Stories
The North Union Farmers Market now operates eight different markets around the Greater Cleveland area. Three years ago, the nonprofit launched a new market at the Cleveland Clinic, bringing healthy, farm-fresh produce to a neighborhood that could use it most. Here is a video of the popular Cleveland Clinic market in action.
pittsburgh contemplates forthcoming ohio casinos
A recent Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article discusses the development of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland, which will be the first casino in Ohio when it opens early next year. The casino will be located in the historic Higbee Building downtown.
The development of casinos in Ohio will take a toll on already established casinos in Pennsylvania. About 20 percent of regular customers at Pittsburgh's Rivers Casino come are from out of state, mainly Ohio and West Virginia.
But before they can even open, Ohio casinos have a few hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is an ambivalent new Republican governor.
"The state's new governor, John Kasich, voted against the 2009 constitutional amendment referendum that was approved in a statewide vote, eventually permitting the construction of casinos in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati. But now he's charged with helping to craft the rules and regulations that will guide the industry in its formative years."
Kasich will also be the one who ultimately decides whether to sign off on a plan to legalize slot machines at Ohio racetracks. A portion of racetrack slot money goes toward prizes in Pennsylvania and Indiana, making race purses up to three times higher and in turn attracting better horses and jockeys.
Ohio is also in an unusual situation, because while casinos were approved in 2009, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which handles many regulatory matters, was appointed just two months ago.
Check out the entire article here.
The development of casinos in Ohio will take a toll on already established casinos in Pennsylvania. About 20 percent of regular customers at Pittsburgh's Rivers Casino come are from out of state, mainly Ohio and West Virginia.
But before they can even open, Ohio casinos have a few hurdles to overcome, not the least of which is an ambivalent new Republican governor.
"The state's new governor, John Kasich, voted against the 2009 constitutional amendment referendum that was approved in a statewide vote, eventually permitting the construction of casinos in Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati. But now he's charged with helping to craft the rules and regulations that will guide the industry in its formative years."
Kasich will also be the one who ultimately decides whether to sign off on a plan to legalize slot machines at Ohio racetracks. A portion of racetrack slot money goes toward prizes in Pennsylvania and Indiana, making race purses up to three times higher and in turn attracting better horses and jockeys.
Ohio is also in an unusual situation, because while casinos were approved in 2009, the Ohio Casino Control Commission, which handles many regulatory matters, was appointed just two months ago.
Check out the entire article here.
The Tremont neighborhood recently celebrated the opening of a new parking lot at Jefferson and Professor avenues that will not only help alleviate the neighborhood's parking crunch, but also help solve the region's storm water management problem.
The parking lot incorporates bioswales that will prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system. When rain falls onto the property, it runs off into carefully designed plant systems that gradually release it back into the ground.
The parking lot was developed by the Tremont West Development Corporation (TWDC), a nonprofit community development group that serves the Tremont neighborhood, in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), URS, and the City of Cleveland Sustainability Office.
NEORSD is currently working on a plan for regional storm water management that it hopes will spur more small-scale efforts like this one in the future. Storm water management solutions can help address the problems of flooding, erosion and combined sewer overflows or pollution, NEORSD says.
To acquire the formerly blighted parcel, TWDC partnered with local property owners and applied for funding from the Model Blocks program of Neighborhood Progress, a nonprofit that provides grants and technical assistance to CDC's in Cleveland.
Under the new fee structure that NEORSD plans to roll out next year, property owners can also earn credits for innovative storm water management solutions that keep rainwater out of sewers. For more information, visit Project Clean Lake.
Source: Tremont West Development Corporation, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The parking lot incorporates bioswales that will prevent rainwater from entering the sewer system. When rain falls onto the property, it runs off into carefully designed plant systems that gradually release it back into the ground.
The parking lot was developed by the Tremont West Development Corporation (TWDC), a nonprofit community development group that serves the Tremont neighborhood, in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District (NEORSD), URS, and the City of Cleveland Sustainability Office.
NEORSD is currently working on a plan for regional storm water management that it hopes will spur more small-scale efforts like this one in the future. Storm water management solutions can help address the problems of flooding, erosion and combined sewer overflows or pollution, NEORSD says.
To acquire the formerly blighted parcel, TWDC partnered with local property owners and applied for funding from the Model Blocks program of Neighborhood Progress, a nonprofit that provides grants and technical assistance to CDC's in Cleveland.
