The same day that President Obama unveiled Startup America to boost entrepreneurship in the United States, Jumpstart Inc. came out with its own impressive launch: JumpStart America.

The operating structure for JumpStart America will be set up over the next few months, with Ray Leach, CEO of JumpStart Inc., also serving as the leader for this new entity. JumpStart America will be a 501c(3) nonprofit and will act independently of JumpStart Inc. New staff members are not likely to be added to JumpStart Inc. because of this new venture, according to Leach.

JumpStart America's work will be different than that of JumpStart Inc., Leach adds. "JumpStart's programmatic work in Northeast Ohio focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and investing in their companies, and collaborating with other organizations in the entrepreneurial ecosystem."

"JumpStart America will be raising and aggregating public, private and philanthropic dollars to fund the development and implementation of plans in regions across the country -- plans that will enable these regions to leverage their existing strengths and fill gaps in their ecosystems that help entrepreneurs grow their companies," Leach explains.

Nevertheless, the success of JumpStart Inc. in helping to grow local companies has cast a positive light on the organization and the region it serves, which in turn lends credibility to the JumpStart America program. "It's the successes of the companies and entrepreneurs with which JumpStart has worked that have helped Northeast Ohio earn national recognition as a growing entrepreneurial hotbed," Leach says.

"JumpStart America is credible in pursuing its mission because policy makers, foundations and investors across the country are learning that Northeast Ohio is one of the best entrepreneurial ecosystems in the country."


SOURCE: Ray Leach
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Soon celebrating 100 years, the West Side Market continues to offer a bountiful spread of foods, from pierogi to empanadas, and to attract thousands of shoppers each week. The public market is an emblem of Cleveland's rich ethnic heritage and present-day diversity.

The recent opening of Alaturka, a Turkish restaurant at 1917 West 25^th Street, is further cementing the area's reputation as a hub for international cuisine.

To the delight of Ohio City residents,Yashar Yildirim, the owner of the popular Anatolia Café in Cleveland Heights, has marched across town and opened shop near the West Side Market. Anatolia originally opened in a South Euclid strip center before moving in 2008 to Lee Road.

"I knew there was potential for a Turkish restaurant here because I had customers from the West Side traveling to Cleveland Heights to visit Anatolia Café," says Yildirim.

Yildirim chose Ohio City's Market District because of the area's reputation for ethnic cuisine, the revitalization taking place, and its proximity to downtown and highways. "The people here are diverse and open-minded," he says.

Yildirim himself has something of an American immigrant success story. Born and raised in Istanbul, he moved to New York City in 1996 to attend college. He migrated to Columbus and then to Cleveland after his friends told him Northeast Ohio lacked a decent Turkish restaurant. "I like it here because it's affordable, but there's a sense of big city," he says.

Of Turkish cuisine, Yildirim says, "Turkey is in the Middle East, but it's very close to Europe, so the region is a mixture of ethnicities. So our food is a well-balanced combination of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean styles."

Although he stops short of offering a money-back guarantee, Yildirim says that if you eat off Alaturka's health-conscious menu, you can cancel your gym membership. "We have a lot of vegetarian options, and all of the food is freshly made," he says.


Source: Yashar Yildirim
Writer: Lee Chilcote

The Flaming Ice Cube. When this strange moniker debuted on a downtown storefront in July, the phrase alone was buzzworthy.

No, it's not a new superhero or Cirque du Soleil act. It's a restaurant in downtown Cleveland. Located in the Park Building on Public Square, Flaming Ice Cube (aka the Cube), is a tasty new vegan restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Yet the Cube didn't just one day appear in a puff of smoke, if you will. The opening was the result of careful planning and plotted enticement by two downtown residents, Robert Carillio and Jesse Howells, whose family owns the Park Building. The pair contacted the café's owners, who opened the original location in Boardman, Ohio, and recruited them to open a second location in Cleveland.

And Howells and Carillio didn't meet by accident either. They're both recent grads of the City Advocates program, an effort by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance (DCA) to engage young professionals in the revitalization of downtown.

