Posted January 28, 200817 yr [After reading this article, I was reminded of how key a diverse cross-section of people is to a city's growth and health. I'm wondering, what else can be done to further Cleveland's openness to diversity, not just in the business sector, but also in its general population? Are we there yet? Does more need to be done?] Accelerating business New program to help minority-owned companies By Paula Schleis Beacon Journal business writer Published on Monday, Jan 28, 2008 Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+ is open for business. The new business-development program is aimed at Northeast Ohio black-owned and Hispanic-owned companies with annual revenues of at least $2.5 million. The intent is to help those businesses grow in size, scale and infrastructure by identifying business opportunities for participants. ''It's essential that we work on both the supply and the demand side of the minority business-development equation, so that the minority supplier and the corporate customer are ready to do business with each other,'' said Andrew Jackson, executive director of the Commission on Economic Inclusion. For information, call 216-592-2488 or visit the Web site at http://www.mbaccelerator2-5.com.
May 19, 200916 yr Really Sad ... Urban League of Greater Cleveland plans to cease operations By SHANNON MORTLAND 2:36 pm, May 19, 2009 After 92 years, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland plans to close its doors for good on May 29. The nonprofit, which provides various programs to help African-Americans enter the economic and social mainstream, announced today that it will suspend all programming on May 22 and will cease operations on May 29. The Urban League currently employs 15 people, down from 30 in 2002 ... ... For more information, please visit http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20090519/FREE/905199957
May 19, 200916 yr Sad but part of their problem is too many chiefs and not enough Indiands with arrows! There are more board members than employees.
May 19, 200916 yr I don't think that's actually all that unusual in the nonprofit world ... my org's board sits about 20, and we have a staff of 6. what is sad is that all those "chiefs" on the board have been unable to determine some kind of survival strategy sooner. with any luck, they can rebound after a quiet period ... they really do quite a bit of good work in the community.
May 19, 200916 yr I don't think that's actually all that unusual in the nonprofit world ... my org's board sits about 20, and we have a staff of 6. what is sad is that all those "chiefs" on the board have been unable to determine some kind of survival strategy sooner. with any luck, they can rebound after a quiet period ... they really do quite a bit of good work in the community. I wasn't aware of that. my bad. As you state, with all those resources, something should have been done.
May 20, 200916 yr Philadelphia immigrants help drive renewal Robert L. Smith, Plain Dealer Reporter May 19, 2009 Vacant homes. Empty storefronts. Ghostly streets. In a scenario hauntingly familiar to Cleveland, sprawl and abandonment diminished a great American city. By 2000, many had given up on Philadelphia, which had seen its middle class flee and crime surge as row-house neighborhoods hollowed out. Then, a tide of newcomers arrived -- seemingly out of nowhere -- and wrote a new script ... ... For more information, please visit http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/05/philadelphia_immigrants_help_d.html
May 20, 200916 yr How this information isn't common knowledge for any urban politician is simply unbelieveble. Having a densely populated city is 80% of the battle of creating a successful one, and anyone (looking at you Frank Jackson) that snubs his nose at immigration into the city because of the threat of taking locals' jobs shows how much he just doesn't get it.
May 20, 200916 yr How this information isn't common knowledge for any urban politician is simply unbelieveble. Having a densely populated city is 80% of the battle of creating a successful one, and anyone (looking at you Frank Jackson) that snubs his nose at immigration into the city because of the threat of taking locals' jobs shows how much he just doesn't get it. Where does he "snub"? He should be concerned, there needs to be dialogue and both sides of the situation.
May 20, 200916 yr I think that more needs to happen to make Cleveland more front-footed in terms of business in general. Streamline the politics, make it easier to do business in the city. Appealing to immigrants should be one part of a much larger, aggressive package, showing that Cleveland has a place and wants to take part in a much larger, global economy, and that it wants to move into the future. Cleveland HAS to stop living in the past so much. There's been a lot done .. the momentum needs to continue.
