January 24Jan 24 17 minutes ago, cadmen said: But what do all of those people do with all that free time People will start small businesses and actual live their dreams. So many people don’t have the ability to start a dream career and with an UBI people would have those chances.
January 25Jan 25 On 1/22/2025 at 3:40 PM, MyPhoneDead said: The Moen situation to me shows the downside of the fragmentation of Cuyahoga County. If Cleveland and Cuyahoga County operated as one entity we would see more fight and will power from the ENTIRE county because it would affect more people. With this fragmentation most people would view Moen as not a big deal. Strongsville, Westlake, Beachwood etc. from both a leadership and resident level don't care and won't try to save them from leaving or attract a new company TOGETHER because this loss doesn't hurt them directly. OK, but what difference would that make? Just a few years ago, Moen was considering a new building because they had outgrown their current building in North Olmsted. Obviously that sounded like good news for them and the region. But now, they announce they are leaving. Edited January 25Jan 25 by LibertyBlvd
January 25Jan 25 A region, in which suburb fiefdoms are not constantly battling each other for jobs, population, and funding, is in a far better position to compete with other markets. Otherwise, as we've seen, it's just a race to the bottom, as suburbs poach from and cannibalize their neighbors while the region stagnates and suffers. Who knows if Moan would have stayed if there was less/no fragmentation. But the region would have certainly been a much stronger financial position to keep them. Every dollar spent in utilities and roads for yet ANOTHER locally poached business and population is a dollar that could have gone to an incentive package. Edited January 25Jan 25 by TBideon
January 25Jan 25 If its any comfort to anyone, Deerfield and many other Chicago suburbs are littered with abandoned trophy HQ buildings. Sears Holdings, Hewitt, Allstate, McDonalds, Motorola Solutions, Mondelez/Kraft, AT&T...to name the big ones. Not to mention the half empty or empty sad looking 80's spec office buildings also everywhere in the Chicago burbs. I recently went to a 2 tower complex by Woodfield Mall for a project of a company relocating. Looks bright and shiny from the freeway, fountains, ponds and geese. Parking decks completely empty, and buildings are a ghost town. Dumb move by Moen. https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/march-2019/when-a-suburb-loses-its-headquarters/ "Oak Brook is part of an uneasy club of suburbs — including Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, and, most recently, Deerfield — that are being forced to reinvent vast swaths of land in the wake of a marquee company’s departure. Sixty-eight suburban headquarters or major offices have relocated to the Loop, West Loop, or River North since 2007, with most of the moves happening since the aggressively probusiness mayor Rahm Emanuel took office in 2011, according to data compiled by CBRE Midwest."
January 26Jan 26 I'm rather conflicted about this. Ever since my old hippy days I have not been a fan of corporations and l'm really not a fan of big corporations getting bigger with M&A. Hate it. I like to spend my money supporting small independents. Then again, l am a huge fan of Cleveland, then Ohio, then the Midwest. I hate it when we lose corporations to cities with brighter lights. Hate it. Corporations...can't live with'em, can't live without 'em.
January 28Jan 28 Moen move blindsided city, biz development orgs By Ken Prendergast / January 28, 2025 When the conglomerate parent of faucet and fixture-maker Moen told the world via press release on Jan. 22 that it was consolidating its various brand headquarters to suburban Chicago, it was also notifying all of the Ohio-based economic development organizations about the move for the first time. MORE: https://neo-trans.blog/2025/01/28/moen-move-blindsided-city-biz-development-orgs/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 29Jan 29 Dec. BLS #s are out. Not quite bleh, but pretty meh. https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.oh_cleveland_msa.htm
January 29Jan 29 6 minutes ago, LlamaLawyer said: Dec. BLS #s are out. Not quite bleh, but pretty meh. https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.oh_cleveland_msa.htm I think most important is a comparison to Dec 2023? Not sure how to find those numbers
January 29Jan 29 10 minutes ago, Geowizical said: I think most important is a comparison to Dec 2023? Not sure how to find those numbers Click each of the charts in the column marked "Back Data." Unfortunately, you have to click each one. Fortunately, the data goes back a ways and includes a chart to quickly see the progress (or lack thereof) for each category. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
January 29Jan 29 41 minutes ago, Geowizical said: I think most important is a comparison to Dec 2023? Not sure how to find those numbers To be clear, labor force numbers are all up y/o/y. They're just not rising very fast.
