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Tuscany on the Itinerary for 2014
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For 2014, the Greater Akron Chamber is offering an exciting guided trip to Italy.
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 Tuscany and the Italian Riviera.
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Greater Akron Chamber Investors
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The Greater Akron Chamber would like to thank all of its investors. Economic development is a collaboration that depends on their support and involvement.
CHAIRMAN'S CIRCLE
$100,000(+) Investment Per Year
FirstEnergy Corp.
FirstMerit Bank NA
The Goodyear Tire &
Rubber Company
Northeast Ohio Medical
University
Summa Health System
CHAIRMAN'S COUNCIL
$50,000(+) Investment Per Year
Akron Children's Hospital
City of Akron
Dominion
KeyBank NA
PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE
$25,000(+) Investment per Year
A. Schulman, Inc.
Akron Beacon
Journal/Ohio.com
AT&T
Brennan Industrial
Group
FedEx Custom Critical
GOJO Industries, Inc.
Huntington Bank
Roetzel & Andress LPA
Segmint/WiredViews
Sterling Jewelers Inc.
Time Warner Cable
The University of Akron
Welty Building Company
Ltd.
CORNERSTONE PARTNER
$10,000(+) Investment per Year
Albrecht Inc.
BCG & Company
Brouse McDowell
Buckingham Doolittle &
Burroughs LLP
Cascade Capital
Corporation
CBIZ Mayer Hoffman
McCann
Charles Schwab
Corporate Services
Cohen & Company
The Davey Tree Expert
Company
Ernst & Young LLP
Kleidon & Associates
Meggitt Aircraft Braking
Systems
Mutual Health Services
Myers Industries
Incorporated
OMNOVA Solutions
PNC Bank
The Reserve Group
The Ruhlin Company
The Schipper Group
Signet Enterprises
SS&G
Thomarios
CHAMPION SUPPORTER
$5,000(+) Investment per Year
AESCO Electronics Inc.
Akron Rubber Ducks
Akron METRO Regional
Transit Authority
Apteryx Inc.
ASW Global
Bober Markey
Fedorovich
Bridgestone Americas
Tire Operations
CHASE
Paula R. Chesser,
CSA/R.W. Baird & Co.
ComDoc Inc.
Exxon Mobil Chemical
Fifth Third Bank
(Northeastern Ohio)
GPD Group
Hattie Larlham
Hilton Akron/Fairlawn
Kent State University
Lockheed Martin
Maritime Systems &
Sensors
Merrill Lynch
Newell Rubbermaid
Rubber City Arches, LLC
Tegrit Group
VISION BUILDER
$2,500(+) Investment per Year
Akron Cleveland
Association of
REALTORS
Akron Auto Auction
Akron-Canton Airport
Akron Metropolitan
Housing Authority
Apple Growth Partners
Associated Materials
Incorporated
AultCare
The Babcock & Wilcox
Company
Brennan Manna &
Diamond LLC
Bruner-Cox, LLP
Bryant & Stratton
College
CAM Inc.
CAPTRUST Financial
Advisors
CB Richard Ellis Inc.
Charter One Bank
Paula R. Chesser,
CSA/R.W. Baird & Co.
CIGNA Health Care of
Ohio Inc.
Cutler Real Estate
Dave Towell Cadillac
Saab
Day Ketterer, Ltd.
Development Finance
Authority of Summit
County
DS Benefits Group, LLC
Frisina, LLC
Genesis10
Hammond Construction
Inc.
Harwick Standard
Distribution Corp.
Hitachi Medical Systems
Hitchcock Fleming &
Associates
Hottle & Associates Inc.
Industrial Realty Group
Interactive Media Group
Jentner Wealth
Management
J.W. Didado Electric, Inc.
The Karcher Group
Malco Products, Inc.
Main Street Gourmet
Margida Associates
Maxion Wheels
Meaden & Moore Ltd.
