Regional Economy

Introducing the #Fresh10: Meet Cleveland's newest crop of rising entrepreneurs
It's Young Professionals Week here in Cleveland, and what better time than to highlight rising stars who are helping to put Cleveland on the map? Introducing FreshWater's first-ever #Fresh10, a group of talented professionals under 34 years old all making their mark on The Land—and beyond. Find out who made the list here.
Heroes unite in Public Square to mark major fundraising milestone for United Way
For more than 100 years, officials at United Way of Greater Cleveland have worked tirelessly to make sure local children get a quality education; help residents find food, shelter, and transportation; find jobs for those seeking to rise out of poverty; and tackle prevalent issues around health, substance abuse, and violence. Through all their work, the United Way acknowledges who the true heroes are in the organization’s mission: the people of Cleveland. This evening, the organization recognized those “superheroes” by urging the community to come fly their hero capes at a thank-you event in Public Square.
Who's Hiring in CLE: United Way, Cleveland Clinic, OSU Extension, General Electric, CWRU, Contempo
Welcome to the latest edition of FreshWater Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from United Way, Cleveland Clinic, OSU Extension, General Electric, Case Western Reserve, Contempo Cleveland, and more. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
Summer on the Cuyahoga is on a mission to attract more college grads to Cleveland
Earlier this month, Jon Pinney gave a highly charged talk at the City Club in which he made numerous points about the need to ramp up Cleveland’s economic development—among them that cities like Columbus and Philadelphia have targeted programs for attracting and retaining talent, while Cleveland has no such initiative in place.

Eric McGarvey has some news for him: there is a program that does exactly that, and it’s been around since 2003. The program is called Summer on the Cuyahoga, and so far, it’s prompted more than 160 college students to call Cleveland home.
New GBX Group HQs foreshadow what’s to come in the Superior Arts Improvement District
There is an undercurrent of pride running through the city’s historic garment district, led in part by GBX Group. In March, GBX moved its headquarters from the historic Edwin Hotel to the Daffy Dan's building at 2101 Superior Ave. The company has spent the past 18 months renovating the 1913-built five-story building, transforming it into a state-of-the-art headquarters—and now other projects are poised to follow suit.
Old Brooklyn set to succeed Slavic Village as the next Cleveland Chain Reaction neighborhood
Businesses like City Diner and Vino Veritas Winery are just a few that have popped up in Old Brooklyn in the last 16 months—and now, thanks to Cleveland Chain Reaction, five more businesses will set up shop this year with the announcement that Old Brooklyn will be the location of this year’s business competition.
Neighborhoods by the numbers: How the new Progress Index is a win for CLE residents
Three years in the making, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP) is ready to release its Progress Index to the public. Aimed at fostering inclusive Cleveland communities of choice and opportunity, the Index had previously been available to Cleveland’s 31 community development corporations (CDCs), who helped test and fine-tune the tool.
Choice Neighborhoods grant will help transform CMHA’s Woodhill Homes
The transformation of the Buckeye-Woodhill neighborhood continues, thanks to a game-changing $350,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant. The grant's recipient is the Woodhill Homes development, one of the first public housing projects in Cleveland built and managed by the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA).
Two development projects move Cleveland Heights master plan forward
Two development projects in Cleveland Heights are moving the city forward in its master plan to create growth and strong business districts within the city. The Top of the Hill multi-use project is moving ahead, while the city just began soliciting ideas for a vacant plot of land on Lee Road. Read about both projects here.
Chefs Karen Small and Jill Vedaa make CLE history as James Beard semifinalists
For the first time in Cleveland, two local female chefs have been named semifinalists for the James Beard Awards. Chef Karen Small, owner of The Flying Fig, and chef Jill Vedaa, co-owner of Salt, are two of 20 chefs in the Great Lakes division, having made it to the semifinals from 20,000 entries in 21 categories. Read more about how Vedaa and Small attained this culinary honor here.
MidTown is abuzz with the March opening of Tech Hive
Banking on the growing coworking trend, the hope is that when the MidTown Tech Hive opens on Thursday, March 1, it will become a cooperative gathering place for great minds to bring innovative ideas with a sense of community and an emphasis on tech education. Read more about what Tech Hive will offer here.
Who's Hiring in CLE: WEWS Channel 5, Arrow International, JumpStart, Cleveland Institute of Art....
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from WEWS Channel 5, Arrow International, JumpStart, Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland Institute of Music. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
Cleveland named a top city for startup growth by Robert Half Technology
The label “startup hub” is no longer reserved for a few select cities across the nation, and Cleveland is being dubbed a haven for innovation as more entrepreneurs set their sights on our city to put down roots. Robert Half’s list of “Top 10 U.S. Cities Where Startups Are Growing” ranks Cleveland at number eight based off its survey of 2,600 CIOs in 26 metropolitan areas around the country—citing access to skilled technology talent and an attractive quality of life. Other cities on the list include Charlotte, Atlanta, San Diego, Phoenix, and Seattle. Click here to see who else made the list.
Who's Hiring in #CLE: Hard Rock Rocksino, Wigs 4 Kids, Sustainable Community Associates & more
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Sustainable Community Associates, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation, and Hard Rock Rocksino. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
Who's Hiring in #CLE: JACK Casino, Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Orchestra, Movement Project...
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Cleveland Foundation, JACK Cleveland Casino, Dancing Wheels, Cleveland Orchestra, The Movement Project, and Cleveland Botanical Garden. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
Who's Hiring in CLE: Van Auken Akins, Cleveland Metroparks, Les Delices, Heights Arts & CSU
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Heights Arts, Cleveland Metroparks, Cleveland State University, Las Delices, and Van Auken Akins. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
A $700,000 grant will help save blighted, vacant homes and beautify CLE neighborhoods