"The Flaming Ice Cube was one of Robert's favorite Youngstown restaurants, and when he met Jesse through the City Advocates program, they contacted the café and sold them on opening a downtown location," explains Laura Kushnick, Development and Community Relations Manager for DCA. So far, more than 40 people have graduated from the program.

Here's how it works. For two years, City Advocates attend monthly meetings and take on a project that will advance downtown. When they emerge from the program, they are skilled community leaders.

Besides recruiting new retailers, DCA's City Advocates have created YouTube marketing videos, are developing a free bus loop to connect entertainment districts in the summer, and are working with the city to create a dog park in the central business district."

Currently, the City Advocate program is seeking new applicants. For information, visit the DCA website or contact Laura Kushnick. The deadline is Feb. 21st.


Source: Laura Kushnick
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Damon Taseff's job is scouring Northeast Ohio's commercial real estate market to find the best deals for his clients. So it's no surprise that as he began looking for a new headquarters for his own company, Allegro Realty Advisors, he knew exactly what he wanted.

He rattles off the list with ease: "A downtown building that is unique, close to highways, with parking, in a place you could get in and out of easily and within walking distance to other downtown areas."

The desired criteria made for a short list. Literally. "We were looking for a unique work environment for our employees and to recruit talent. There were only a handful of options," says Taseff, a principal at Allegro, the largest exclusive tenant representation company based in Ohio.

That's when Taseff and his team discovered the former Morse Graphic Arts building at 1938 Euclid Avenue, which is located on the Euclid Corridor and in Cleveland State University's "collegetown" block (Euclid Ave. between E. 18th and the Innerbelt). The two-story, 15,000-square-foot building had what Allegro wanted: convenience in a vibrant, walkable, urban neighborhood.

In October, Allegro moved its headquarters from Independence to downtown Cleveland. Allegro's offices are located in a modern, 5,000-square-foot space on the second floor of the building, while the first floor houses three new storefronts. In total, 28 new full-time employees now call the building "home."

The structure had been vacant for several years and was "unusable" when Allegro purchased it, Taseff says. Allegro restored the terra cotta facade, replaced the windows, and developed a new western facade that includes a second-floor balcony. The firm also gutted the interior of the building, renovating it to modern standards.

The project, which was granted a Vacant Properties Initiative loan from the City of Cleveland, also benefited from Cleveland State University's purchase of the building to the west. CSU tore the structure down and created a park that is an oasis of green space, complete with walkway that threads together the disparate, urban campus.

Taseff says Allegro moved their headquarters downtown because it's more convenient for their employees and clients, and the firm wants to be part of the city's redevelopment. "We work on many projects for downtown clients and occasionally also work for the city," he says. "We felt that having our presence downtown would speak to our commitment to the city core and the things happening here."


Source: Damon Taseff
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Just a few short years ago, Cleveland State University students who wanted a meal before a grueling, four-hour evening class had limited options, meaning if Rascal House pizza wasn't your thing, you were limited to starving.

That was before CSU's master plan, a $300 million initiative to transform its urban campus into a friendlier, more vibrant environment with new student housing, classrooms and retail.

Recently, Jimmy John's opened a sandwich shop at 1938 Euclid Avenue in the "collegetown" block of campus (Euclid between E. 18th and the Innerbelt). And Moe's Southwest Grill is banging out a new franchise in the storefront next door.

"Due to the building's location in the heart of CSU's campus, with a growing student body, tenants expressed a lot of interest in leasing storefronts despite the slow economy," said Damon Taseff, a principal at Allegro Realty Advisors, the firm that purchased and renovated the property. "They viewed it as a no-brainer because of CSU's investment in the area."

He adds that CSU, like other urban universities, is wisely using its clout to redevelop the area. CSU's investment is one of the reasons why Allegro Realty Advisors decided last year to move their headquarters to the second floor of 1938 Euclid, Taseff says.

"Five years ago, we probably would not have bought the building," Taseff says. "The investment along the Euclid Corridor by the City, RTA and Cleveland State University has fundamentally changed the area."