Under the new fee structure that NEORSD plans to roll out next year, property owners can also earn credits for innovative storm water management solutions that keep rainwater out of sewers. For more information, visit Project Clean Lake.
Source: Tremont West Development Corporation, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Writer: Lee Chilcote
time mag discusses the 'greening' of cle's fed building
A recent Time article titled "Greening the Skyline" discussed plans to make Cleveland's Celebrezze Federal Building more energy efficient. Built in 1967, the building is getting a new façade made of glass and aluminum that will envelop the original. The new construction will prevent heat loss in the 32-story building.
"Designed by architect Charles Young of Interactive Design Eight, the new facade will stand 2.5 ft. (75 cm) outside the old exterior," the article states. "Airflow between the old and new facade will insulate the building, yielding an estimated energy savings of $650,000 per year."
President Obama's stimulus program will contribute to funding the project.
The Time article also mentions recent improvements made to the Empire State Building, as well as the city of Melbourne's project aimed at reducing the energy consumption of about 1,200 office buildings 38% by 2020.
"Skyscrapers look modern, but they are among the worst culprits in urban areas when it comes to energy consumption and carbon emission, with outdated heating, cooling and lighting systems."
Read the rest of the article here.
"Designed by architect Charles Young of Interactive Design Eight, the new facade will stand 2.5 ft. (75 cm) outside the old exterior," the article states. "Airflow between the old and new facade will insulate the building, yielding an estimated energy savings of $650,000 per year."
President Obama's stimulus program will contribute to funding the project.
The Time article also mentions recent improvements made to the Empire State Building, as well as the city of Melbourne's project aimed at reducing the energy consumption of about 1,200 office buildings 38% by 2020.
"Skyscrapers look modern, but they are among the worst culprits in urban areas when it comes to energy consumption and carbon emission, with outdated heating, cooling and lighting systems."
Read the rest of the article here.
State Farm Insurance is looking for bi-lingual agents with an entrepreneurial spirit. So the agency is holding a job fair at Asian Town Center, located in Cleveland's Asiatown neighborhood, on May 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m..
"State Farm has really got a push on the multi-cultural market," says Kevin Perry, senior State Farm field executive in the company's Beachwood office. "As a growing company we noticed we didn't have a lot of agents across diverse backgrounds."
Perry says Cleveland offers just the diversity State Farm is looking for. "We thought we'd go out and see what we can find and just go from there," he says. The company sponsored an event at Asia Town Center in January and "it went really well," so it seemed like the right location for a second one.
Ideally, State Farm would like to have an agent in Cleveland's Asiatown neighborhood. "With its location, we'd like to have an agent in there just to have a presence," Perry says. But the company is looking for agents who speak any language in addition to English.
"The right potential agent, with good credit, will be funded by State Farm for startup costs. Agents will receive an $18,000 signing bonus, an additional $12,000 after the first year, a $25,000 line of credit, and a credit card with a $5,000 limit.
"If you enjoy working with people, helping people, educating people, and you're interested in being an entrepreneur you should come in," says Perry. "We're looking for folks who want to be anchored in the community and looking to grow the market."
Source: Kevin Perry
Writer: Karen Connelly
"State Farm has really got a push on the multi-cultural market," says Kevin Perry, senior State Farm field executive in the company's Beachwood office. "As a growing company we noticed we didn't have a lot of agents across diverse backgrounds."
Perry says Cleveland offers just the diversity State Farm is looking for. "We thought we'd go out and see what we can find and just go from there," he says. The company sponsored an event at Asia Town Center in January and "it went really well," so it seemed like the right location for a second one.
Ideally, State Farm would like to have an agent in Cleveland's Asiatown neighborhood. "With its location, we'd like to have an agent in there just to have a presence," Perry says. But the company is looking for agents who speak any language in addition to English.
"The right potential agent, with good credit, will be funded by State Farm for startup costs. Agents will receive an $18,000 signing bonus, an additional $12,000 after the first year, a $25,000 line of credit, and a credit card with a $5,000 limit.
"If you enjoy working with people, helping people, educating people, and you're interested in being an entrepreneur you should come in," says Perry. "We're looking for folks who want to be anchored in the community and looking to grow the market."
