Stories
While Congress floats a proposal to raise the full Social Security retirement age to 69, the impact will hit hardest in Cleveland's urban neighborhoods, where life expectancy is as low as 70—nearly nine years shorter than the national average.
Ridding the city streets of zombies—long abandoned vacant properties—has become one local entrepreneur's ongoing battle. His fiercest weapon is a product that literally changes the face of foreclosure.
The Ohio Federal Research Network brings colleges and universities together to increase research funding, industry collaboration, and technology commercialization for job growth and economic development.
Wilbur Ross, Trump's Commerce pick, offshored thousands of jobs, including some in NEO
From Andy Sullivan for Reuters:
"Billionaire Wilbur Ross, chosen by Donald Trump to help implement the president-elect's trade agenda, earned his fortune in part by running businesses that have offshored thousands of U.S. jobs, according to Labor Department data attained by Reuters."
The article goes on to say that one of those companies, Canton, Ohio, based International Automotive Components Group, closed in 2016 "and shifted production of rubber floor mats to Mexico, eliminating the final 16 jobs in a factory that once employed 450 workers."
Get the whole story here.
"Billionaire Wilbur Ross, chosen by Donald Trump to help implement the president-elect's trade agenda, earned his fortune in part by running businesses that have offshored thousands of U.S. jobs, according to Labor Department data attained by Reuters."
The article goes on to say that one of those companies, Canton, Ohio, based International Automotive Components Group, closed in 2016 "and shifted production of rubber floor mats to Mexico, eliminating the final 16 jobs in a factory that once employed 450 workers."
Get the whole story here.
As a small-business owner, Mark D’Agostino knows firsthand the difficulties of staffing a human resources department. All too often, HR employees are overworked, undertrained and unsupported by company leadership, he says.
To address these issues, D’Agostino launched ConnectedHR, a professional services firm that provides its 30 clients with experienced HR consultants. ConnectedHR personnel work on-site at companies—albeit off their payroll and benefits programs—diving into the complex realm of workers' compensation claims, employee engagement and other duties beholden to an in-house HR operation.
"We go out to organizations and become their HR entity on a part-time basis," says D’Agostino, who started his Independence-based business in 2014. "We have one young woman who works at five different organizations each day of the week."
Company "technicians" are spread out to diverse industries such as biotech, childcare and law. Cleveland law firm The Rathbone Group and drug discovery company BioMotiv are among the entities currently hosting a ConnectedHR staff member. Client business models may differ, but human resources basics are similar across industries, D’Agostino notes.
"Our technicians have an agenda and structure they follow very closely," he says. "It's streamlined enough that they know what aspects to focus on."
Businesses that enlist D’Agostino's services generally don't have an HR strategy in place. The company founder and president understands how that goes, as he didn't have a human resources staff at the business supply distribution company he ran prior to launching ConnectedHR. Visiting other offices at the time revealed HR's dispersal throughout harried personnel groups. From there, a vision for a new employee engagement approach came into being.
Since its inception, ConnectedHR has steadily grown its client base and topped $1 million in annual revenue. D’Agostino enjoys working with an established clientele that have reached a stage of growth where a level of HR professionalism is needed.
"I'm also excited about my team," D’Agostino says. "There's such an energy and vibrancy with them. They're a very educated, experienced group."
Ensuring worker well-being is especially satisfying in a region where small business is an economic driver.
"I'm passionate about supporting these organizations, because I'm a small business owner, too," says D’Agostino. "My clients want to be a good employer for their employees."
To address these issues, D’Agostino launched ConnectedHR, a professional services firm that provides its 30 clients with experienced HR consultants. ConnectedHR personnel work on-site at companies—albeit off their payroll and benefits programs—diving into the complex realm of workers' compensation claims, employee engagement and other duties beholden to an in-house HR operation.
"We go out to organizations and become their HR entity on a part-time basis," says D’Agostino, who started his Independence-based business in 2014. "We have one young woman who works at five different organizations each day of the week."
Company "technicians" are spread out to diverse industries such as biotech, childcare and law. Cleveland law firm The Rathbone Group and drug discovery company BioMotiv are among the entities currently hosting a ConnectedHR staff member. Client business models may differ, but human resources basics are similar across industries, D’Agostino notes.
"Our technicians have an agenda and structure they follow very closely," he says. "It's streamlined enough that they know what aspects to focus on."
Businesses that enlist D’Agostino's services generally don't have an HR strategy in place. The company founder and president understands how that goes, as he didn't have a human resources staff at the business supply distribution company he ran prior to launching ConnectedHR. Visiting other offices at the time revealed HR's dispersal throughout harried personnel groups. From there, a vision for a new employee engagement approach came into being.