Source: Damon Taseff
Writer: Lee Chilcote

When it opens next week, XYZ Tavern will fill what Detroit Shoreway residents say is a need for good, casual and affordable fare. And that's just what they'll get, promises owner Randy Kelley, who along with partners Linda Syrek and Alan Glazen will dish out scratch-made comfort food in a modern tavern setting. For nearly five months, Fresh Water photographer Bob Perkoski documented the progression that transformed Perry's Family Restaurant, a long-shuttered greasy spoon, into XYZ Tavern.

Last year, 12 companies brought their business to Northeast Ohio, thanks in part to efforts from the nonprofit regional business attraction agent TeamNEO. The companies brought with them more than 670 jobs and about $40 million in annual direct payroll, according to information recently released by TeamNEO.

Among the companies that have opened offices or relocated to the region are Rosetta, a strategy, marketing and technology services company; NI Medical, a privately held biotech company that manufactures a device to detect concealed cardiac disease; and Explorys, which was formed in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic to provide a secure cloud-computing platform for research and product development.

Tom Waltermire, CEO of TeamNEO, points out that six of the new companies are international and two are minority-owned. Five of the companies are related to healthcare, which will continue to be a focus of TeamNEO's efforts in recruiting businesses and jobs to Greater Cleveland, according to Waltermire.

SOURCE: TeamNEO
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Key Bank will open a new branch in October at Steelyard Commons, adding another retailer to the pioneering Tremont shopping center that debuted in 2007.

The bank will open five new branches and create 30 new jobs in Northeast Ohio during the next 15 months. Key Bank, which is headquartered in downtown Cleveland, cites available real estate, lower costs of construction, and "market disruption" -- the void left by banks that close or reduce services -- as factors driving its expansion. The other four new branches will be in Concord, Lyndhurst, Eastlake and Middleburg Heights.

The new Steelyard branch, scheduled to open in October, has been announced at a time when many competitors have cut branch operations and encouraged customers to bank online. A handful of banks, including Huntington and Key, have bucked the industry trend by expanding hours or opening new branches.

The new branch will be built on one of the last parcels in Steelyard Commons Phase I, says Chris Goodrich, Vice President of Asset Management with First Interstate Properties, the company that owns Steelyard.

"Our retailers are very happy with sales [at Steelyard]," says Goodrich. "While the national retail climate has slowed in the last few years, the environment is changing again as things pick up -- now I'm getting more calls from national retailers."

The key to Steelyard's success has been tapping into Cleveland's underserved market, Goodrich says. He cites the fact that Steelyard required two to three years to reach four million vehicle trips per year, whereas Legacy Village took five years to get to the same level.

The new Key branch will be a stand-alone building whose design incorporates elements of Steelyard's industrial heritage theme. The mall was built on the site of a former steel mill.

First Interstate hopes to start Phase II of Steelyard Commons, which will include an additional 200-250,000 square feet of retail, within the next few years.


Source: Chris Goodrich
Writer: Lee Chilcote

When Holly Harlan first started talking to people about Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S) ten years ago, "people looked at me like I had three eyes. But I said, 'I think they're going to get this and they're going to love it.'"

Today, Harlan notes that the E4S network has been growing by more than 20 percent every year since it was founded. "We've attracted nearly 10,000 people from all sectors," Harlan says. "We've helped over 50 companies create a strategic plan for sustainability." The organization has also created a foundation on which Greater Cleveland can build a successful approach to sustainability. "We've gotten much better known since Mayor Frank Jackson has stepped in and held sustainability summits the last two years," Harlan says.

E4S is a networking organization that unites professionals interested in sustainability for their businesses and their community, but its scope goes beyond that. "We're an economic development group that sees sustainability as way to create value in the world," Harlan says.

Harlan steps down from the post of president and founder of E4S in mid-February to take on new projects. Mike Dungan, president and CEO of Bee Dance, a Cleveland business that repurposes materials classified as waste, will take over as interim president of E4S.

