Current "Voices and Choices" newsletter.
 
The Fund for Our Economic Future is an unprecedented collaboration involving nearly 70 philanthropic organizations from across Northeast Ohio.  Its goal is to encourage and advance an agenda for regional economic transformation.  Launched in February 2004 as a three-year initiative, the Fund has raised more that $27.85 million of an anticipated $30 million.  The money will be used to further the fund's objectives, which focus upon three key initiatives: research; grant making for projects leading to job creation and economic development; and public engagement.

The Fund for Our Economic Future is set to engage citizens throughout Northeast Ohio.  Medina County will soon be hearing more about the Fund's public engagement component, “Voices and Choices”.  The Fund has contracted with the non-profit organization AmericaSpeaks to facilitate an 18-month planning project.  Known as “Voices and Choices”, this comprehensive project will involve literally tens of thousands of citizens in 15 counties across Northeast Ohio.  Citizen interviews will last from May through early Fall 2005, followed by town meetings and community and leadership workshops.  The project will also seek to educate the public on the economic realities of our regional economy.  Throughout the process, AmericaSpeaks will work closely with political and business leaders in order to ensure that the region will be ready to act on the resulting agenda.

Please contact Jim Doutt, Executive Director, Medina County Economic Development Corporation at jdoutt@medinacounty.org or 330-722-9215 to learn more and discuss your interest in participating.