On our region fighting back (See
This is how a region fights to win here)
With the recent efforts of all those involved with keeping the federal jobs here in Cleveland, it shows how we have the knowledge, strength and determination to do what is needed to keep existing jobs in the Northeast Ohio area. It was gratifying seeing how Republicans and Democrats worked together to get this accomplished. We need to continue to have leaders like Fred Nance, Carol Caruso of Greater Cleveland Partnership, Debbie Setliff, and Rep. Steve LaTourette, and all the others involved to rally efforts to bring more business and manufacturing jobs to this area. It can be done. We can fight harder. The OfficeMax deal sounded great, but with the CEO's home of Chicago in the picture, I didn't see how we could win without the shareholders voting on what would be the best deal for the company. Cleveland clearly seemed like the obvious best deal. I have always, and even more recently, felt Cleveland is an underrated city for business, recreation, raising a family, quality of life, low cost of living and housing, and the weather is NOT that bad. I am not alone in this thinking. We need to market ourselves much better. We can start by concentrating on the California and Southeastern areas of the US and internationally like Israel, India and China. The Crain's Cleveland Business paper has reported on California companies recently moving to Northeast Ohio. Crain's also has done articles on Israeli companies expanding and moving to Cleveland, along with an Indian who started a manufacturing company in Cleveland after being introduced to the Cleveland World Trade Center. Someone needs to find out what motivated these companies to relocate here and expand on it. Intel Corp's decision to anoint Cleveland as one of four Worldwide Digital Communities proves Cleveland is making progress. Also with the South being hit by hurricanes, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and other states should be targeted. Those people and businesses are fed up with the losses. The time is ripe to persuade them to come to the great North Coast. Whenever I get the chance, I talk up the Cleveland area and am looking to get involved with some of these organizations to improve the area. Here are some of my ideas; 1. Continue to have a regional opportunity with multiple suburbs. Shaker Heights and Cleveland have shown this region that when cities work together, we can compete with any region in this country. 2. Concentrate on doing something with Euclid avenue and other areas of the city. Offer new startups and relocated businesses low rent, say 1 dollar a month, for 2 years, or some other ridiculous offer to attract them here. Euclid avenue is a great, underutilizes and rundown street. 3. Mayor Campbell's idea of offering business to relocate a low or no tax incentive needs to be put into place and heavily marketed. Why would anyone not think this is a great idea. The short term loss of taxes will be offset by the business and employment of people. Anyone who does not see this has very short term thinking mentality. 4. Fix the schools. And The Cleveland Clinic and Univ Hospital should, if they don't already, offer scholarship programs for kids to local universities. And not just a few a year. Also, local universities should offer scholarship programs, if they don't already. What we need is a concerted effort by local political, business and economic-growth leaders to go on the offense and come up with a plan and a message that Cleveland is great for business, and a great place to live and work. Cleveland has made great strides locally to incubate and establish start-up and small businesses, we need to go one step further and market this region on a national and international level. Cool Cleveland is great!!! Keep up the good work. Looking forward to Ingenuity and Sparx in the City.from Cool Cleveland reader Steve Tucky steve.tuckyATcsa-international.org (:divend:)