Source: Kevin Perry
Writer: Karen Connelly
John Zitzner became a successful entrepreneur in the 1980s, when his software company made Inc. magazine's list of the 500 fastest growing companies.
After selling his company to Xerox in the late '90s, however, he decided to apply his business skills to a good cause. He created E City, a nonprofit organization that teaches entrepreneurship and life skills to urban youth. Yet after seeing first-hand the educational challenges that his students faced, he decided to start a school. In 2006 he co-founded E Prep, a high-performing charter middle school.
Two years ago, the serial entrepreneur took the next step by launching Village Prep, a tuition-free public charter elementary school.
At last week's sold out TEDxCLE event at the Capitol Theatre, Zitzner told the capacity crowd that high-performing charter schools are needed across the city of Cleveland to provide an alternative to poor-performing public schools. "Our job is to make sure that every student graduates from high school and college," he said.
Zitzner also announced plans to expand the network of high-performing charter schools in Cleveland. Breakthrough Schools, a coalition of several high-performing charter schools, hopes to create 20 new schools by 2020. This would allow Breakthrough to serve about 7,000 students, or 20 percent of the K-8 school children in Cleveland.
It won't be easy, Zitzner said, because charter schools must raise millions of philanthropic dollars each year. "State charter school laws are discriminatory because they dictate that we receive no local property taxes, or one-third less funding than Cleveland Municipal School District schools that are failing," he said. "We need to change the law so that charter schools receive local property taxes."
Source: John Zitzner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
After selling his company to Xerox in the late '90s, however, he decided to apply his business skills to a good cause. He created E City, a nonprofit organization that teaches entrepreneurship and life skills to urban youth. Yet after seeing first-hand the educational challenges that his students faced, he decided to start a school. In 2006 he co-founded E Prep, a high-performing charter middle school.
Two years ago, the serial entrepreneur took the next step by launching Village Prep, a tuition-free public charter elementary school.
At last week's sold out TEDxCLE event at the Capitol Theatre, Zitzner told the capacity crowd that high-performing charter schools are needed across the city of Cleveland to provide an alternative to poor-performing public schools. "Our job is to make sure that every student graduates from high school and college," he said.
Zitzner also announced plans to expand the network of high-performing charter schools in Cleveland. Breakthrough Schools, a coalition of several high-performing charter schools, hopes to create 20 new schools by 2020. This would allow Breakthrough to serve about 7,000 students, or 20 percent of the K-8 school children in Cleveland.
It won't be easy, Zitzner said, because charter schools must raise millions of philanthropic dollars each year. "State charter school laws are discriminatory because they dictate that we receive no local property taxes, or one-third less funding than Cleveland Municipal School District schools that are failing," he said. "We need to change the law so that charter schools receive local property taxes."
Source: John Zitzner
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Rhonda Sincavage has vivid memories of the day that a dilapidated shoe factory in her hometown was torn down. The incident sparked her lifelong passion for historic preservation.
"My grandfather worked there, along with many people that lived in our town," said Sincavage, Program Associate for State and Local Policy at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, at last week's sold out TEDxCLE event. "It was our town's namesake and a symbol of our community."
During her presentation, Sincavage challenged stereotypes that she encounters during her career. Preserving buildings and neighborhoods is not simply a luxury, she argued, but an economic necessity that creates jobs, boosts the local economy and creates a more sustainable future.
"When I tell people what I do, some ask if I wear period dress or if I've saved any buildings lately," she said. "Yet our generation's version of historic preservation has nothing to do with our grandmother's version. This isn't about little old ladies saving buildings; this is about learning from the past to preserve the future."
She also stated that preserved neighborhoods tend to be more diverse than others, and that preserved buildings leverage additional investment, citing Cleveland's Warehouse District as one example.
Sincavage challenged the stereotype that older buildings are expensive and inefficient. "There's no reason why historic buildings can't be as efficient as new buildings," she said. "Historic buildings are the original green -- they have windows that let in natural light and overhangs that provide for shade." Preserving older buildings also reuses existing resources rather than throwing them away.
Finally, Sincavage said that preserving neighborhoods is not only a way to spur redevelopment, it also attracts residents. The "Soul of the Community" project, an effort launched by Gallup and the James L. Knight Foundation, showed that aesthetics, openness and social offerings are the most important factors for people when choosing a place to live.
"There's really a strong correlation between someone's emotional attachment of a place and their likelihood to stay," said Sincavage.