January 29Jan 29 2 minutes ago, LlamaLawyer said: To be clear, labor force numbers are all up y/o/y. They're just not rising very fast. Sure sure. I noticed the same when I dug in, looks like (more importantly?) end-of-year employment is almost back to 2019 numbers which is a positive. If the trend continues (+6-7k per year) I could see employment surpass pre-pandemic in maybe two years (2026):
January 29Jan 29 8 hours ago, LlamaLawyer said: Dec. BLS #s are out. Not quite bleh, but pretty meh. https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.oh_cleveland_msa.htm Employment numbers are more encouraging. Labor force up 18k and employment up 14k.
January 31Jan 31 Properties Magazine in an article called "Looking Forward in 2025" says labor shortages will probably be the most significant problem for regional construction in 2025. The issue also shows some very nice interiors of Delve Underground's new Ohio City offices at 1939 W25th St. See page 42: https://issuu.com/mrej/docs/propertiesweb-jan25?fr=sYWE1YTgxNjI3MDg Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 4Feb 4 https://www.crainscleveland.com/politics-policy/matt-dolan-named-new-ceo-team-neo Former Ohio legislator Matt Dolan named CEO of Team NEO I don't know much abt Dolan personally but seems like a good deal for Team NEO? TL;DR "'He understands public policy, he’s dealt with billions of dollars of economic development funding at the state level, and he understands what needs to happen to grow and expand business in Northeast Ohio.'" "Dolan stressed his plan to enhance regional collaboration, underscoring the importance of having a unified voice on business development." "Intends to use his bipartisan relationships to increase visibility and engagement with local and state officials, making sure everyone understands what Team NEO is trying to accomplish and the value of those accomplishments." "Dolan begins the new position immediately." "As CEO, Dolan said he plans to use his relationships locally and from Columbus to engage the region’s business groups and chambers of commerce and use social media 'so that Team NEO becomes part of the nomenclature of business development in Northeast Ohio.'" https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/02/team-neo-names-matt-dolan-new-ceo.html Edited February 4Feb 4 by Geowizical
February 4Feb 4 I like this because he should be able to do a good job of interfacing with the state and federal government to advocate for the region.
February 5Feb 5 Terrible, Terrible sports team owner. Failed Politician. Fully expect Team NEO to be a dumpster fire management-wise like that of the “Guardians”. Edited February 5Feb 5 by ogibbigo
February 5Feb 5 47 minutes ago, ogibbigo said: Terrible, Terrible sports team owner. Failed Politician. Fully expect Team NEO to be a dumpster fire management-wise like that of the “Guardians”. The guardians are actually a top tier front office. They just don’t have the financial pockets of the big markets. Don’t know how being a state senator makes you a failed politician. He didn’t bow the knee to trump which is why he lost the primary in this MAGA state.
February 5Feb 5 10 hours ago, cle_guy90 said: The guardians are actually a top tier front office. They just don’t have the financial pockets of the big markets. Don’t know how being a state senator makes you a failed politician. He didn’t bow the knee to trump which is why he lost the primary in this MAGA state. The state's at least as much Republican as "MAGA", so it's helpful to have someone who "speaks Republican" (West Wing reference) in charge.
February 5Feb 5 As for Moen: it occurred to me recently that not only don't they make anything around here, when I interviewed there long ago it seemed like all their manufacturing was offshore. After the interview I was told I was too production minded for the position, which I took as a compliment. So some of the work may stay here for now as WFH. Edited February 5Feb 5 by E Rocc
February 5Feb 5 I must admit, I don’t understand what the difference is between Team NEO, Fund for our Economic Future, Greater Cleveland Partnership and JobsOhio. Has anyone seen an explainer that describes what these groups do and how they work together?
February 5Feb 5 29 minutes ago, coneflower said: I must admit, I don’t understand what the difference is between Team NEO, Fund for our Economic Future, Greater Cleveland Partnership and JobsOhio. Has anyone seen an explainer that describes what these groups do and how they work together? Good question! It seems our economic development organizations are just as fragmented as the group of municipalities they serve!