Since its inception, ConnectedHR has steadily grown its client base and topped $1 million in annual revenue. D’Agostino enjoys working with an established clientele that have reached a stage of growth where a level of HR professionalism is needed.
"I'm also excited about my team," D’Agostino says. "There's such an energy and vibrancy with them. They're a very educated, experienced group."
Ensuring worker well-being is especially satisfying in a region where small business is an economic driver.
"I'm passionate about supporting these organizations, because I'm a small business owner, too," says D’Agostino. "My clients want to be a good employer for their employees."
Online event to focus on uncertain future of historic tax credits
Per the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), last month, several people responded when word circulated that the House Ways and Means Committee Republicans were meeting to discuss tax reform legislation. CRS members and staff heard from numerous constituents about how the historic tax credit leverages private investment in underutilized historic buildings and their request for it to remain part of the tax code.
A very incomplete list of local projects that have benefitted from the state and federal historic tax credits includes the ongoing West 25th Street Lofts, the boutique Kimpton Schofield Hotel, Heinen's Downtown and the Wagner Awning Building.
To follow up on the issue, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding a free webinar on Thursday, January 19 from 2 – 3 p.m. to share the results of interested parties' efforts and to discuss follow-up actions. President and CEO of the National Trust, Stephanie Meeks, will initiate the conversation and describe steps the National Trust is taking to address these and other policy challenges. A panel of top Washington advocates will be on the call to describe the legislative environment and what should be done to protect the historic tax credit.
The webinar is free but registration is required. Click here to register. Click here for more information.
Per the Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS), last month, several people responded when word circulated that the House Ways and Means Committee Republicans were meeting to discuss tax reform legislation. CRS members and staff heard from numerous constituents about how the historic tax credit leverages private investment in underutilized historic buildings and their request for it to remain part of the tax code.
A very incomplete list of local projects that have benefitted from the state and federal historic tax credits includes the ongoing West 25th Street Lofts, the boutique Kimpton Schofield Hotel, Heinen's Downtown and the Wagner Awning Building.
To follow up on the issue, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is holding a free webinar on Thursday, January 19 from 2 – 3 p.m. to share the results of interested parties' efforts and to discuss follow-up actions. President and CEO of the National Trust, Stephanie Meeks, will initiate the conversation and describe steps the National Trust is taking to address these and other policy challenges. A panel of top Washington advocates will be on the call to describe the legislative environment and what should be done to protect the historic tax credit.
The webinar is free but registration is required. Click here to register. Click here for more information.
Come join the City of Cleveland, Downtown Cleveland Alliance and North Coast Harbor for Ice FEST this Monday, Jan. 16. The wintry action will take place between the Great Lakes Science Center and the Roll Hall starting at 10 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.
More than a dozen ice displays will be set up on the walk way between the Science Center and Rock Hall. In addition, both venues will host free admission for the day.
Full details and scheduling here.
More than a dozen ice displays will be set up on the walk way between the Science Center and Rock Hall. In addition, both venues will host free admission for the day.
Full details and scheduling here.
From Annie Knox and Kim Palmer, with additional contributors, for Reuters:
President-elect Donald Trump aims to open up federal lands to more energy development, tapping into a long-running and contentious debate over how best to manage America’s remaining wilderness.
The U.S. government holds title to about 500 million acres of land across the country, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges and tribal territories stretching from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. They overlay billions of barrels of oil and vast quantities of natural gas, coal, and uranium.
The article goes on to include the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) as one federal holding pertinent to the controversy. The CVNP is one of the nation's few parks that already allows drilling on account of privately owned mineral rights.
Per this article by Kabir Bhatia for wksu, however, park officials do not foresee an expansion:
Right now, there are 91 wells within Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s 33,000 acres. Last fall, the rules governing those wells* were overhauled to give the parks more control. Lisa Petit, head of resource management for the park, says she doesn’t foresee new wells being added in the next several years; instead the focus will be bringing the existing wells in-line with the new rules.
The greenspace is a local mecca for hikers, bikers and those who enjoy watersports on the Cuyahoga River. It is Ohio's only national park.
Further reading: 100 miles of the Towpath Trail, one step at a time
*link added
President-elect Donald Trump aims to open up federal lands to more energy development, tapping into a long-running and contentious debate over how best to manage America’s remaining wilderness.
The U.S. government holds title to about 500 million acres of land across the country, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges and tribal territories stretching from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico. They overlay billions of barrels of oil and vast quantities of natural gas, coal, and uranium.
The article goes on to include the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) as one federal holding pertinent to the controversy. The CVNP is one of the nation's few parks that already allows drilling on account of privately owned mineral rights.