Source: Rhonda Sincavage
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"My grandfather worked there, along with many people that lived in our town," said Sincavage, Program Associate for State and Local Policy at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, at last week's sold out TEDxCLE event. "It was our town's namesake and a symbol of our community."
During her presentation, Sincavage challenged stereotypes that she encounters during her career. Preserving buildings and neighborhoods is not simply a luxury, she argued, but an economic necessity that creates jobs, boosts the local economy and creates a more sustainable future.
"When I tell people what I do, some ask if I wear period dress or if I've saved any buildings lately," she said. "Yet our generation's version of historic preservation has nothing to do with our grandmother's version. This isn't about little old ladies saving buildings; this is about learning from the past to preserve the future."
She also stated that preserved neighborhoods tend to be more diverse than others, and that preserved buildings leverage additional investment, citing Cleveland's Warehouse District as one example.
Sincavage challenged the stereotype that older buildings are expensive and inefficient. "There's no reason why historic buildings can't be as efficient as new buildings," she said. "Historic buildings are the original green -- they have windows that let in natural light and overhangs that provide for shade." Preserving older buildings also reuses existing resources rather than throwing them away.
Finally, Sincavage said that preserving neighborhoods is not only a way to spur redevelopment, it also attracts residents. The "Soul of the Community" project, an effort launched by Gallup and the James L. Knight Foundation, showed that aesthetics, openness and social offerings are the most important factors for people when choosing a place to live.
"There's really a strong correlation between someone's emotional attachment of a place and their likelihood to stay," said Sincavage.
Source: Rhonda Sincavage
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Roe Green believes in the arts. She can't imagine a world without them, and she wants to make sure people in Northeast Ohio continue to be exposed to the latest in theater, music and dance at the Cleveland Play House. So she made a three-year, $500,000 commitment to FusionFest.
"To me it was a very exciting idea," Green says of the donation. "I like exposing people to new things. It's stuff like this at FusionFest that people would not otherwise see."
Green is honorary producer of the festival that has been celebrating new works since its inception in 2005. She also sits on Cleveland Play House board. "Arts are what make us human; without the arts we're nothing but machines," she says. "I said, 'this is something I can sink my teeth into.' This has become my baby because it perpetuates people doing new work."
Additionally, next year will mark the beginning of the annual Roe Green FusionFest Award. The $7,500 award will be given to a promising mid-career American playwright. "Having arts in the community is very important to the community," Green says, noting that for every dollar spent on theater tickets also means dollars spent for parking, food and other expenses associated with going to the theater.
The winner of the Roe Green Award will also receive script development support. The selected playwright will spend a week in residency at CPH during FusionFest, overseeing rehearsals and reading of the work and engage in workshops and master classes with young theatre artists from the region.
Source: Roe Green
Writer: Karin Connelly
"To me it was a very exciting idea," Green says of the donation. "I like exposing people to new things. It's stuff like this at FusionFest that people would not otherwise see."
Green is honorary producer of the festival that has been celebrating new works since its inception in 2005. She also sits on Cleveland Play House board. "Arts are what make us human; without the arts we're nothing but machines," she says. "I said, 'this is something I can sink my teeth into.' This has become my baby because it perpetuates people doing new work."
Additionally, next year will mark the beginning of the annual Roe Green FusionFest Award. The $7,500 award will be given to a promising mid-career American playwright. "Having arts in the community is very important to the community," Green says, noting that for every dollar spent on theater tickets also means dollars spent for parking, food and other expenses associated with going to the theater.
The winner of the Roe Green Award will also receive script development support. The selected playwright will spend a week in residency at CPH during FusionFest, overseeing rehearsals and reading of the work and engage in workshops and master classes with young theatre artists from the region.
Source: Roe Green
Writer: Karin Connelly
Cleveland State University's Nance College of Business Administration and Shaker LaunchHouse have teamed up to encourage the regions entrepreneurs to follow their dreams.
The agreement was adopted at a special meeting of the Shaker City Council on March 14, after recommendation by the Shaker Heights Economic Development Department.
One of the first endeavors the two have launched is the 2011 Idea Competition. The contest is open to students at any Ohio college or university with an innovative business idea. Ideas should focus on software and Internet technology, low-tech medical devices, and clean energy.
