Challenging times but a promising future: GCP lays foundations for job growth at Annual Meeting

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Shatten Professional Leadership Award winner announced

Cleveland, Ohio - March 5, 2008 - Amid this difficult international economy, the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP) reported to its members and the community that there is good news for northeast Ohio. Among the business conducted at the GCP's 2009 Annual Meeting held today at the Hanna Theatre in PlayhouseSquare, Board Chairman Henry L. Meyer III announced that a substantial European business organization is locating its U.S. office in Cleveland.* "This could be the seed that sprouts into considerable business exchanges and developments between small and medium sized businesses in northeast Ohio and Europe," he said.

The GCP also released its 2009/2010 Public Policy Agenda *. "This document is more than a collection of hopeful words. It is a carefully crafted set of priorities that are important to Cleveland's future economy," said Joe Roman, president and CEO of the GCP. "The agenda revolves around six focus areas including the advancement of small businesses, building a sustainable economic development system, considering intelligent change of long-standing institutions such as county government and encouraging more global connections to northeast Ohio. It also calls for the development of a finely tuned, demand-driven talent system that encourages the best and the brightest-be they from Cleveland or overseas - to work here."

As part of its Public Policy agenda, the GCP announced it is pursuing a host of priority projects for funding via the federal stimulus program. Among those projects are the extension of the runway at NASA's Plum Brook facility in Sandusky (a project that would help propel northern Ohio into more prominence in the space exploration industry), the development of Opportunity Corridor that would link University Circle to I-490, the Flats East Bank project, the re-design of the West Shoreway, the improvement of soil stability along Irishtown Bend on the near West Side, Inner Belt reconstruction and relocation of the Port of Cleveland.

Economic inclusion progress

The Annual Meeting also included a report on one of the GCP's most promising and necessary programs - the Commission on Economic Inclusion, a broad-based coalition of 116 Northeast Ohio employers who are committed to making the region's diversity a source of economic strength.

Roman said that the GCP is intensifying this initiative, which works directly with the CEOs of Commission-member organizations to increase minority participation on boards, among suppliers, and in senior management and the overall workforce. This effort is bolstered by a Commission program called the Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+, a demand-driven initiative to connect corporations that have business opportunities with Hispanic and African-American companies with the capability and capacity to fulfill those opportunities.

The MBAccelerator 2.5+ has a regional focus, working with MBEs and corporations in 16 northeast Ohio counties. In 2008, nine business agreements totaling more than $6 million were completed through this program. The GCP is committed to making these efforts continue and expand because it means jobs and economic growth. The program just received its second of three potential annual grants of $1 million from the Fund for Our Economic Future. In 2009, the MBAccelerator 2.5+ will work to secure business opportunities for the initial nine participating minority-owned businesses and for 12 additional MBEs that registered with the program this year.

Education and workforce update

Another priority area for the GCP and its members continues to be workforce development. As part of its commitment to higher education, the GCP is supporting the Regional Talent Network (RTN), which- with the Fund for Our Economic Future, other regional chambers and public sector partners - is aimed at aligning education and workforce training programs with the needs of employers.

"The RTN has initially targeted health care, advanced manufacturing and information technology as sectors where more cooperation between education and local employers should be encouraged," Meyer added. "Again, this program is more than hopeful words. Top executives from northeast Ohio companies are involved, with early priorities focused on expanding college internships and helping the jobless find work more quickly. You will be hearing much more about this program in the months ahead."

The GCP has also helped to coordinate the fundraising for construction of the new STEM high school on General Electric's Nela Park campus. Working with GE, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and others, this high school will offer project and experience-based learning opportunities to students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Enhancing public-private partnerships

While much of the GCP's energies outlined look to the future, Meyer said he was pleased to report that the organization's past priorities continue to percolate and are yielding results. "GCP pledged itself to continuing to expand and build upon greater Cleveland's public-private partnership which, when done correctly, is an undeniable economic efficiency for our area," Meyer said. "We are pleased to report that the City of Cleveland, as well as our leaders in Columbus, have been receptive to our continuing efforts in this direction."

"These types of relationships - which must be maintained and cultivated with a mixture of effort, trust and follow-through - are imperative in helping to bring to fruition necessary projects such as the re-designed Shoreway, Opportunity Corridor and, yes, the Medical Mart," he continued. " We are extending this private-public partnership even more broadly-to Akron, Pittsburgh, and the Great Lakes region, which could result in northeast Ohio having a stronger, louder voice for the good of our region."

Richard A. Shatten Professional Leadership Award

The GCP also presented the Richard A. Shatten Professional Leadership Award to David T. Abbott, chairman of the Fund for Our Economic Future and who previously served as executive director of The George Gund Foundation. The award is presented annually to recognize individuals who embody Shatten’s lifelong commitment to the profession of improving Cleveland’s civic infrastructure. Shatten served as executive director of Cleveland Tomorrow, an organization of Cleveland’s most powerful corporate leaders from 1984 to 1993. He later taught at Case Western Reserve University and was executive director for the Center for Regional Economic Issues.

Prior to joining The Gund Foundation, Abbott served as president of University Circle, Inc., executive director of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and executive director of the Cleveland Bicentennial Commission. He was the Cuyahoga County Administrator from 1985 to 1993, and, early in his career, was a reporter for The Plain Dealer. He holds a B.A. in political science from Denison University, an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

*Please see separate news release on this topic for additional information

As an association of business members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and leverage investment to improve the economic vitality of the region. The GCP is a founder and proud supporter of the Cleveland Plus marketing campaign. http://www.gcpartnership.com

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