Greater Cleveland Partnership Receives Wal-Mart Grant to Spur Job Creation and Economic Development

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Cleveland, July 8, 2008 - The Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) announced a new marketing initiative to promote local small businesses.  Partnering with Wal-Mart and their Jobs and Opportunities Zones (JOZ) program, the GCP is aiding local economic development by providing advertising and marketing opportunities to some small businesses
that might not otherwise have the marketing budgets to advertise in print publications.

The GCP was awarded a $25,000 grant from Wal-Mart to place print advertisements for the selected companies.  Following Wal-Mart and the Small Business Administration's guidelines for what constitutes a small business, the GCP selected minority-owned firms Mobius Gray, HPM Consultants, HotCards.com,  Photography by Tony, and Vertex Computer Services; female-owned firms Powers Financial, Ariel Ventures and Olympia Candies; and small businesses Employee Screen IQ, PC Helps Support, Bonfoey Galleries, and Rennillo Court Reporting.  The ads will run in The Call and Post, Cleveland Business Connects and COSE Update through the end of the year. 

"We're glad to be able to partner with Wal-Mart and utilize their JOZ program to benefit some of the smaller businesses that are members of the GCP," said Joe Roman, president and chief executive of the GCP.  "The advertisements should encourage the community to look to local businesses for their needs."

Wal-Mart created the JOZ Program to show their support for entrepreneurship and regional economic development.  The program is designed to increase job creation and economic opportunities in designated zones and surrounding underserved neighborhoods. 

The Greater Cleveland Partnership, the primary voice for businesses in Greater Cleveland, seeks to create jobs and improve the economic vitality of the region. On behalf of its more than 17,700 members, the GCP advocates with one voice; advances small business success; accelerates economic inclusion; builds a high-impact, sustainable economic development system; changes the face of Cleveland; strengthens global connections; and initiates a demand-driven talent system.  The GCP is a founder and proud supporter of the Cleveland Plus marketing campaign. http://www.gcpartnership.com

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