"We really want to get the juices flowing of entrepreneurs in the region," says Shaker LaunchHouse managing partner Todd Goldstein. "We believe it's extremely important to provide an outlet for good ideas."
The winner gets a $2,500 scholarship to the Nance's global AMBA program and $1,000 from LaunchHouse, including incubation space, legal support, accounting support, and business planning assistance. The winner will have the chance to compete for $5,000 in seed funding.
Entry forms are due by noon on Monday, April 25. Finalists will then give a two-minute pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists at Shaker LaunchHouse on Thursday, May 5. SLH will be offering educational seminars for the contestants to help them with their presentations.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
The agreement was adopted at a special meeting of the Shaker City Council on March 14, after recommendation by the Shaker Heights Economic Development Department.
One of the first endeavors the two have launched is the 2011 Idea Competition. The contest is open to students at any Ohio college or university with an innovative business idea. Ideas should focus on software and Internet technology, low-tech medical devices, and clean energy.
"We really want to get the juices flowing of entrepreneurs in the region," says Shaker LaunchHouse managing partner Todd Goldstein. "We believe it's extremely important to provide an outlet for good ideas."
The winner gets a $2,500 scholarship to the Nance's global AMBA program and $1,000 from LaunchHouse, including incubation space, legal support, accounting support, and business planning assistance. The winner will have the chance to compete for $5,000 in seed funding.
Entry forms are due by noon on Monday, April 25. Finalists will then give a two-minute pitch to a panel of entrepreneurs and venture capitalists at Shaker LaunchHouse on Thursday, May 5. SLH will be offering educational seminars for the contestants to help them with their presentations.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
Shaker LaunchHouse, a pre-seed investment fund and business accelerator, has raised $250,000 in capital funds. A portion of the money will be used to invest an average of $10,000 in 15 software and disruptive technology companies. "Disruptive technology refers to thinking of things that shake up or dramatically change the market," explains Todd Goldstein, managing partner of SLH.
The investments will be made over the next 12 months. Additionally, SLH will provide office space and back office support to each of the 15 companies. Goldstein and his partner formed Shaker LaunchHouse in 2008 after seeing larger numbers of young entrepreneurs leaving Cleveland for cities that offered greater start-up opportunities.
"We saw a lot of young people moving away because there was a lot of seed money [elsewhere] ," explains Goldstein. "We felt that Cleveland was ripe for an organization that could provide seed money."
SLH's goal is to invest in 15 companies a year, while also providing networking with 100 mentors, cooperative office space and educational programming. SLH provides twice weekly workshops for entrepreneurs led by area business leaders with expertise in everything from how to manage the finances of a startup company to how to write an effective executive summary and make presentations as well as crash courses in website development.
SLH is in the process of moving into a renovated car dealership on Lee Road, which will provide 23,000 square feet of space for entrepreneurs and mentors.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
The investments will be made over the next 12 months. Additionally, SLH will provide office space and back office support to each of the 15 companies. Goldstein and his partner formed Shaker LaunchHouse in 2008 after seeing larger numbers of young entrepreneurs leaving Cleveland for cities that offered greater start-up opportunities.
"We saw a lot of young people moving away because there was a lot of seed money [elsewhere] ," explains Goldstein. "We felt that Cleveland was ripe for an organization that could provide seed money."
SLH's goal is to invest in 15 companies a year, while also providing networking with 100 mentors, cooperative office space and educational programming. SLH provides twice weekly workshops for entrepreneurs led by area business leaders with expertise in everything from how to manage the finances of a startup company to how to write an effective executive summary and make presentations as well as crash courses in website development.
SLH is in the process of moving into a renovated car dealership on Lee Road, which will provide 23,000 square feet of space for entrepreneurs and mentors.
Source: Todd Goldstein
Writer: Karin Connelly
When it comes to adapting to today's marketplace, the Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network -- aka MAGNET -- is a manufacturer's best friend. The Cleveland-based organization helps companies uncover new products, new markets, and new opportunities for growth. We recently spoke with CEO Daniel Berry about the current state of manufacturing in NEO.
symon's 'cook like an iron chef' deemed top-ten tv
A recent Chicago Tribune article named "Cook Like an Iron Chef" with Michael Symon as one of "ten food television shows you should be watching." The list also includes Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, Top Chef Masters, and Good Eats.