Per this article by Kabir Bhatia for wksu, however, park officials do not foresee an expansion:
Right now, there are 91 wells within Cuyahoga Valley National Park’s 33,000 acres. Last fall, the rules governing those wells* were overhauled to give the parks more control. Lisa Petit, head of resource management for the park, says she doesn’t foresee new wells being added in the next several years; instead the focus will be bringing the existing wells in-line with the new rules.
The greenspace is a local mecca for hikers, bikers and those who enjoy watersports on the Cuyahoga River. It is Ohio's only national park.
Further reading: 100 miles of the Towpath Trail, one step at a time
*link added
While the Cleveland Renaissance rises all around us in gleaming fashion, Fresh Water takes a steely look inside five spots that evoke the Rust Belt's hey day.
Fresh Water pulled into the funky co-working space on Lee Road and met up with four of the resident businesses to get their stories and hear about what motivates and excites them.
Jereme Westfall, owner and artist of Work of Arc Welding, prides himself on breathing new life into discarded objects.
A damaged cello Westfall purchased from a music store, for example, is now a lighted sculpture complete with ribbed metal wings. The instrument can no longer play a beautiful concerto, but it's still lovely to behold, says its owner.
From his workshop at Steelyard Commons, Westfall also welds a unique identity onto working lamps, clocks, shelving, fountains and wall hangings. Primarily focused on metals, the arts-centric entrepreneur "upcycles" junk into works he sells at gallery shows or on his Etsy site.
"I take garbage and instead of recycling it to its original form, I'm turning it into something that still has a use," says Westfall, 39. "I've got a basement filled with valves, springs and other stuff that inspires me."
Hard work comes at cost for customers, although some pieces can be had at lower prices than others. Westfall's cello sculpture, a product of 100 man hours and $500 in materials, sells for $3,100, while his lamps run from $320-$355. More affordable offerings include business card holders built from transmission gears, which are $35 each.
Westfall opened his studio a year ago after receiving certification from the Lincoln Electric Welding School. Creating functional art full time wasn't his first thought upon entering the industry, however.
"I worked as a welder for awhile, then decided I wanted to make my own rules," Westfall says. "I started making my own stuff, went to some art shows, and things took off from there."
Westfall's steampunk/industrial style lends itself to rustic spaces or the average man cave, he notes. The Medina native tries to add something quirky to each piece, like a valve that acts as a dimmer for a lamp.
Going into 2017, Work of Arc has several months of back orders to fill, among them a conference table repurposed for an area diamond broker. The business is also busy showing its regional pride through Cavaliers and Ohio State metal wall art pieces.
As long as folks keep buying, Westfall is happy to continue making something out of nothing.
"The biggest thing for me is to be flexible," says Westfall. "I like doing a wide range of pieces rather than just one thing over and over again. There's such a wide variety, I never get bored."
A damaged cello Westfall purchased from a music store, for example, is now a lighted sculpture complete with ribbed metal wings. The instrument can no longer play a beautiful concerto, but it's still lovely to behold, says its owner.
From his workshop at Steelyard Commons, Westfall also welds a unique identity onto working lamps, clocks, shelving, fountains and wall hangings. Primarily focused on metals, the arts-centric entrepreneur "upcycles" junk into works he sells at gallery shows or on his Etsy site.
"I take garbage and instead of recycling it to its original form, I'm turning it into something that still has a use," says Westfall, 39. "I've got a basement filled with valves, springs and other stuff that inspires me."
Hard work comes at cost for customers, although some pieces can be had at lower prices than others. Westfall's cello sculpture, a product of 100 man hours and $500 in materials, sells for $3,100, while his lamps run from $320-$355. More affordable offerings include business card holders built from transmission gears, which are $35 each.
Westfall opened his studio a year ago after receiving certification from the Lincoln Electric Welding School. Creating functional art full time wasn't his first thought upon entering the industry, however.
"I worked as a welder for awhile, then decided I wanted to make my own rules," Westfall says. "I started making my own stuff, went to some art shows, and things took off from there."
Westfall's steampunk/industrial style lends itself to rustic spaces or the average man cave, he notes. The Medina native tries to add something quirky to each piece, like a valve that acts as a dimmer for a lamp.
Going into 2017, Work of Arc has several months of back orders to fill, among them a conference table repurposed for an area diamond broker. The business is also busy showing its regional pride through Cavaliers and Ohio State metal wall art pieces.
As long as folks keep buying, Westfall is happy to continue making something out of nothing.
"The biggest thing for me is to be flexible," says Westfall. "I like doing a wide range of pieces rather than just one thing over and over again. There's such a wide variety, I never get bored."
