Newsletter: Medina County Economic Development Corporation

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MCEDC E-Newsletter Vol. 5 Issue 4

Notes from Bethany Dentler, Executive Director

May, 2009 - Business Appreciation Month
Thank you to the more than 50 volunteers and 70 businesses for stepping up and participating in the May 2009 Business Appreciation Month visits.

Endorsed by the Medina County Commissioners, this outreach program was designed to build relationships with the business community so that they will get the support they need to grow and to ensure that the county becomes a first point of contact for growing companies.

Recognizing that the majority of job growth comes from businesses already serving our community, we feel it is vital to demonstrate our commitment to local businesses who keep Medina County’s economy going and to express our appreciation to them for their contribution. Given the current economic crisis facing Medina County’s business community, it is more critical than ever to receive feedback about business/service trends and hear their thoughts on how local and state government may be able to help business.

These visits have allowed us to establish or strengthen a cooperative working relationship with the business community and ensure that they have a first point of contact. These visits could not have been completed without the time commitment and willingness to participate of the many elected officials and economic development partners. Thank you.

It is anticipated that a summary analysis of the information collected during the meetings and reports on the subsequent follow-up will be ready for presentation to all Business Appreciation Month visit participants in the fall of 2009. The date and location of the presentation will be announced at a later time.

Lafayette Township-Chippewa Lake Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) Created
The Lafayette Township-Chippewa Lake Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) was approved by the Ohio Department of Development on May 22, 2009. The Ohio CRA program began as a way for communities to incentivize the renovation of blighted residential property, but it has now become a critical economic development tool to encourage businesses to invest in a community, to build new facilities, add to the tax base, support school systems and create new jobs.   MCEDC staff worked closely with the county, township and Cloverleaf Local Schools to bring this tool to Lafayette Township.

Fiber Network
The Medina County Fiber Network Committee continues to meet twice a month to ensure progress on the project. The Medina County Port Authority has agreed to a six month extension to the Letter of Intent and period of exclusivity with OneCommunity, a non-profit network company located in Cleveland, to validate the business model and proceed with the negotiation of a construction/operating contract.

The Medina County Fiber Network was identified as the top priority project by the Medina County eCommunity Leadership team under the direction of the Connect Ohio initiative, which aims to identify the local strengths and weaknesses and cast a vision for a Medina County future that takes full advantage of high-speed connectivity. A draft of the Strategic Technology Plan can be viewed at www.connectohio.org (or click here to view the Medina County Summary ). The plan indicates that Medina County understands the benefits that broadband provides and has prepared a vision to take advantage of these opportunities. With a 7% increase in broadband use, Medina County, containing approximately 1.48% of Ohio's population, could expect to secure about 1,000 jobs and create approximately $53.3 million in annual direct income growth.

As was originally conceived, the purpose of the fiber network is economic development and job creation that will be accomplished by the creation of a high bandwidth, neutral platform to enable governmental subdivisions and agencies, libraries, schools, hospitals and medical facilities, businesses and industry to gain connectivity on competitive terms. The MCFN will effectively create an e-Corridor linking the users, not only to one another, but also to carrier facilities and carriers throughout the region and to serve as a gateway to alternative services and networks.

The Medina County Port Authority will own the network and intends to provide access to the network; the MCPA does not intend to provide services on the network that would compete with local service providers. It is anticipated that more service providers will enter the market as MCPA customers and as the demand grows, the fiber network can be expanded into the more rural markets and enable access to service providers that would not otherwise be economically viable.

MCEDC Executive Committee Restructuring:
MCEDC is investigating ways to invigorate our approach to economic development, including expanding the composition of our Executive Board. Medina County is facing unprecedented challenges and MCEDC plays an essential role in its economic health. Accomplishing the goals set forth in MCEDC's recently completed strategic plan, organizational sustainability can only occur by reaching out to the partners who have played such an important role in our history.   MCEDC must rely even more on our private and public sector partners for their expertise, energy and vision. Review the Strategic Plan here>>>

Welcome New Member:
The Mannik & Smith Group, Inc., a civil engineering and environmental consulting service that is located at 1800 Indian Wood Circle, Maumee, OH.

MCEDC Summer Intern
Anna Rady, an honors student at Cornell University majoring in Economics and German (and headed for the London School of Economics in the fall), will be working with MCEDC staff this summer. Ms. Rady will assist with data analysis and marketing projects while gaining experience in an active, professional economic development environment. She stated that she is excited for the challenges and experiences that this position will afford her.

Save the Date - October 22, 2009
The Medina County Economic Development Corporation will hold its Autumn Speaker Series & 2009 Medina County Business Awards at 4 p.m., on Thursday, October 22, 2009 at the Blair Center in Westfield Center. Westfield Bank will once again sponsor the 2009 Medina County Business Awards, which will honor the Medina County companies and individuals who have made an impact on the business community for work completed in calendar year 2008. A new category, "Sustained Business Growth", has been established by last year's panel of finalist judges, Ralph Berry, Chuck Hawley and Brian Tucker, to honor a company that has shown sustained growth in revenue and employment for at least five years. Download a 2009 Business Awards nomination form here.

Medina General Hospital to Become Ninth Community Hospital in Cleveland Clinic Health System and names Robert Stall New President

The Medina General Hospital Board recently elected Robert P. Stall as its new president, effective April 15, 2009. Stall replaces Gary Hallman who served as president of Medina General Hospital for 16 years. (Cleveland Clinic and Medina General Hospital officials signed an affiliation agreement which will close later this year...More>>>)

For 25 years, Stall has worked at Cleveland Clinic. For the past two years, he served as president of Euclid Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital. In his new role at Medina General Hospital, Stall will report to Medina General Hospital Board and oversee the staff and operations of the hospital. Under the management agreement between Medina General and Cleveland Clinic, Stall will bring key executives to work closely with him through the affiliation's completion...MORE>>>

Medina County Plans for More Business Growth
June 1, 2009 Crain’s Cleveland Business
Medina County was recently spotlighted in Crain's Cleveland Business "Corridors of Commerce" special section. Local leaders and economic development officials reported on positive growth occurring in the county, such as MCEDC's March 2008 survey that showed half of the 70 industrial sector companies surveyed said sales were increasing and only 6% were seeing any declines at that point. And 29 of the companies were planning to expand in the next three years, adding 637 jobs. While the economic collapse has slowed the pace substantially, the county is still growing. Read the full article in Crain's Cleveland Business.

Congratulations: Medina City Named as Finalist for TeamNeo Impact Award for Expansion
Team Northeast Ohio recognized local economic development efforts that helped retain companies, create jobs and bring foreign investment to the region during the calendar year 2008 at the TeamNEO Economic Development Impact Awards dinner on June 2, 2009 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Independence, Ohio.

Although Medina City did not win the TeamNeo Impact Award for Expansion, Medina City did win the Friction Products $12 million expansion project over its Oklahoma facility. With city, county and state officials working together to capture the project, Friction Products earned a 15 year tax abatement, qualified for Medina's Job Creation Grant and a state job creation tax creation tax credit and took advantage of training grants for its supervisors. MORE>>>

Read the Pass the Plus newsletter here.

Visit Team Northeast Ohio here.

Medina County Economic Development Corporation - 330.722.9215 - info@medinacounty.org