New Jobs NOW

With so much talk of casinos and the Cleveland Medical Mart, is there a “Silver Bullet” to creating new jobs NOW in Cleveland Plus?

Last week, Jay Miller of Crain’s Cleveland Business wrote an article called “Coming Attractions” about Team NEO’s work. It is our job at Team NEO to attract new jobs to Northeast Ohio. This year alone, we’ve brought 749 new jobs to the region in the 5 new companies we attracted with our regional partners. In fact, since Team NEO began this work in January 2007, we’ve brought 3,000 new jobs in total. That’s $95 million in new annual payroll and $175 million in annual regional economic impact - createing incremental tax benefits and personal opportunities for families across the 16 counties of Northeast Ohio - just when we need it most.

Our work isn’t “sexy,” and you won’t find it on a ballot in November. We don’t run big billboard or glitzy television ads – frankly, we can’t afford it. The 3000 new jobs we’ve helped create were all accomplished with a modest $3 million annual budget. In case you’re counting – that’s a 20:1 Annual Return on Investment for the community. These efforts aren’t “Silver Bullet” activities. Rather, they are the combined, day-in and day-out efforts of Team NEO’s 15 hard-working staff people, our 6 chamber/economic development partners, 16 counties, our amazing funders, and the hundreds of communities that are tirelessly working to create new jobs every day.

We’re proud of our organization’s “results”. But more importantly, we’re honored to serve this great region of our 4 million neighbors by helping Northeast Ohio workers and families find long-term sustainable jobs NOW - and in the future

An Introduction

I moved to Cleveland 6 years ago and in that time, I’ve become the region’s biggest cheerleader. Literally. As the Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Team Northeast Ohio, Team NEO, it is my job to promote the region’s business assets and opportunities to bring more jobs to the region.

We sell the region as “Cleveland Plus” because regardless of the nation’s economic challenges right now, there are so many plusses in the 16 counties of Northeast Ohio.

Yes – there IS so much opportunity! An exploding biomedical industry that is growing faster than the US average, a growing Scientific Research and Development Sector that has doubled US growth, the nation’s fourth largest per capita share of Headquarters employment. And some of the world’s best-known cultural institutions, hospitals, chefs and neighborhoods! Where else do dozens of Pro Football Hall of Famers like Madden and Aikman visit annually, Rockers display their cherished relics, an Iron Chef cooks up a reasonably priced meal and regular people like you and me can easily go boating on a beautiful summer day?

I’m not making this stuff up. These are the facts - it’s just time that we spread the word. To do so, I speak to dozens of regional businesses, chambers of commerce, trade organizations and clubs annually about Northeast Ohio’s opportunities for economic growth and how to engage in the efforts to advance Northeast Ohio’s economy. And every time I do, Northeast Ohioans tell me that they're hungry for more POSITIVE news. We want to hear it on the news, read about it in the paper, and talk about it with our friends. So here it is. Let’s do it, Northeast Ohio. Let’s start knowing the positives, and spreading them. Let's be part of the solution.

Often, people call me the “Cleveland Plus Cheerleader” – so why not make use of that? In this blog, I’ll share with you all of the Plusses I experience – from our economic highlights to our region’s great cultural assets that Team NEO leverages to sell the region. You’ll get to journey with me to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction, the Bridgestone Invitational, into the Rock Hall Vault and learn with me about the region’s economy and growing sectors. All I ask is that you share the plus, that you help sell the plus and most of all, that you be the plus you want to see every day!

Welcome to Rockin’ the Plus! It’s going to be a wild ride!