That Krouse article about manufacturing is just a rewrite of a PD article from either last year or 2011. They even include the same quotes from Steris.

 

When I find some time, I'll try to pull up its earlier version.

 

A few changes here and there and bammm, a "new" article. This isn't as embarassing as the "Is Sharon Reed Lebron's Baby's Momma" or "Black People Can't Be Racist" classics,  but it's still pathetic.

 

As to the article itself, the cleveland.com commenters are hitting the right issues.

 

They are right about Mentor.  This area is laden with "help wanted" signs. 

That Krouse article about manufacturing is just a rewrite of a PD article from either last year or 2011. They even include the same quotes from Steris.

 

When I find some time, I'll try to pull up its earlier version.

 

A few changes here and there and bammm, a "new" article. This isn't as embarassing as the "Is Sharon Reed Lebron's Baby's Momma" or "Black People Can't Be Racist" classics,  but it's still pathetic.

 

As to the article itself, the cleveland.com commenters are hitting the right issues.

 

They are right about Mentor.  This area is laden with "help wanted" signs. 

 

Plenty of poor folks with decent skills--but no car to get to Mentor.  This is where the sprawl manufacturing zones fail.

^Exactly.  We need to rebalance our land use.  Farms out in the country, industry and finance in the city, with residential neighborhoods around.

 

Industry in the exurbs and farms in the city doesn't make any sense.

That Krouse article about manufacturing is just a rewrite of a PD article from either last year or 2011. They even include the same quotes from Steris.

 

When I find some time, I'll try to pull up its earlier version.

 

A few changes here and there and bammm, a "new" article. This isn't as embarassing as the "Is Sharon Reed Lebron's Baby's Momma" or "Black People Can't Be Racist" classics,  but it's still pathetic.

 

As to the article itself, the cleveland.com commenters are hitting the right issues.

 

They are right about Mentor.  This area is laden with "help wanted" signs. 

 

Plenty of poor folks with decent skills--but no car to get to Mentor.  This is where the sprawl manufacturing zones fail.

 

Or you run a train to Mentor and hook up with Lake County's rather good bus system.

 

Unlike residential sprawl, manufacturing sprawl is primarily caused by government action.  CERCLA, in particular.

or we can have highschool counselors, who shove college down everyones throats, start talking about trade school as something that isn't shameful.

Didn't know where to talk about this. Did anyone know about Content Marketing World that was held last week at the Convention Center? I heard nothing about it but saw it on Instagram and after some exploring thought it was pretty cool to see so many out of Towners posting pics of downtown and raving about how nice it was, and many specifically saying they were surprised at the bad rap Cleveland gets because downtown was so nice. I just thought it was neat to see!

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/joe_pulizzis_content_marketing.html

Industry in the exurbs and farms in the city doesn't make any sense.

 

Wonderfully stated. The byproduct of government intervention in what was once a Laissez-faire, free market land use policy 100 years ago.

Didn't know where to talk about this. Did anyone know about Content Marketing World that was held last week at the Convention Center? I heard nothing about it but saw it on Instagram and after some exploring thought it was pretty cool to see so many out of Towners posting pics of downtown and raving about how nice it was, and many specifically saying they were surprised at the bad rap Cleveland gets because downtown was so nice. I just thought it was neat to see!

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/joe_pulizzis_content_marketing.html

 

Very nice!

Industry in the exurbs and farms in the city doesn't make any sense.

 

Wonderfully stated. The byproduct of government intervention in what was once a Laissez-faire, free market land use policy 100 years ago.

 

If you count CERCLA as government intervention,  you have a pretty good point.

Didn't know where to talk about this. Did anyone know about Content Marketing World that was held last week at the Convention Center? I heard nothing about it but saw it on Instagram and after some exploring thought it was pretty cool to see so many out of Towners posting pics of downtown and raving about how nice it was, and many specifically saying they were surprised at the bad rap Cleveland gets because downtown was so nice. I just thought it was neat to see!

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/joe_pulizzis_content_marketing.html

 

Good stuff, mrclifton88.  We knew Cleveland would be attractive to biz visitors like this.  Now, finally, we're building he facilities to host such conventions.  Now, if only we could get more airlines/flights into Hopkins ... but that's a whole other story...

Hotel demand thriving in three secondary U.S. markets

 

"......And visitors are responding in kind. Cleveland's revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the first seven months of the year jumped 12% from a year earlier, marking the largest jump of any city in the U.S. central region and reflecting room and occupancy rates that advanced 6% and 5%, respectively, according to the research firm STR. And while occupancy through July stood at just less than 62%, room rates during the previous two years had advanced 11%, to about $94 a night.