Mike Pruitt Honda
Mimi Vanderhaven
Northwestern Mutual
Financial Network /
Northeast Ohio Group
OEConnection
S.A. Comunale Co., Inc.
Schlabig & Assoc.
SD Myers
Seal Master
Corporation/ELBEX
SeibertKeck Insurance Agency Inc.
Stark & Knoll LPA
Struktol Company of
America
V2 Technologies
ValMark Securities, Inc.
Vorys Sater Seymour
and Pease LLP
Wells Fargo Bank
Westfield Bank
Wojno Development
FOUNDATIONS
Akron Community
Foundation
Dominion Foundation
FirstEnergy Foundation
GAR Foundation
KeyBank Foundation
Northern Ohio Golf
Charities Foundation,
Inc.
OMNOVA Solutions
Foundation
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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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 | Daniel C. Colantone
President & CEO |
The leadership of the Greater Akron Chamber developed an aggressive strategic plan in 2012; and in 2013, announced their commitment to raising resources to support the six core strategies of the plan. The groundwork was laid for a resource plan named Advance Greater Akron.
All of our partners - economic development organizations, our members and the community at-large throughout Greater Akron and Northeast Ohio - play vital roles in ensuring the sustainable economic vitality of our region. As your Chamber heads into its 107th year of service, your continued involvement with the Chamber and the community is more critical than ever.
As we look to the year ahead, we remain focused on serving our members and the Greater Akron Region by staying true to our mission and continuing to be an agent of positive change.
If you know of someone who wants to be informed and engaged on economic development happenings in the Greater Akron Region, please forward our e-newsletter to them. By working together, we all benefit.
Sincerely,
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Dr. Luis Proenza to Receive H. Peter Burg Award at Annual Meeting
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 The University of Akron President, Dr. Luis M. Proenza, will be the 10th recipient of the H. Peter Burg Economic Development Leadership Award. Dr. Proenza will be honored on Thursday, March 20, at the Greater Akron Chamber's 107th Annual Meeting at the John S. Knight Center.
The award is being made in recognition of Dr. Proenza's redefinition of the University's role as a catalyst for economic development. Dr. Proenza became UA's 15th president in 1999, and will have served more than 15 years in this role by the time he completes his presidency in June.
Last August, The University of Akron's Board of Trustees cited Dr. Proenza's "exemplary record of accomplishments" and expressed its gratitude for his "transformative leadership and positive impact on the University and its community."
The H. Peter Burg award was created by the Chamber's Executive Committee to recognize a leader who promotes economic development in the Greater Akron region.
 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. The silent auction offers guests a chance to bid on items that will benefit the Chamber's educational programs. Call Sarah Vojtek at (330) 237-1254 to contribute an item or a unique experience.
Special for 2014
Each attendee will receive a $100 Southwest Airlines voucher for a flight out of Akron-Canton Airport (CAK)! Register now and for the price of an individual ticket, receive dinner and a travel voucher - it's a WIN-WIN!
Silent Auction
Each year, the silent auction offers the chance to bid on amazing items. You have to be present to bid, and you have to register to attend so what are you waiting for?
For more information or to register, call Chris Peters or Sarah Vojtek at (330) 376-5550.
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Greater Akron Partnerships Finds Success in Tri-County Region
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In 2013, the Greater Akron Partnership, the Chamber's business retention and expansion (BR&E) program, was recognized as a model program by both the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) and the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA).
The Greater Akron Partnership is a collaborative effort between the Greater Akron Chamber, Medina County Economic Development Corporation, Portage Development Board and Summit County Department of Community and Economic Development.
The Partnership conducted more than 400 business visitations during 2013 and more than 3,200 business visitations -including more than 900 over the past two years -over the past decade.
The direct dialogue with C-level executives and managers has allowed the Greater Akron Partnership the ability to proactively assist companies create employment, opportunity and wealth.
Over the past year, the data collected from BR&E visitations in Medina, Portage and Summit Counties has reinforced the narrative of a strengthening economy and a positive business climate.