May 20, 200916 yr How this information isn't common knowledge for any urban politician is simply unbelieveble. Having a densely populated city is 80% of the battle of creating a successful one, and anyone (looking at you Frank Jackson) that snubs his nose at immigration into the city because of the threat of taking locals' jobs shows how much he just doesn't get it. I don't know about that. His constituents have their concerns, legit or imagined, of what increased immigration will mean to them, and he has to consider those concerns if he wants to continue to represent them. He's already shown himself to be a very interested in international commerce. If you look at the various trade contacts he has been making with foreign companies it seems to me that he gets it.
May 20, 200916 yr Agreed. But the immigrant community needs additional support besides business start-up reforms, such as a centralized organization that can assist with visa concerns and offer ESL courses. Moreover, I think a lot of the momentum on this topic has initially come from the Community Development Corporations. Northeast Ohio has been successful in drawing in immigrants, but unlike a century ago, many are settling outside of Cleveland. So strategies should be employed that not only make it easier for individuals to set up businesses in the city but to more aggressively sell the city as a place to live. Again, this is something that applies to both immigrants and the larger population, but expanding CDCs capacities to work with foreign populations is a big key in ensuring that the city sees a larger proportion of such groups as residents.
May 20, 200916 yr ^True, I just hope that he sees that all of these issues should be viewed as one political point: global trade, immigration, creating an environment that encourages commerce, and how this all relates to citywide land values, tax income, diversity of our citizens and vibrancy of neighborhoods.
May 20, 200916 yr Agreed. But the immigrant community needs additional support besides business start-up reforms, such as a centralized organization that can assist with visa concerns and offer ESL courses. Moreover, I think a lot of the momentum on this topic has initially come from the Community Development Corporations. Northeast Ohio has been successful in drawing in immigrants, but unlike a century ago, many are settling outside of Cleveland. So strategies should be employed that not only make it easier for individuals to set up businesses in the city but to more aggressively sell the city as a place to live. Again, this is something that applies to both immigrants and the larger population, but expanding CDCs capacities to work with foreign populations is a big key in ensuring that the city sees a larger proportion of such groups as residents. It can be difficult, but the culture and the "old boy white network" has to move aside. From personal experience I can tell you that many people don't trust the city/county to help them start a small business. He wanted help finding a prime location downtown. They tried to steer him to Clark-Fulton. Luckily he has deep pockets, he started his business with 4 people. Now there are approximately 190. It's diversified, making a profit and growing, but still cannot get a seat at the table. He's thinking of buy a building, (two which we've talked about on here) and move the company there. The building he is currently in is in flux and not sure what will happen. It's almost like the city or county don't know how to help attract or obtain small businesses, minority, women or GLBT business let alone retain them. Cleveland Heights has damn near said, "he take you pick of building and move the company here". Luckily, my uncle wants to stay downtown and since my cousin lives downtown he doesn't want to commute to the 'burbs.
May 20, 200916 yr Agreed. But the immigrant community needs additional support besides business start-up reforms, such as a centralized organization that can assist with visa concerns and offer ESL courses. Moreover, I think a lot of the momentum on this topic has initially come from the Community Development Corporations. Northeast Ohio has been successful in drawing in immigrants, but unlike a century ago, many are settling outside of Cleveland. So strategies should be employed that not only make it easier for individuals to set up businesses in the city but to more aggressively sell the city as a place to live. Again, this is something that applies to both immigrants and the larger population, but expanding CDCs capacities to work with foreign populations is a big key in ensuring that the city sees a larger proportion of such groups as residents. ^One of the best ways for a neighborhood business district to position itself is in the rebuild of existing commercial structures. Some CDCs employ the Storefront Renovation Program, which entirely remodels the exterior of a storefront. Tim Barrett usually comes in and tells the property owner what would be historically accurate regarding the storefront in that particular neighborhood. Some of the remodeled storefronts become neighborhood gems after renovation, enticing small business owners to set up shop there. Storefront renovations generally make neighborhood business districts more attractive, and can help change perceptions of a neighborhood (Waterloo, for example). If foreign populations were to be attracted to the city, there would be at least a few neighborhood business districts which could entice some (at least) foreigners to start their businesses in the city.
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