 

Hoteliers are poised to respond by adding to Cleveland's stock of about 21,000 rooms. Starwood Hotels & Resorts' 150-room Aloft Cleveland Downtown opened in June, while the hotelier will open a 484-room Westin in the city next year. There's also a 650-room convention-center hotel in the works for 2016, though no brand or management company has been chosen....."

 

http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotel-demand-thriving-in-three-secondary-US-markets/

 

[cross-posted in Cleveland Economic News and in Cleveland Hotel News]

Hotel demand thriving in three secondary U.S. markets

 

"......And visitors are responding in kind. Cleveland's revenue per available room (RevPAR) for the first seven months of the year jumped 12% from a year earlier, marking the largest jump of any city in the U.S. central region and reflecting room and occupancy rates that advanced 6% and 5%, respectively, according to the research firm STR. And while occupancy through July stood at just less than 62%, room rates during the previous two years had advanced 11%, to about $94 a night.

 

Hoteliers are poised to respond by adding to Cleveland's stock of about 21,000 rooms. Starwood Hotels & Resorts' 150-room Aloft Cleveland Downtown opened in June, while the hotelier will open a 484-room Westin in the city next year. There's also a 650-room convention-center hotel in the works for 2016, though no brand or management company has been chosen....."

 

http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Hotel-demand-thriving-in-three-secondary-US-markets/

 

[cross-posted in Cleveland Economic News and in Cleveland Hotel News]

 

So doesn't this seem to contradict Tom Myers assertion that a convention center hotel would be an iffy proposition?

So doesn't this seem to contradict Tom Myers assertion that a convention center hotel would be an iffy proposition?

 

Myers doesn't care. He got his ratings for that period. Now he'll do another snow job for the next ratings periods and all the train-wreck-watchers will want to see it.

^Ouch.  I can't say it was a particularly insightful "investigation," but I still applaud Channel 3 for providing some skeptical coverage.  It's a very big open question whether or not the convention center hotel is really worth all this public money, and the uptick in local hotel demand doesn't put that concern to rest. 

 

The whole idea of the MM/CC was to jump start the local hospitality economy.  So far our reward is $93M more in public subsidy.  Long term it might still pencil out, but I think there's a good shot this is going to end up looking more like a vanity project than meaningful economic development.  Granted, all the low-skill, low-wage jobs being created in hotels and new downtown restaurants (if sustained) is likely to boost low-end immigration, but at the end of the day I think it's going to be worth asking if we could have gotten a lot more bang for our $500M in public funds. One of these days I'll start my spending priority thread.

And what does that say for the hotels that are investing into our city like the Westin? They are spending money to acquire and renovate a building near the convention center. Others are looking to join in as anchors to smaller developments throughout the city. We say thank you buy spending public money to build a massive, attached hotel. 

^And yet, at least according to Fitzgerald, there was not one developer who was willing to build a hotel on the site of the County Admin building.  I remember reading that he said a parking garage was proposed on the site, and that a parking garage would not be "the highest and best use" of the site.  Regarding that, I absolutely agree with him. 

^Ouch.  I can't say it was a particularly insightful "investigation," but I still applaud Channel 3 for providing some skeptical coverage.  It's a very big open question whether or not the convention center hotel is really worth all this public money, and the uptick in local hotel demand doesn't put that concern to rest. 

 

I agree--but for this reason I think the county, city and region should come together and think outside the box on this.  There has to be a tipping point in a public-private partnership that would allow this to be financially feasible.  Mixed use residential, retail and hotel must be considered.  They could design the tower with condo floors on top, then adapt the design based on demand and financing.  I know it sounds like a tough sell, but to me the residential demand downtown makes it at least worth a feasibility study?

I meant my post more as a general economic development strategy comment, but we should probably continue this line of discussion in the CC Hotel thread...

Ah! Understood.  Agree with you on the overall development strategy, which is why I think the hotel component should not dominate the strategy.  For the other thread....

 

 

http://newsle.com/article/0/92636652/

So IMG is up for sale again.  Since the first sale (once the founder passed away), it has greatly reduced its footprint in Cleveland.  Hopefully we at least retain the back office stuff, if not some of the talent management, after this sale:

 

IMG Worldwide, the talent agency founded in Cleveland, may fetch $2 billion at auction

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/img_worldwide_the_talent_agenc.html#incart_river_default

Another 1000+ good jobs gone (by next year)

 

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2013/10/bedford-based_ben_venue_to_shu.html#incart_river_default

 

Bedford-based Ben Venue to shut down operations permanently; 1,100 employees affected

 

Not good :-(

 

Are all those jobs in Bedford or the Cleveland area, or national?