Harlan looks forward to visiting other cities and gauging their take on Cleveland's sustainability efforts. "We were one of the first business networks in the country focused on sustainability," she says. "The buzz is that Cleveland is known for innovative sustainability ideas, particularly in the area of local foods."


SOURCE: Holly Harlan
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

The Experience Lakewood app recently launched, linking users to information on businesses, dining, shopping and recreation in the city. The app can be downloaded from iTunes for free on any Apple-compatible device.

While business and shopping apps are becoming more plentiful, Experience Lakewood's focus on one particular city makes it unique, according to Barb Cagley, president of Cleveland's SCK Design, which created the app for Lakewood Alive, in partnership with the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. "Regional apps are a newer trend," she says.

Another factor setting the Experience Lakewood app apart is that the content is controlled by the individual businesses. "The common platform for apps is to pull data that is generic and available to the public or provided by the user. This twist of control by businesses allows them to update their message, specials and events in real time," Cagley says.

Creating user-, community- and business-friendly apps has become more of a focus for the six-member SCK team, which has also built a reputation in creating websites, custom content management and SEO programs for the likes of Bedford Labs  and Cleveland Clinic Pharmacy. Last fall, SCK unveiled Experience Tremont. A Shop Legacy app for Legacy Village was recently released, and SCK is currently working on an Experience Kamm's Corners app.

No estimate is available on how many people may take advantage of the Experience Lakewood app. "The only data we can draw from is the Experience Tremont app," Cagley says. "After six months, over 5,000 people have downloaded it."


SOURCE: Barb Cagley
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Joe Miceli has deep roots in the Cleveland east side neighborhood where Miceli Dairy Products, a 62-year-old cheese producer, is located. In fact, he grew up on East 90th Street in a house that was torn down in 1963 to make room for the expanding company.

Now the company is growing again, and Miceli is planting deeper roots in the neighborhood -- while adding 60 new jobs to the city's tax base. The company has secured financing for a $16-20 million expansion that is scheduled to break ground this year.

"Some people think of this neighborhood as lost or forgotten, but we don't agree," says Miceli. "This is an ideal location -- one mile from the Cleveland Clinic, close to highways and downtown and not far from where the Opportunity Corridor is being planned."

Miceli Dairy Products is located on East 90th Street off of Buckeye Road in an area that has often been dubbed "The Forgotten Triangle" because of its high levels of poverty, vast tracts of vacant land, and lack of new business development.

Expansion might seem simple enough given the proliferation of vacant land, yet part of the site is a polluted brown field. Despite a raft of challenges and being courted by other communities, Miceli chose to stay.

In January, the Small Business Administration awarded Miceli a $5.49 million loan through its 504 program, which helps small businesses with plant and equipment expansion. The loan is the largest in the SBA program's history. Additional funding will come from Cleveland banks. Miceli is now conducting tests on the brown field site.

The project's first phase will be complete by 2012, enabling the 138-employee company to double its production of ricotta, one of the cheeses it ships to grocery stores nationwide. The second phase, to be completed a few years later, will include a new mozzarella and provolone factory and a facility to transform waste from the cheese-manufacturing process into energy.


Source: Joe Miceli
Writer: Lee Chilcote

Here's hoping we don't see any more oil spills like the one last year in the Gulf of Mexico, but should one occur, a discovery by researchers at Case Western Reserve University may provide expert assistance. It's an ultra-lightweight sponge made of clay and a touch of high-grade plastic. The combination of the two materials manages to draw oil out of contaminated water while leaving the fresh water behind.

David Schiraldi, PhD, professor and chair of the university's macromolecular science and engineering department, came up with the idea of the low-density, foam-like sponge a few years ago while conducting experiments on clays and polymers. Now Schiraldi is advancing the capabilities of Aeroclay(r), which is created by mixing clay, polymer and water in a blender and then freeze-drying it; the material can float on water and soak up oil, which can then be squeezed out of the sponge.

Last year, Aeroclay, Inc. was formed as an Ohio C Corporation, licensing the underlying intellectual properties from Case. A staff of five, including Schiraldi, is developing and marketing the product for a variety of functions: packaging, insulation and absorption.