Of companies visited in 2013 . . .
- 87% have positive attitude towards the community
- 83% believe economic development is either "good" or "excellent"
- 63% project a sales increase in 2014
- 41% predict business climate will improve over next five years
- 38% plan an expansion in next 12-18 months
"The Greater Akron Partnership has successfully brought the public and private sectors together to support key industry clusters in our community," stated Sara Drew, Mayor of the City of Stow.
"The Medina County Economic Development Corporation has found the BR&E program to be extremely effective in establishing business relationships and proactively impacting the economic growth of Medina County," stated Bethany Dentler, Executive Director for the Medina County Economic Development Corporation.
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Chambers and Visitor's Bureaus Launch #LUVCAK for Southwest Airlines at Akron-Canton
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 The Greater Akron Chamber, Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and many other business and tourism leaders throughout the community are collaborating to support Southwest Airlines at the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) by launching a grassroots campaign called #LUVCAK.
The campaign is designed to spread the love for Southwest and their single-source booking strategy online. To help generate excitement, Southwest is offering 60 $100 LUV vouchers, good for traveling via Southwest Airlines at CAK. Travelers who enroll in Southwest's Rapid Rewards will be entered to win, and one lucky winner will receive four round-trip tickets, good for any flight in the domestic U.S. via Southwest Airlines.
"Every community in the U.S. hopes to land Southwest Airlines. Not only do we have Southwest, but they are keeping fares low and retaining key business routes at CAK, positioning this region as an excellent location for business expansion," said Dan Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber.
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Ohio Small Businesses Receive Tax Cut
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A majority of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Ohio are eligible for a 50% tax deduction on their first $250,000 of business income as part of tax cuts approved last year, according to a notice issued by Ohio Tax Commissioner Joe Testa.
Owners and investors in Ohio businesses structured as PTEs qualify for this new tax cut. PTEs include: sole proprietorships, partnerships, Subchapter S corporations (S-corps) and Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). An online guide for elegiblity and filing is available at www.tax.ohio.gov.
As part of the tax cut, a business owner can exclude 50% of Ohio net business income from the adjusted gross income they report on their Ohio personal income tax return. Each owner is eligible to claim the deduction. This exclusion is available on up to $250,000, meaning the deduction is capped at $125,000 for each investor or owner.
These tax cuts are just one part of a comprehensive tax reform package in the state budget signed by Governor John Kasich last summer. Overall, the total tax-reform package will cut Ohioans' taxes by $2.7 billion over three years. For more information, click here.
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2014 Politics and Policy Preview
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The upcoming year will be full of both political and policy issues. Here is a preview of what is on our radar.
- Feb. 7: The expected date that the federal government will reach the limit set for the amount of money that it may borrow (debt ceiling).
- The continued rollout of the Affordable Care Act.
- State tax reform, capital budget and renewing bonds for public works.
- Nov. Election: All federal representatives are up for reelection, including the four members who represent our area: Rep. Marcia Fudge, Rep. David Joyce, Rep. Jim Renacci, and Rep. Tim Ryan.
- On the state side, all of the state-wide offices are on the ballot, as well as all state house seats and state senate District 27, currently represented by Sen. Frank LaRose.
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Now Accepting Nominations for 2014 30 for the Future Awards
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 Nominations for the Greater Akron Chamber's 30 for the Future Awardsare being accepted through Friday, March 28. The awards recognize 30 young professionals who live and/or work in the Greater Akron region and make an impact on their industries and region through dynamic leadership and community service.
Nominees must be between the ages of 25 and 39. Nominees will be required to complete the 30 for the Future Leadership document, describing their skills in leadership and community contributions. To nominate someone, visit the nomination form online for the downloadable nomination form. Return the form to Sarah Vojtek at vojtek@greaterakronchamber.com.
The 2014 30 for the Future Awards recipients will be recognized at a gala celebration in September.
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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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