Another 1000+ good jobs gone (by next year)

 

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2013/10/bedford-based_ben_venue_to_shu.html#incart_river_default

 

Bedford-based Ben Venue to shut down operations permanently; 1,100 employees affected

 

Not good :-(

 

 

Considering the $350 million that has been invested in the plant recently, hopefully another manufacturer might be able to make a go of this facility.

Are all those jobs in Bedford or the Cleveland area, or national?

 

The manufacturing and development facilities are on Northfield Rd in Bedford. I don't believe there are any satellite offices

More bad news :(

 

Paintmaker PPG moving hundreds of jobs from Cleveland to Pittsburgh

 

CLEVELAND,Ohio -- Fears that local Glidden paint jobs were in danger after the parent company sold out to its Pittsburgh competitor have proven true.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/paintmaker_ppg_moving_hundreds.html#incart_more_business

Another 1000+ good jobs gone (by next year)

 

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2013/10/bedford-based_ben_venue_to_shu.html#incart_river_default

 

Bedford-based Ben Venue to shut down operations permanently; 1,100 employees affected

 

Not good :-(

 

 

Considering the $350 million that has been invested in the plant recently, hopefully another manufacturer might be able to make a go of this facility.

 

Much of that was invested to fix specific problems, namely metal particles getting into the product. 

 

The good news is there's probably not a lot of CERCLA concern....except at the north end where they absorbed the scrap dealer.

HQ is Midtown Cleveland:

 

Mace Security moves HQ to Cleveland

 

Oct. 18, 2013  |  4:11 PM  |  0 comments

 

CLEVELAND, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Mace Security International has relocated its corporate headquarters to Ohio from Pennsylvania after accepting an incentive package.

The incentive package from the Cuyahoga County's Western Reserve Fund included a $650,000 loan to the company, which manufactures personal defense, security and electronic surveillance products.

 

The county assistance was for the purchase and renovation of the freestanding 49,335-square foot manufacturing facility. A total of 47 jobs will be created because of the move.

 

"Mace is a global brand and we are honored to say that their new headquarters are right here in Cleveland," said Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald. "Their move brings jobs to the county, and situates Mace into a new location that is ideal for their growth."

 

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2013/10/18/Mace-Security-moves-HQ-to-Cleveland/UPI-20751382127118/?spt=rln&or=1

Greater Cleveland lost more jobs than any U.S. metro area for 4 months straight

 

Four straight months and counting: Greater Cleveland yet again lost more jobs than any metro area in the country, the Labor Department reported Monday.

 

In fact, the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor metro area was the only one of the 37 large metro areas posting a decrease in employment between August 2012 and August 2013. The metro area includes Cuyahoga, Medina, Lake, Geauga, and Lorain counties.

 

Greater Cleveland lost 7,900 jobs. Bloomington Ind. was second, losing 4,000 jobs and Peoria, Ill. was third, shedding 3,500 jobs.

 

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/greater_cleveland_lost_more_jo_1.html#incart_more_business

^I think the PD is adding a little flair to the issue, especially the headline.  We are talking about yearly job losses measured over a full calendar year.  We did not lose 7,900 jobs in August.  We lost 7,900 jobs from August 2012 to August 2013.  Also, we didn't lose the "most" jobs if you do an apples-to-appels comparison.  There were metros that lost 5x more in the same time period.  The article clears that up a bit, but let's face it.... 95% of the population reads the headline and maybe a paragraph or two.  I've also grown a bit skeptical of these BLS stats.... at least using them for something more than best guestimates.

 

I would love some more detail.  What was the quality of the positions lost?  What was the private sector to public sector comparison?  (our public sector probably still has a good bit of bleeding to go to right-size itself to population loss).  Did we again suddently lose a bunch of "farm jobs" nobody ever knew existed?

^I think the PD is adding a little flair to the issue, especially the headline.  We are talking about yearly job losses measured over a full calendar year.  We did not lose 7,900 jobs in August.  We lost 7,900 jobs from August 2012 to August 2013.  Also, we didn't lose the "most" jobs if you do an apples-to-appels comparison.  There were metros that lost 5x more in the same time period.  The article clears that up a bit, but let's face it.... 95% of the population reads the headline and maybe a paragraph or two.  I've also grown a bit skeptical of these BLS stats.... at least using them for something more than best guestimates.

 

I would love some more detail.  What was the quality of the positions lost?  What was the private sector to public sector comparison?  (our public sector probably still has a good bit of bleeding to go to right-size itself to population loss).  Did we again suddently lose a bunch of "farm jobs" nobody ever knew existed?