"Cook Like an Iron Chef" debuted in July 2010 on the Cooking Channel. Each episode features a secret ingredient that Symon prepares three different ways.
"If Bobby Flay is the ubiquitous face of the Food Network and its brands, " the Trib article states. "Michael Symon gives it a soul with his quick laughter and self-deprecating sensibility. On "Cook" he has a vehicle that showcases his boundless enthusiasm and displays the formidable skills that have made him the hardest of the Iron Chefs to beat in Kitchen Stadium."
Chew on the rest here.
"Cook Like an Iron Chef" debuted in July 2010 on the Cooking Channel. Each episode features a secret ingredient that Symon prepares three different ways.
"If Bobby Flay is the ubiquitous face of the Food Network and its brands, " the Trib article states. "Michael Symon gives it a soul with his quick laughter and self-deprecating sensibility. On "Cook" he has a vehicle that showcases his boundless enthusiasm and displays the formidable skills that have made him the hardest of the Iron Chefs to beat in Kitchen Stadium."
Chew on the rest here.
glbc ranks as 22nd largest craft brewery
Great Lakes Brewing Company has announced that it has been ranked the 22nd largest American craft brewery. GLBC was previously ranked number twenty-three.
"GLBC reported 91,189 barrels sold in 2010. GLBC also ranked as the 31st largest brewery in the US (Anheuser–Busch Inc. ranked 1st). GLBC does not contract brew; 100% of product is produced onsite in its Cleveland-based brewery."
GLBC made many improvements throughout its brewery last year, including a new centrifuge, additions to the brewhouse for increased speed and quality, a new grain silo, and additional storage and fermentation tanks.
The company also added 15 new positions and plans to create at least nine more in the next few years.
Drink up the rest here.
"GLBC reported 91,189 barrels sold in 2010. GLBC also ranked as the 31st largest brewery in the US (Anheuser–Busch Inc. ranked 1st). GLBC does not contract brew; 100% of product is produced onsite in its Cleveland-based brewery."
GLBC made many improvements throughout its brewery last year, including a new centrifuge, additions to the brewhouse for increased speed and quality, a new grain silo, and additional storage and fermentation tanks.
The company also added 15 new positions and plans to create at least nine more in the next few years.
Drink up the rest here.
video offers sneak peek of plans for new market square park
In this video presented by Ohio City Inc. (formerly Ohio City Near West Development Corp.), organizers lay out their plans for a new and improved "harvest-themed" Market Square Park. The park, originally built in the 1970s, is undergoing a $1.5 million makeover as part of a series of improvements taking place around the West Side Market.
cnn reports on cle public school's reorganization plan
CNN recently featured an article on the changes and improvements being made to the Cleveland public school system.
"Within the past year," CNN reports, "the school system has undergone a comprehensive and sometimes harsh reorganization..."
The school system closed 16 schools last year. The federal government's School Improvement Grants are helping 12 Cleveland schools to restart.
"In 2010, the federal government provided $546 million for about 1,000 low-achieving schools across the United States. Districts could use the money to reorganize or close down schools completely. In Cleveland, school officials chose to use a reorganization model for several of their schools, including Lincoln-West and Glenville high schools. To receive the funds, they had to replace the principal and rehire no more than half the school's staff."
And progress is being reported.
Since the reorganization, school officials have reported less violence and better attendance rates. Irene Javier, a principal at Lincoln-West, says, "We actually have an 83% decline in terms of serious incidents that are happening in the building. That includes number of suspensions. So, it directly impacts our attendance."
Academic numbers have yet to be analyzed, but officials at both Lincoln-West and Glenville report that the reorganization is having a positive impact.
Read the rest of the report here.
"Within the past year," CNN reports, "the school system has undergone a comprehensive and sometimes harsh reorganization..."
The school system closed 16 schools last year. The federal government's School Improvement Grants are helping 12 Cleveland schools to restart.
"In 2010, the federal government provided $546 million for about 1,000 low-achieving schools across the United States. Districts could use the money to reorganize or close down schools completely. In Cleveland, school officials chose to use a reorganization model for several of their schools, including Lincoln-West and Glenville high schools. To receive the funds, they had to replace the principal and rehire no more than half the school's staff."
And progress is being reported.
Since the reorganization, school officials have reported less violence and better attendance rates. Irene Javier, a principal at Lincoln-West, says, "We actually have an 83% decline in terms of serious incidents that are happening in the building. That includes number of suspensions. So, it directly impacts our attendance."