February 5Feb 5 40 minutes ago, coneflower said: I must admit, I don’t understand what the difference is between Team NEO, Fund for our Economic Future, Greater Cleveland Partnership and JobsOhio. Has anyone seen an explainer that describes what these groups do and how they work together? I couldn't tell you about GCP or the others, but Team NEO is the Northeast Ohio branch of JobsOhio (there is also the newly formed Lake to River along the Pennsylvania border). If there is a project in mind, local economic developers will work with Team NEO staff, and when state incentives become a part of the picture, they reach out to JobsOhio and try to see where they can assist. These regions are a part of the JobsOhio realm, they just have a better idea of what is happening on the ground in their local areas and can report back to the leaders in Columbus who make the funding decisions.
February 5Feb 5 51 minutes ago, coneflower said: I must admit, I don’t understand what the difference is between Team NEO, Fund for our Economic Future, Greater Cleveland Partnership and JobsOhio. Has anyone seen an explainer that describes what these groups do and how they work together? JobsOhio is the state of Ohio agency in charge of economic development. TeamNEO is essentially the local branch office. They control the state’s own pots of money. Greater Cleveland Partnership is the local business organization (chamber of commerce) and is privately funded by its business members. They control private pots of money set up by their members, large banks, etc. they invest in projects they view as beneficial to the future economy of the region and therefore beneficial to their members. They also obviously lobby local governments for the same reasons. Fund for Economic Future is some kind of private foundation but I don’t remember where the money came from, could be some big philanthropist of some kind. Then you have city and county governments controlling their own pots of money. and also the Cleveland Foundation which is basically a bunch of Rockefeller and Carnegie money from 100 years ago that has been well managed. And a few other big foundations like Gund. So it is all different pots of money from different sources and that is why there are so many groups. For big projects, developers/agencies will go around and talk to all of these bodies and cobble together funding. Edited February 5Feb 5 by mu2010
February 5Feb 5 One other comment on Moen and why I think our local cynicism gets out of hand. I recently spoke to a friend who works there. I asked what employees are doing. He said people are very surprised and disappointed, but, critically, virtually no one plans on moving. He's starting to think about alternate opportunities in the area and most people he knows are doing so as well. Now, I'm sure over time as the details come into focus and job searching doesn't pan out for all, some decent number of people will relocate. But I actually don't think most people are going to leave. Instead, they'll get other jobs here strengthening local firms, or perhaps launching new startups. In my humble opinion, the era of people routinely moving across the country for office jobs is over. I'm not saying it won't still happen some, but the data shows new patterns are emerging. The job-seeker relocation rate has been declining for decades, and the decline was accelerated by covid. In the 80s, more than 1/4 of new job seekers relocated. In 2023, that number was 2.6%. That is an order of magnitude shift, and my hypothesis is that (therefore) losing a corporate hq matters 1/10 as much now as it did 40 years ago while gaining a corporate hq matters 1/10 as much now as it did 40 years ago. And I expect that number to continue to decline as AI begins to replace huge numbers of office jobs. I'm not saying having corporate hqs is a bad thing or losing them is a good thing. But I increasingly and strongly believe that our metro will have to rely on other features to succeed in the future because the concentration of urban office jobs just will not matter nearly as much as it used to or does now. Edited February 5Feb 5 by LlamaLawyer
February 5Feb 5 In the near term it's the midsized and larger, but non Fortune 500 companies that are headquartered locally that have the potential to be our next F500 sized companies. I hope our economic development orgs are helping to nurture them along with their work in trying to attract new companies. We need more stories like the one below. Local companies making big investments to support their corporate growth. Flexjet places huge order for private jets with Embraer Flexjet is making a big bet on the future of private jet travel. The Richmond Heights-based company, which operates in the fractional jet ownership segment, announced on Wednesday, Feb. 5, that it signed a purchase deal with planemaking giant Embraer S.A. for 182 aircraft, with options for an additional 30. Flexjet said the deal, valued at up to $7 billion at current list prices, is the largest order in its 30-year history and will "nearly double" the size of the company's fleet to about 600 in the next five years. Embraer also said this is the largest order to date for its Embraer Executive Jets division. https://www.crainscleveland.com/transportation/flexjet-signs-7-billion-order-embraer-182-private-jets?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter-BreakingNews-20250205
February 5Feb 5 22 minutes ago, Mov2Ohio said: In the near term it's the midsized and larger, but non Fortune 500 companies that are headquartered locally that have the potential to be our next F500 sized companies. I hope our economic development orgs are helping to nurture them along with their work in trying to attract new companies. But quite often, those companies tend to get acquired by a F500 from elsewhere and their future in the region becomes uncertain.