 

If you look at the back data, it seems that there was a big jump in both the number of jobs and employed people in the spring of 2012 that wasn't duplicated in the spring of 2013.  But we had a big jump in the middle of this summer that basically caught us up to where we were last year (there were only about 1,600 fewer jobs in August 2013 than in August 2012, and there were actually 800 more people employed in August 2013 than August 2012).

 

Overall, it looks like both the number of jobs and employed people in the region have stayed pretty much stagnant over the last year, and have only inched upward slightly since the recession.  I guess it's better than a huge drop, but we're really falling behind by standing in place.

 

http://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.oh_cleveland_msa.htm

I don't care what it is, being on the bottom(or top?) of these lists sucks. Not a good sign no matter what way you spin it.

^Truth.  This region is frozen when it comes to jobs being generated here.  Many regions have already come back from the recession and are now growing in jobs when comparing pre-recession levels. It will take Cleveland YEARS at the current growth rate to get back to where we were in 2006. 

 

And don't be surprised when the next census shows yet another population loss for the region.  No more of this "we're stagnate" talk- this region is in decline  The jobs just aren't coming.  And if the job's aren't coming, the people ain't either.  They're going to Columbus and Cincinnati, where the jobs ARE coming.

 

I swear, I don't know what it is with this region when it comes to growth.  There is no amount of urban planning which can truly turn things around (and my degree was in Urban Studies).  I don't care if it's urban farming, wind turbines, bike lanes, mixed-use neighborhoods, or anything else which may be hot right now in urban planning circles.  What will turn this region around is making it the best region in Ohio (and the Midwest) when it comes to job attraction and creation.  What will finally bring businesses back to Cleveland?  What can we do to further foster entrepreneurial growth?  When will our local leaders finally begin to push for education in fields which are hiring and remain unfilled due to the lack of an educated workforce? 

 

Just venting... I love Cleveland, and have lived here my whole life- I just want to see this region succeed.     

^My point was that it doesn't help to "spin it" worse than it is..... as the PD loves to do.  Sunshine on a dog's arse is still sunshine.  And it certainly does no good to just say "this sucks" and throw up your arms.

^Not just throwing up my arms- but this definitely DOES suck, and there's no two ways about it.  My question was more-so dealing with how can this region finally turn things around for itself when it comes to job creation and retention of businesses here.  Sure, downtown, the inner east and west-side neighborhoods are growing even if it means a short term loss of residents with lower incomes.  But I still will bet a gazillion dollars that the city (and region) loses population by the next census.  It all comes back to jobs- and again, the region will remain frozen in job growth without giving our workforce the skills it needs to take the thousands of open jobs which remain unfilled. 

I dont know.  Maybe because im just in the middle of it all...but irregardless of job loss...i just see the city getting better.  a more positive self image, more ownership from the public, less reliance on government leaders, entrepreneurs.  Ideally, i think we want to be organic in creating our own talent and having our own work their crafts in the form of small businesses. I mean, what jobs are we losing?  I have heard of the big job losses for bank of america and cleveland clinic, but i would like to know what the majority sectors are that losing jobs.

as far as columbus and cincy, i wouldnt say these are booming cities.  im sure there is job creation, but they arent exactly the Dubais of Ohio.  They were just never as big as Cleveland.  Cleveland is trying to reverse about 4 decades of economic decline...its a process that will probably take at least 10-20 years.

"thousands of open jobs which remain unfilled. "

 

That is very open to interpretation.

 

 

I think it is a mistake to just look at the raw data and go to the typical Clevelander debbie downer attitude.  For Cleveland moving forward, I'm more interested in quality over quantity.  I also want to see greater diversification.  I think we are heading in the right direction on both fronts.

 

If you want to get at the root of the problem, I honestly don't think it is anything we are or are not doing now.  The most important thing is too keep thinking long-term and not get sucked into the short-term band-aid game.

I dont know.  Maybe because im just in the middle of it all...but irregardless of job loss...i just see the city getting better.  a more positive self image, more ownership from the public, less reliance on government leaders, entrepreneurs.

 

I think it is a mistake to just look at the raw data and go to the typical Clevelander debbie downer attitude.  For Cleveland moving forward, I'm more interested in quality over quantity.  I also want to see greater diversification.  I think we are heading in the right direction on both fronts.

 

If you want to get at the root of the problem, I honestly don't think it is anything we are or are not doing now.  The most important thing is too keep thinking long-term and not get sucked into the short-term band-aid game.

