and business leaders from Greater Akron participated in this year's InterCity Leadership Visit (ICLV).
The focus this year was on three priorities: talent and workforce, urban revitalization, and economic development. This organized focus gave participants an opportunity to look closely and pragmatically at key elements of the Omaha experience.
A full report on the visit is available on the Greater Akron Chamber's website. Click here for more information.
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Save the Date: 107th Annual Meeting, March 20, 2014
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The Greater Akron Chamber celebrates its 107th Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the John S. Knight Center. At the event, Dr. Luis M. Proenza, president of The University of Akron, will be honored as the tenth recipient of the H. Peter Burg Award.
This annual meeting will feature an overview of the Chamber's accomplishments for the year and the installation of officers along with the new chairman of the board. We will also recognize the outstanding work accomplished by our board members and the business leaders of the Greater Akron region.
The program includes a reception with hors d'oeuvres, dinner, silent auction and entertainment.
Created in 2003 and posthumously awarded to Pete Burg in 2004, the H. Peter Burg Award recognizes an individual who has displayed paramount leadership for the advancement of Greater Akron's economic and community development. Recent recipients of the award include Mayor Don Plusquellic, Steve Marks and Joseph Kanfer.
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Ohio Economic Development Association Recognizes Chamber's "Excellence"
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The Greater Akron Chamber received recognition for "Excellence in Economic Development Innovation" from the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) at the Annual Summit held in Columbus in October. The recognition was for the Chamber's Greater Akron Partnership business retention and expansion program.
"The Greater Akron Chamber has worked closely with both the Medina County Economic Development Corporation and the Portage Development Board to make our retention and expansion program a nationally recognized model," stated Rick Rebadow, executive vice president for the Chamber.
Launched in 2003, the Greater Akron Partnership program was originally administered solely in Summit County. In 2011, the Greater Akron Chamber worked with JobsOhio, Medina County Economic Development Corporation and Portage Development Board to expand the program to include both Medina and Portage Counties. In 2012, the Greater Akron Partnership reached a milestone by conducting 500 visitations during the calendar year. Over 3,000 visitations have been conducted since the program was launched. The mission of the Greater Akron Partnership is to retain and grow companies that are already conducting business in the tri-county region.
The Greater Akron Chamber was also recognized by OEDA with an "Excellence in Economic Development Marketing" award for its work on the Collabor18 marketing piece created by the Northeast Ohio Regional Economic Development Partners. The other partners include the Greater Cleveland Partnership, Team Lorain County, Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and Stark Development Board.
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| Economic Development Team Attends International Medical Show |
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For the 3rd straight year the City of Akron and the Greater Akron Chamber participated at the 2013 Medica Trade Show in Dusseldorf, Germany, in November. The Medica Show is one of the largest medical and medical device exhibitions in the world. Over 4,500 exhibitors from 66 countries and 132,000 attendees from 120 countries participated in the four-day trade show.
The team scheduled and staffed more than 50 pre-qualified meetings with international companies looking to invest in North America. Approximately 100 leads were collected during the Medica Show. While in Dusseldorf, meetings were also conducted with the German State of Thuringia to discuss joint activities at the upcoming Hannover Messe in April, 2014.
 "The Medica Show provides a tailor-made venue to promote our strengths such as the Akron Global Business Accelerator, Austen BioInnovation Institute, BioMedical Corridor and The University of Akron to an international audience that is anxious to learn more about our attributes," stated Robert Y. Bowman, deputy mayor for economic development with the City of Akron. "The leads that are cultivated will ultimately lead to investment, jobs and opportunity in our community."
Over the years, international trade shows such as Medica have provided Greater Akron representatives with a highly motivated audience for discussing foreign direct investment in the United States and the advantages of doing business in the Greater Akron region.
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Greater Akron Represented at International Plastics K Show
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In October, Summit County, the City of Akron, the City of Fairlawn, Team NEO and the Greater Akron Chamber joined forces to participate at the K Show - the largest plastics, polymer and rubber exhibition in the world - in Dusseldorf, Germany. The team was joined by private sector participants, including BCG & Company, Harwick Standard Distribution Corporation and Replex Plastics. This is the 9th year that the Greater Akron region has participated.
 The Greater Akron delegates met with more than 55 pre-qualified, international companies looking to invest in North America. A meeting was also had with representatives from Baden-Wurttemberg, a region that is home to a large number of automotive companies such as Bosch, Daimler AG and Porsche and parts suppliers to Ford of Europe and GM/Opel/Vauxhaul.
The Greater Akron team is following up on nearly 100 leads collected at the K Show.
"By collaborating with the City of Akron and Greater Akron Chamber, we were able to strengthen our international presence and profile by meeting with our European partners -and potential clients - in their own backyard," stated Jim Keeslar, a partner with BCG & Company.
"The K Show provides a receptive audience that is not only aware of the 'Greater Akron Brand' but one that also wants to learn more about what we can offer companies looking to invest and create jobs in our community," stated Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry.
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Chamber Partners with Development Finance Authority
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The Greater Akron Chamber and the Development Finance Authority of Summit County (DFA) hosted the first Non-Traditional Sources of Capital Finance Seminar at the Austen BioInnovation Institute of Akron (ABIA) facility on October 31. The seminar provided a comprehensive overview of public and private financing options that are available to both companies and communities in a post-recession economy.
Rick Rebadow, executive vice president of the Greater Akron Chamber, and Christopher Burnham, president of the DFA, were joined by Dr. Frank Douglas from the ABIA to welcome over 100 participants to this day-long event.
Non-traditional financing mechanisms addressed included an overview of the bond market, Port Authority conduit financing and construction savings programs, Development Finance Authority of Summit County Jobs & Investment Bond Fund, EB-5 immigrant investor program, New Market Tax Credits and small business lending.
"The feedback we received from our economic development partners was overwhelmingly positive," stated Rebadow. "The Chamber looks forward to partnering again with the DFA on similar events targeted towards the financing of projects in our region."
"We are delighted to collaborate with the Greater Akron Chamber and the other sponsors in putting this seminar together," stated Burnham. "We were pleased with the quality of the presentations from our various speakers and thank all those who attended the event."
The Non-Traditional Sources of Capital Finance Seminar was sponsored by ACI Financial Advisors, LCC; Brouse McDowell; Roetzel & Andress; Novogradac & Company, LLP; and the Cleveland International Fund.
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| Chamber Hosts Inaugural TechBelt Defense Expo |
 | U.S. Representative
Tim Ryan |
On September 23, the Greater Akron Chamber hosted the inaugural TechBelt Defense Expo with the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber and in conjunction with the office of U.S. Representative Tim Ryan. The event was held at The University of Akron and focused on companies in the 13th Congressional District wanting to join the defense supply pipeline or expand their presence.
The morning session featured speakers from the Procurement Technical Assistance Program, the Small Business Administration and the Defense Contract Management Agency. The keynote luncheon featured Elana Broitman, the Department of Defense's deputy assistant secretary for manufacturing and industrial base policy.
The afternoon session featured presentations from Babcock and Wilcox, Boeing, General Dynamics, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman and Oshkosh. Representatives from these companies outlined their supply needs and met with local companies to discuss specific opportunities.
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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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