A YouTube video offers a small-scale example of how the composite sponge can absorb oil, but Schiraldi and his team believe Aeroclay could be highly effective in cleaning up a major spill. "I'd like to make sure it is in place to help out in case of a future oil disaster," Schiraldi says.


SOURCE: David Schiraldi
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

Downtown Cleveland is ripe for new retail development. That's the message being conveyed by two local entrepreneurs who will open Dredgers Union, a 4,500 square foot apparel and home-goods store on East 4th Street in June of this year.

One part mall alternative, one part purveyor of urban chic, Dredgers Union will sell private-label men's and women's clothing, made-to-measure suits and dress shirts, kitchen and home items, and clothing brands that are new to Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. It will be located in a former department store building at 2043 East 4th Street.

The store is being founded by two local entrepreneurs, Danielle DeBoe and Sean Bilovecky. DeBoe is the creator of Room Service, a popular boutique that originally opened in the Gordon Square Arts District in 2007. Seizing growth opportunities even in a down market, DeBoe moved her shop this past fall to a larger storefront on West 25th Street in Ohio City. DeBoe also created "Made in the 216," a popular event that showcases local artists and designers.

Bilovecky is a clothing designer who created Wrath Arcane, a mens-wear label that gained a devoted following and distribution deals before it folded. Faced with a dwindling number of buyers due to the recession, Bilovecky shut down the label in October. He plans to create a new private label clothing line for Dredgers Union.

Downtown department stores may be a thing of the past, yet DeBoe believes her store will offer an edgy alternative to bland big box stores that will lure shoppers to downtown again. "Retail today is so homogenized," she says. "At the same time, people are increasingly cognizant of local, independent stores because we offer something different."

She hopes Dredgers Union will start a trend that revives downtown retail. "People are not trained to come downtown for retail," she says. "We have to reeducate them."


Source: Danielle DeBoe
Writer: Lee Chilcote

The accounting firm SS&G expanded its presence in the Midwest late last year by merging with Chicago-based Ahlbeck & Company. In doing so, Cleveland-headquartered SS&G added 22 members to its 400-plus staff and helped the firm to concentrate more intently on its growing base of Chicago clients. SS&G also has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus and Erlanger, Kentucky.

SS&G, which provides tax, assurance, employee benefit, payroll and consulting services, was named one of the top 50 accounting firms in the country to work for in 2011 by Vault, an online resource for career management and job search information. The firm was listed in the top 20 in individual categories, including overall diversity, culture, compensation, business outlook and manager relations.

"Providing our employees with a great place to work contributes to the overall success of our firm," says Gary Shamis, managing director of SS&G.

SS&G also continued to grow its Cleveland presence by further developing its SS&G Healthcare Consulting and SS&G Wealth Management entities. For example, Flourish: Women and Wealth Management, was launched as a product of the SS&G Wealth Management division. Flourish hosts events and offers strategies specifically geared to female investors.


SOURCE: SS&G
WRITER: Diane DiPiero

The team at Idea Engine could feel the wheels turning when they met with local innovator Dave Petno, who approached Idea Engine with a web application he was interested in having developed: a custom tool that allows high school sports scores and statistics to be submitted to the media as well as to family and friends of the sports program.

The business communication solutions company saw the potential in this idea, and ScoreFeeder was born. The way ScoreFeeder works is that a team coach or rep enters scores and stats from a game onto the site, and that information is sent via email to media outlets chosen by the team. Schools also have the opportunity to receive instant updates of scores from their conference. The service is free and can be used by high school teams across the country. ScoreFeeder is currently available for basketball, with other sports to be available soon, according to Dan Carbone, chief technology officer for Idea Engine.

The seven-member Idea Engine team is working with an iPad developer to see if the application can be used on the iPad as well.

Carbone says that the ScoreFeeder concept allowed Idea Engine to develop a custom web application that goes beyond the traditional website or e-commerce site. "ScoreFeeder.com adds a counterpart to social networking by providing an interactive tool focused on a particular audience and particular interest," he says.


SOURCE: Idea Engine
WRITER: Diane DiPiero