Posted July 17, 200519 yr From the 7/17/05 Akron Beacon Journal: Farmlands to yield workers Development center will feed region's businesses By Carol Biliczky Beacon Journal staff writer Former farmlands in Medina County are poised to become what could be a first in Ohio -- a college geared for work-force development. The Medina County University Center and a surrounding business park could help businesses, educate workers and improve the regional economy, all in one fell swoop, proponents say. "It'll be a great thing,'' said Jim Doutt, executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corp., which has been instrumental in driving the project in Lafayette Township, southwest of the city of Medina. Read More...
July 17, 200519 yr Why the hell are they putting this out in farm fields!? If they want to do workforce development, there is a tremendous amount of development they could do in Akron, right around their campus. Alot of those people don't have cars to make it out to the new jobs they are going to be creating out in cornfields. The final irony is that it is likely that businesses that are accessible to the people they should be concentrating on developing will move out to a place that is no longer accessible to them. I can't think of a better example of the folly of sprawl as "economic development". The worst thing is that a University should be more enlightened than this.
July 18, 200519 yr I agree. It seems like a trend now that universities seem to be trying to make a big play for the sprawling counties outside of the major cities. Perhaps they see this as the future.
October 28, 200519 yr From the Medina County Gazette: Dreams become reality By DENISE SULLIVAN Staff Writer LAFAYETTE TWP. — About 200 government officials and representatives from the University of Akron gathered Monday for the ceremonial groundbreaking of the University of Akron/Medina County University Center and Business Technology Park. The groundbreaking and speeches were scheduled for the actual site, but because of a continuous rain Monday, the festivities were moved inside, and the only dirt overturned by shovels was on a tarp underneath the awning of Medina Country Club, 5588 Wedgewood Road. "This is a day when all of us come together to celebrate a long-overdue process," University of Akron Presi-dent Luis M. Proenza said before the groundbreaking. "The dreams are becoming reality." Read More...
January 2, 200619 yr An update from the Medina County Gazette: University center construction Following the ceremonial October groundbreaking for the Akron/Medina County University Center and Business Technology Park in Lafayette Township, actual work is scheduled to begin by spring, said James Doutt, executive director of the Medina County Economic Development Corp. Initial plans include a 33,000-square-foot building that will house University of Akron offices and classrooms. The center is scheduled to open in fall 2007. Doutt pegged the project cost at $8 million. About $6 million has been raised so far — $1.95 million from the state, $2.75 million in federal funds and $1,285,000 in local businesses and private individual pledges, he has said. The school's emphasis will be on work-force development. — Bruce F. Griffin http://www.medina-gazette.com/Articles.asp?num=58900719
September 9, 200618 yr From the 9/7/06 Sun Banner Pride: Work starts on new University Site cleared, preparations begin for road, utilities Thursday, September 07, 2006 Sun Banner Pride The trees have been cleared at the Medina County University Center site, and a press release from the University of Akron states bulldozers will soon cut in the road that will lead to the building and prepare for the installation of utilities. The site development _ a year after a groundbreaking ceremony for the project _ is a welcome scene for The University of Akron, Medina County officials and the center's newly appointed director, Susan Louscher, who is working to create a physical presence for the center before it opens in fall 2007. These initial site development activities mark the beginning of a very exciting period. Over the next year we will not only see the construction of the building, but we will also begin to see the launching of the diverse curricula and services that will be offered through the Medina County University Center, said Louscher. Read More...
February 14, 200718 yr From the 12/29/06 Medina Gazette: 2 proposals floated for university center aid By ALLISON WOOD Staff Writer MEDINA — County commissioners are pitching separate funding proposals for the planned Medina County University Center. A two-year, 1-mill tax on real estate closing costs could be used to expand the Medina County University Center, according to a proposal from Com-missioner Pat Geissman. Commissioner Stephen D. Ham-bley recommends adding the university center as a recipient of a proposed 0.5 percent sales tax with revenues going to school systems in the county for permanent improvements. Read More...
Create an account or sign in to comment