Ever since the real estate housing crash in 2008, Cleveland communities have been faced with tackling the problem of vacant and blighted homes—pulling down property values and aesthetic appeal in neighborhoods already struggling.

According to Justin Fleming, director of real estate for Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (CNP), there are about 9,500 vacant homes in the City of Cleveland. “I’d estimate that approximately 4,500 of those are structurally capable of being rehabbed within a reasonable budget,” he says. “The other 5,000 are likely structurally too far gone to reasonably saved.”

But thanks to a three-year, $700,000 grant given to CNP by Detroit-based Quicken Loans, some of those homes that can be rehabbed will get that much-needed work. Read about how this grant will help blighted neighborhoods and rehab vacant homes here.

Keep on truckin': This freewheeling fashion boutique offers a new way to shop
It only seems fitting that someone named Mercedes Bell would open a boutique on wheels—and that's exactly what Bell did when she launched Lavora's Mobile Boutique earlier this year. An emerging style entrepreneur, Bell had already been running her online boutique for over one year when she debuted the roving fashion truck in late July 2017. In the months since, the truck has made appearances at events like Glenville Community Festival, Soul of Buckeye, Battle of the Bands at Shaw High School, and the recent pop-up shop at Spaces. Get the 411 on this roving retailer here.
Who's Hiring in CLE: KeyBank, Cleveland Foundation, Playhouse Square, City of Euclid, The GEO Group
Welcome to the latest edition of Fresh Water Cleveland's “Who’s Hiring” series, where we feature growing companies with open positions, what they’re looking for, and how to apply. This edition includes jobs from Playhouse Square, KeyBank, Cleveland Foundation, the City of Euclid, and more. Click here for the freshest opportunities fit to print.
Made in CLE: Six ways to shop local this holiday season
If your idea of the perfect gift is a locally made one, Cleveland doesn't disappoint. From a Black Friday event at 78th Street Studios to a CIA student art sale, these six shows offer the best of locally made products and art.