Academic numbers have yet to be analyzed, but officials at both Lincoln-West and Glenville report that the reorganization is having a positive impact.
Read the rest of the report here.
While it's common for individual companies to develop a business plan to help prepare for success, Northeast Ohio is one of only three regions in the country to pilot a regional business development plan. The Partnership for Regional Innovation Services to Manufacturers (PRISM) will be headed by MAGNET to help small and medium sized manufacturers thrive in the region.
"It's basically a way to ramp up the level of innovation in the manufacturing sector," says John Schober, MAGNET's director of innovation. "Lots of businesses out there have the potential to grow, but they don't have the resources available to grow."
For instance, these companies may not have access to resources such as marketing or R&D departments. "The PRISM program will help manufacturers identify and access these resourcces," says Schober. "People have been talking about what's going wrong for a while, but no one's talking about what to do about it."
This initiative will take the sub-networks -- government, education, the manufacturing sector, economic development organizations, and service -- and connect them. "The realization came that we're in these networks and we see the gap," says Schober. "We can connect those industries. So we get those collaboratons to solve a problem we've never solved before."
Several organizations have already shown support for the PRISM initiative, including Fund for Our Economic Future, The Cleveland Foundation, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.
Source: John Schober
Writer: Karin Connelly
"It's basically a way to ramp up the level of innovation in the manufacturing sector," says John Schober, MAGNET's director of innovation. "Lots of businesses out there have the potential to grow, but they don't have the resources available to grow."
For instance, these companies may not have access to resources such as marketing or R&D departments. "The PRISM program will help manufacturers identify and access these resourcces," says Schober. "People have been talking about what's going wrong for a while, but no one's talking about what to do about it."
This initiative will take the sub-networks -- government, education, the manufacturing sector, economic development organizations, and service -- and connect them. "The realization came that we're in these networks and we see the gap," says Schober. "We can connect those industries. So we get those collaboratons to solve a problem we've never solved before."
Several organizations have already shown support for the PRISM initiative, including Fund for Our Economic Future, The Cleveland Foundation, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.
Source: John Schober
Writer: Karin Connelly
On April 25th, Cleveland Public Library (CPL) will celebrate the opening of the Sports Research Center, where visitors can explore favorite moments in local sports history, learn more about the history of black baseball, and meet sports icons from past and present.
The Center lets sports junkies travel back in time to the Indians' glory days. And given the Tribe's current first-place perch in the AL Central, perhaps this isn't just idle daydreaming.
The opening reception for the new facility and its inaugural exhibit, "Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience," will be held on April 25th at 3:30 p.m. on the main library's 5th floor.
"Pride and Passion" tells the story of the African-American baseball players who formed the Negro Leagues after being barred from Major League Baseball in the 1890s. Some of baseball's greatest players, including Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, played for the Negro Leagues in the early 20th century.
Negro League player Ernest Nimmons, who played alongside Hank Aaron for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952, will be on hand to talk about his experiences at the event. Nimmons now lives in Elyria.
"Pride and Passion" is organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Additional highlights of the center's research materials include correspondence from Jackie Robinson, oral history interviews with 100+ baseball players, baseball fiction, boxing history and the Plain Dealer Historical Archive, an online sports news database.
The April 25th event is a partnership between CPL and the Cleveland Indians. The team's Vice President of Public Relations, Bob DiBiasio, and retired Indians player and 1980 American League Rookie of the Year, Joe Charboneau, will answer questions and sign autographs.
If you happen to miss the opening reception you won't have to "wait 'til next year." The Sports Research Center will be free and open to the public year round.
Source: Cleveland Public Library
Writer: Lee Chilcote
The Center lets sports junkies travel back in time to the Indians' glory days. And given the Tribe's current first-place perch in the AL Central, perhaps this isn't just idle daydreaming.
The opening reception for the new facility and its inaugural exhibit, "Pride and Passion: The African American Baseball Experience," will be held on April 25th at 3:30 p.m. on the main library's 5th floor.
"Pride and Passion" tells the story of the African-American baseball players who formed the Negro Leagues after being barred from Major League Baseball in the 1890s. Some of baseball's greatest players, including Jackie Robinson and Hank Aaron, played for the Negro Leagues in the early 20th century.