February 5Feb 5 1 hour ago, LibertyBlvd said: But quite often, those companies tend to get acquired by a F500 from elsewhere and their future in the region becomes uncertain. True. I am curious though how well the economic development organizations check in with these firms to let them know they are appreciated and that there are resources available to assist them in investment in their business, whether that's a loan to build a new local warehouse, funds to help cover labor for a planned expansion in production or hooking them up with the right people that could help them in that aquisition they're planning. Maybe they do a stellar job, maybe there's work to do, but either way, I hope there is some level of effort in that regard. Edited February 5Feb 5 by Mov2Ohio
February 5Feb 5 4 hours ago, LibertyBlvd said: But quite often, those companies tend to get acquired by a F500 from elsewhere and their future in the region becomes uncertain. Whenever I read the word "acquire" with a business in NE Ohio, I tend to get a little nervous... That said, over the past few years, acquisitions, involving NE Ohio businesses, have resulted in more good news than bad news.
February 6Feb 6 Good info on Eagle Electronics, a semiconductor module producer in Solon, founded last March and funded with a $14 million grant from Ohio High-growth Industrial Opportunities Fund - part of Jobs Ohio. This start-up, unlike some others, is already shipping products out the door. It's kind of a reverse China-story; they have licensed Chinese tech and are producing it locally, apparently with a cost advantage. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eagle-electronics-announces-formation-of-state-of-the-art-electronics-manufacturing-facility-14mm-of-funding-and-customer-commitments-302321711.html https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/startup-eagle-electronics-plans-ohio-manufacturing-facility-quectel/735662/ Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
February 6Feb 6 These are the types of companies Cleveland and NEO needs to focus on. https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/supply-huts-growth-prompts-need-more-space Edited February 6Feb 6 by Cleveland
February 6Feb 6 https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/02/06/latest-clevelands-bid-host-2030-special-olympics-usa-games/ Down to Cleveland and Nashville +$70 mil economic impact $10 mil in commitments from the region to host already 10k people already signed up to help run the event 2026 will be in Minnesota Announcement in Spring Edited February 6Feb 6 by Geowizical
February 6Feb 6 Some strong words from DeWine about Cliffs potentially moving their HQ to Pittsburgh.🙄 https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/dewine-downplays-effects-potential-cleveland-cliffs-move Quote DeWine acknowledged that if Cliffs is successful in pursuing and finally acquiring U.S. Steel, downtown Cleveland could see some effects. It could, it could," DeWine said. "But the vast majority of people who are working for Cleveland-Cliffs are there over by Toledo, they're down in Middletown, other places. So, you know, they're gonna continue to work here. We want that company to continue to thrive and continue to grow.
February 6Feb 6 6 hours ago, Geowizical said: https://www.cleveland19.com/2025/02/06/latest-clevelands-bid-host-2030-special-olympics-usa-games/ Down to Cleveland and Nashville +$70 mil economic impact $10 mil in commitments from the region to host already 10k people already signed up to help run the event 2026 will be in Minnesota Announcement in Spring
February 7Feb 7 1 hour ago, Mendo said: Some strong words from DeWine about Cliffs potentially moving their HQ to Pittsburgh.🙄 https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/dewine-downplays-effects-potential-cleveland-cliffs-move Yeah that is less than inspiring.
February 7Feb 7 All he needed to say is “we hope they stay based in Cleveland…” Clearly shows how little the state government will advocate for us. Donors and party first, everybody else last.
February 7Feb 7 DeWine's statement makes me feel the move is fait accompli-ish. Think, parents to teen, "we're taking your driving priveleges away, but hey, you still have your bicycle." Wonder what is transpiring behimd the scenes.
