Greater Cleveland Partnership wins business development award

Monday, November 16, 2009

Cleveland, Ohio—The Greater Cleveland Partnership’s Business Development Team has received the “Critical Business Partner Award” for its positive impact on existing businesses in the Cleveland Plus region. The award was announced by Blane Canada Ltd., a management consulting firm and industry leader for existing-business portfolio management tools, at the Synchronist Users’ Forum held in Chicago. It recognizes the critical role that economic development organizations play between businesses and the communities in which they operate.

“Global business pressures have never been greater. The Greater Cleveland Partnership’s proactive work insures that companies in Cleveland Plus region have access to all possible resources thereby insuring the health of the portfolio,” said Eric Canada, whose firm developed The Synchronist Business Information System® software, which is used by hundreds of development organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

GCP President and CEO Joe Roman praised the work of the Business Development Team, which works collaboratively across all GCP program areas to learn about the needs, understand the challenges of Northeast Ohio’s companies, and identify opportunities to keep businesses competitive and growing in Greater Cleveland.

“The growth and expansion of businesses that call Greater Cleveland home is crucial if we’re going to stimulate job creation and capital investment in our community,” said Roman. “These companies are the backbone of our economy. We’re fortunate to have an exceptional team at the GCP that finds creative solutions to challenges faced by our companies and helps them make the decision that Northeast Ohio is the best place to do business.”

The Synchronist System’s interview questionnaires, analysis and reporting tools help the GCP Business Development team gain insight into the region’s business environment, which then allows the organization to formulate specific action steps, which, when implemented, can help make companies and Greater Cleveland more competitive. Utilizing the Synchronist System, the GCP staff conducted more than 225 company interviews with Northeast Ohio business executives from January 2007 through September 2009. The team ’s efforts have led to measurable impact.  Examples include:

  • Helping a large manufacturing company secure $2 million in Ohio Dept. of Development and Cuyahoga County loans to partially cover the cost of building a new corporate headquarters;
  • Assisting a medical insurance enrollment firm with securing an Ohio Jobs Creation Tax credit valued at $114,000 over six years and a City of Cleveland Citywide Business Grant for $30,000 over three years to reconfigure 5,000 square feet of office space;
  • Working with a metal machining company to receive $600,000 in financing assistance from the Ohio Dept. of Development toward on the acquisition of a boring mill company that will create 21 new jobs over three years.

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.

 

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