Negro League player Ernest Nimmons, who played alongside Hank Aaron for the Indianapolis Clowns in 1952, will be on hand to talk about his experiences at the event. Nimmons now lives in Elyria.
"Pride and Passion" is organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the American Library Association Public Programs Office. It was made possible by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).
Additional highlights of the center's research materials include correspondence from Jackie Robinson, oral history interviews with 100+ baseball players, baseball fiction, boxing history and the Plain Dealer Historical Archive, an online sports news database.
The April 25th event is a partnership between CPL and the Cleveland Indians. The team's Vice President of Public Relations, Bob DiBiasio, and retired Indians player and 1980 American League Rookie of the Year, Joe Charboneau, will answer questions and sign autographs.
If you happen to miss the opening reception you won't have to "wait 'til next year." The Sports Research Center will be free and open to the public year round.
Source: Cleveland Public Library
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Photo: Lisa DeJong
When it comes to manufacturing facilities, the first things to come to mind are not state-of-the-art gyms, free personal trainers and tech-savvy employees. Yet Thogus, a national provider of plastic injection molding services based in Avon Lake, is no ordinary manufacturer.
"The perception of manufacturing facilities is that they're full of smokestacks, dirty and capital-intensive," Matt Hlavin, President of Thogus, told the audience at last week's sold out TEDxCLE conference. "We've created a culture in which everyone is an innovator, and we want our employees to have a work-life balance."
Thogus, founded in 1950 as a traditional tool and dye shop, got into the plastics industry in 1958. Hlavin joined the company in the late 90s and took over as President in 2009. In the past 15 years, Thogus has reinvented itself as a leader in the growing field of customized plastic injection molding.
"Today, our society is not about mass production, it's about mass customization," Hlavin said. "We're the next generation of manufacturing -- companies like ours take a customer's idea and help them to create it."
Since taking the helm, Hlavin has worked to develop the next generation of manufacturing employee by training his workers in the latest technology and providing a clean, modern work environment. Today, Thogus employees use crowd-sourcing to develop and test products, employ social media to communicate their latest product innovations, and maintain an ongoing rapport with customers. "We can make a customized iPhone cover in 45 minutes," Hlavin said.
As another example of Thogus' innovative products, Hlavin cited a device that will help autistic children to predict when they will get uncomfortable in their environment. The technology will help them to lead healthier and more normal lives.
Reinventing Thogus wasn't easy. After making a decision to get out of the automotive business and focus solely on plastic injection molding, Hlavin reduced his workforce by more than half. "This helped us to become a more agile company and go after the next generation of employee."
Source: Matt Hlavin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
"The perception of manufacturing facilities is that they're full of smokestacks, dirty and capital-intensive," Matt Hlavin, President of Thogus, told the audience at last week's sold out TEDxCLE conference. "We've created a culture in which everyone is an innovator, and we want our employees to have a work-life balance."
Thogus, founded in 1950 as a traditional tool and dye shop, got into the plastics industry in 1958. Hlavin joined the company in the late 90s and took over as President in 2009. In the past 15 years, Thogus has reinvented itself as a leader in the growing field of customized plastic injection molding.
"Today, our society is not about mass production, it's about mass customization," Hlavin said. "We're the next generation of manufacturing -- companies like ours take a customer's idea and help them to create it."
Since taking the helm, Hlavin has worked to develop the next generation of manufacturing employee by training his workers in the latest technology and providing a clean, modern work environment. Today, Thogus employees use crowd-sourcing to develop and test products, employ social media to communicate their latest product innovations, and maintain an ongoing rapport with customers. "We can make a customized iPhone cover in 45 minutes," Hlavin said.
As another example of Thogus' innovative products, Hlavin cited a device that will help autistic children to predict when they will get uncomfortable in their environment. The technology will help them to lead healthier and more normal lives.
Reinventing Thogus wasn't easy. After making a decision to get out of the automotive business and focus solely on plastic injection molding, Hlavin reduced his workforce by more than half. "This helped us to become a more agile company and go after the next generation of employee."
Source: Matt Hlavin
Writer: Lee Chilcote
Comprised of local IT execs and university reps, the RITE Board seeks to boost the quality and reputation of Cleveland's IT sector. By encouraging students to pursue careers in IT and improving IT internships, technology companies aim to capture young IT professionals before they leave town.