February 7Feb 7 6 minutes ago, urb-a-saurus said: DeWine's statement makes me feel the move is fait accompli-ish. Think, parents to teen, "we're taking your driving priveleges away, but hey, you still have your bicycle." Wonder what is transpiring behimd the scenes. Am I missing something here. Like Cliffs actually owning US Steel or the lawsuit by US Steel and Nippon going away.
February 7Feb 7 14 hours ago, Mendo said: Some strong words from DeWine about Cliffs potentially moving their HQ to Pittsburgh.🙄 https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/dewine-downplays-effects-potential-cleveland-cliffs-move That's Dewine. He's squishy. This is the main reason why I would have voted for Tim Ryan for governor against him.
February 7Feb 7 The DeWine statements changed my mind, y'all. I think the move is more likely than not gonna happen. I also think it won't end up being as a huge a loss as people are afraid of, but it does suck.
February 7Feb 7 Losing another Fortune 500 HQ definitely sucks. Especially losing it to Pittsburgh. Cleveland will fall behind Columbus and Cincy in the Fortune 500 HQ category, if it hasn't already. Edited February 7Feb 7 by LibertyBlvd
February 7Feb 7 15 hours ago, Mendo said: Some strong words from DeWine about Cliffs potentially moving their HQ to Pittsburgh.🙄 https://www.crainscleveland.com/manufacturing/dewine-downplays-effects-potential-cleveland-cliffs-move Exactly. Nothing like rolling over.
February 7Feb 7 1 hour ago, Htsguy said: Am I missing something here. Like Cliffs actually owning US Steel or the lawsuit by US Steel and Nippon going away. LMFAO - yes, we're putting the cart WAYYYYY before the horse
February 7Feb 7 51 minutes ago, E Rocc said: That's Dewine. He's squishy. This is the main reason why I would have voted for Tim Ryan for governor against him. That’s DeWine, he’s squishy as long as it doesn’t affect certain parts of the state.
February 7Feb 7 12 minutes ago, DHubb said: That’s DeWine, he’s squishy as long as it doesn’t affect certain parts of the state. I know I'm a moderator, but as a fellow Dewine-and-JobsOhio-are-just-a-recruiting-tool-for-Central-Ohio conspiracy theorist, I'll allow the overtures.
February 7Feb 7 2 hours ago, YABO713 said: I know I'm a moderator, but as a fellow Dewine-and-JobsOhio-are-just-a-recruiting-tool-for-Central-Ohio conspiracy theorist, I'll allow the overtures. I mean, it happens once a day in any random Cleveland thread. I'll expect tomorrow to click on the Pinecrest thread to see "There are rumors that Red, the Steakhouse is closing all their Cleveland locations and opening in Polaris. UGH, COLUMBUS!!!" It just goes with the territory now. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 7Feb 7 3 hours ago, YABO713 said: I know I'm a moderator, but as a fellow Dewine-and-JobsOhio-are-just-a-recruiting-tool-for-Central-Ohio conspiracy theorist, I'll allow the overtures. Speaking of JobsOhio, I have been getting inbox messages on LinkedIn from them about jobs, and "coming back" to Ohio. They don't allow a reply to the woman sending it, just a "tell me more" and "apply" buttons. They should really allow replies to collect data on real responses. I'd like to tell them the Ohio I grew up in no longer exists, and "F" Dewine and the GOP supermajority that ignores the voters will. Good luck with your current brain drain problem lady, but I am not the solution.
February 7Feb 7 34 minutes ago, ColDayMan said: I mean, it happens once a day in any random Cleveland thread. I'll expect tomorrow to click on the Pinecrest thread to see "There are rumors that Red, the Steakhouse is closing all their Cleveland locations and opening in Polaris. UGH, COLUMBUS!!!" It just goes with the territory now. BOOOOO
February 8Feb 8 I'm watching. ALWAYS!!! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 8Feb 8 https://www.crainscleveland.com/health-care/readyset-surgical-moves-downtown-cleveland-expansion Health tech firm eyes expansion with move to Warehouse District HQ TL;DR ReadySet Surgical founded in 2015 and moved to Cleveland roughly three years ago from Cincinnati Estimates its workforce will double over the next 3 years (50 currently) Recently received $12 mil in financing to grow the company Surgical/health care supply chain with an emphasis on cybersecurity
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