Team NEO Impact Awards Honor Economic Development Projects

Categories:

• Business Growth & Attraction

On Tuesday June 2, more than 450 business and community leaders, economic developers, and chambers of commerce representatives from throughout the region gathered at the at the Embassy Suites in Independence as our partner in Advance Northeast Ohio, Team NEO, hosted their third annual Economic Development Impact Awards Dinner.

10 organizations were chosen from 30 finalists that are "working hard to regain economic vibrancy ... through projects that have helped retain jobs, expand local companies, and create jobs," Team NEO CEO Tom Waltermire said.

The winning projects, in 10 categories, are:

•  Asset Creation

Creation of the BioInnovation Institute to make Akron globally recognized for “biomaterials”: Akron Children’s Hospital, Akron General Health System, BioEnterprise, City of Akron, The Knight Foundation, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM), The Summa Health System, County of Summit, and University of Akron

• Business Attraction

Attracting Republic Special Metals: Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber

• Business Expansion

Helping American Augers Expand: Ashland Area Council for Economic Development, Ashland County, Jackson Twsp. 

• Business Retention

Retaining the Bridgestone Technical Center and 1000 jobs: City of Akron, Greater Akron Chamber, County of Summit, Summit County Port Authority

• Foreign Investment

Attracting RTS Co. of Ontario to Northeast Ohio: Growth Partnership for Ashtabula County

• Fostering Entrepreneurship

Innovation Fund investment in 24 new companies: Lorain County Community College Foundation

• Marketing Cleveland Plus

Promoting the regional brand and marketing campaign to employees, customers and partners: Cohen & Co. 

• Minority Business Development

Relocation of Wholesome Development LLC Headquarters from Pittsburgh to Lakewood: City of Lakewood & LakewoodAlive

• Public-Private Partnership

Redevelopment of the Hoover facility: Maple Street Commerce LLC. City of North Canton, and Stark Development Board

•  Workforce Development

Training: Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering Center of Cuyahoga Community College 

Team NEO also honored Congressman Ralph Regula with with the annual H. Peter Burg Regional Vision Award.  The award commemorates the late chairman and CEO of FirstEnergy Corporation, a regional leader who was the founding chairman of Team NEO. Rep. Regula recently retired after 36 years in the House of Representatives for Ohio’s 16^th Congressional District. Watch his inspiring acceptance speech below:

For a full listing of all the Impact Award finalists and detailed descriptions of the winning projects, click here.

This week, in addition to hosting the Impact Awards, Team NEO also launched a new web side to promote the region and their business attraction efforts. You can check it out at http://teamneo.org.