 

I agree with both of these points.  Our regional economy is more diverse now than it's ever been, and there are a lot of physical improvements happening in the center city that have and will continue to change our image both locally and nationally.  I know one barrier (but not the only one!!) to economic growth has been a difficulty in attracting talent to Cleveland because of how they city is perceived, and that's certainly been improving over the last 5-10 years.

 

However, I do get frustrated like Oldmanladyluck by the constant stream of negative data.  It feels like we're spinning our wheels a lot of the time, but I just keep reminding myself that things have been improving (albeit slowly), and the seeds have been planted for future growth.

So now that Ohio has OK'd Medicaid expansion, what impact might this have on the region's large healthcare economy and employment? We've heard numbers like 8,000 jobs hang in the balance with Medicaid expansion. If those numbers are accurate, how much new employment could Greater Cleveland see?

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20130825/SUB1/308259989

 

Some of Bedford's recent woes eased as they pick up a business from Bedford Heights in the six year old Taylor Chair building.  Awhile back, yes.  I was researching the building to see if it would suit something we may have developing.

^ I feel like that is another story that wouldnt be reported in the PD. They seam to hardly ever report on stories where a company is expanding locally, but when a place is closing or laying off, its plastered all over the place. Thats why I dont let the recent mass layoffs get to me. Its not as bad as it would seam. There may not be a big story every time a place hires 5 (or 45)  more people, but there sure are plenty of places here that are doing it.

Don't turn those lights off just yet!

 

Ben Venue Laboratories in Bedford working with public officials to find buyer so plant can stay open, saving 1,100+ jobs

 

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2013/10/ben_venue_laboratories_inc_in.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

^ I feel like that is another story that wouldnt be reported in the PD. They seam to hardly ever report on stories where a company is expanding locally, but when a place is closing or laying off, its plastered all over the place. Thats why I dont let the recent mass layoffs get to me. Its not as bad as it would seam. There may not be a big story every time a place hires 5 (or 45)  more people, but there sure are plenty of places here that are doing it.

 

Hell, if that was considered news they'd have to set up bureaus in the Mentor area and we'd need to hire a press agent.

 

I wish I was more optimistic than I am about BenVen.  The city's going to do it's due diligence (they really are very competent there) and the company will do it's damndest to cut its losses.  But between the size of the place and the issue's it's had, I'd be surprised (and glad to be wrong) if they manage to get more than 25% of it utilized.

Not such a blow to Beachwood, after all, but tough for the City of Cleveland:

 

Cleveland Clinic moving 700 employees from Cleveland to Beachwood Bank of America buildings

 

The Cleveland Clinic is moving 700 administrative employees from the former Parker-Hannifin building on Euclid Avenue and East 173rd Street in Cleveland to the former Bank of America campus in Beachwood, the hospital system said in an interview with The Plain Dealer.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2013/10/cleveland_clinic_moving_staff.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

The clinic has been screwing the city over lately between this and the church on Euclid. My gf works at UH. They're much better annyway.

Not such a blow to Beachwood, after all, but tough for the City of Cleveland:

 

Cleveland Clinic moving 700 employees from Cleveland to Beachwood Bank of America buildings

 

The Cleveland Clinic is moving 700 administrative employees from the former Parker-Hannifin building on Euclid Avenue and East 173rd Street in Cleveland to the former Bank of America campus in Beachwood, the hospital system said in an interview with The Plain Dealer.

 

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2013/10/cleveland_clinic_moving_staff.html#incart_river_default#incart_m-rpt-2

 

Damn, PH used to be a major customer and now is a major supplier, and I forgot they were once over there.

 

Look, this one became basically inevitable within seconds of BofA informing the Clinic they were bailing.  That building was a piece of feces in the 90s when PH cleared out of there.  As for the neighborhood:  there are growing and vibrant areas within the City of Cleveland, but this is decidedly not one of them. 

 

A proactive and business oriented city government would have tried to get the Clinic to relocate these offices to Midtown years ago.  Yes, they might have still gone to Beachwood when BofA pulled out.  But it would have been a much tougher decision.  This one was a no brainer.  Apparently, they (the city leaders) were either  too afraid of Polensek (understandable, in a way) or didn’t want to benefit an already improving area at the expense of what can very politely be called a “struggling” one.

 

^That's making a lot of presumptions which I don't feel are warranted.  Having the CCF in that bulidnig was doing much for the neighborhood.  It wasn't hurting the neighborhood, but it had 0 interaction.  It is a gated fortress.  The Clinic was occupying it probably for the cheap rent and I suspect the clinic will still use it.  Isn't that where the clinic does its laundry?

Yea I can't see them completely leaving the PH complex. I've seen storage rooms there that look like the end scene from raiders of the lost ark.