Program areas at GCP
Appealing Communities:Appealing communities play a crucial role in attracting and retaining dynamic businesses and talent. Our focus is next-generation allure for working, living, and playing in Greater Cleveland. We work with partners to enhance our downtown and waterfronts through inter-connected and inclusive residential, commercial, and public space developments. We invest in neighborhoods for both residential and commercial corridor development aligned with accessible and efficient transit. We encourage resources for expanding amenities including parks, arts and culture, sports, and other recreational offerings. Also, since we understand the economic and social benefits of air services, we work closely with the city of Cleveland and other organizations to improve the air services for both business and leisure travel.Enhancing our downtown: Beginning in 2021 and throughout 2022, GCP partnered with the Mayor of the City of Cleveland and his administration to lead a planning process to redevelop the Downtown Cleveland Lakefront. GCP formed a task force of five working groups and more than 150 participants to advance the initiative.Investing in Neighborhoods: Transformative real estate development towards an appealing and inclusive community is a key priority. GCP works with its real estate development affiliate, Cleveland Development Advisors (CDA), and its external partners to leverage and connect existing assets and create new catalytic projects that stimulate further economic development.Advocating for Amenities: GCP is a catalyst and advocate for ensuring that the region has and maintains a vibrant range of offerings in arts and culture, parks and trails, sports and entertainment and air services. These provide a high quality of life and attract companies and talent to the region. GCP's Air Service taskforce worked with other partners and community leaders to secure non-stop flights between Cleveland and Seattle along with international service from Cleveland to Dublin, with connections to Europe and Middle East.
Business Innovation & Growth:A thriving region is built on dynamic businesses. Our focus is growth through productivity and innovation for businesses of all sizes. We work with partners to promote expansions by connecting companies to growth incentives, real estate options, and talent solutions. We serve small and middle market businesses by sharing funding opportunities, offering cost saving benefits, and hosting forums for exchanging ideas and creating connections. Lastly, we expand innovation activity for startups, corporates, and research institutions (including federal facilities) through sector strategies, industry institution partnerships, and increased funding. In 2022, staff were added with practical experience working both in the federal government as well as corporate innovation and R&D, and national trade organizations, and operating a small business. These perspectives will help GCP ensure that we are aligned to meeting the general needs of our members, as well as driving discrete strategic priorities such as increasing industry-institutional partnerships or leveraging federal funding as a growth catalyst. Our focus areas include:Innovation Initiatives: In 2021, GCP absorbed the responsibility for providing primary thought leadership, staffing and coordination of the Cleveland Innovation Project (CIP), an alliance of GCP and community foundations and partners, aimed at driving the region to become a Midwest leader for technology led growth and inclusion. The plan includes sector initiatives in smart manufacturing, health innovation, and water technologies that build on strengths and opportunities and enable initiatives to expand talent, capital, and innovation corridors. In 2022, GCP continued to drive execution of the CIP and embedded those priorities into the "All In" strategies that GCP pursues on behalf of the region.Digital Equity: CIP continued to push regional efforts aimed at increasing broadband access in underserved communities. In 2022, the Cleveland metro area became 2nd in the nation for connecting eligible residents to broadband through the US government's Affordable Connectivity Program.Venture Capital & DEI: The regional 2030 goal is $4B in tech led companies. 2022 was a record year for venture investments across the region with $578 million invested, amidst a national year-over-year decline in venture activity. Beyond increasing the total amount of venture capital being deployed, we've also aimed to increase the share of investments going to companies that have Black, Hispanic or female executives. A highlight of 2022 was the inaugural launch of FutureLand, a multi-day conference celebrating diversity in tech, arts and culture in northeast Ohio. FutureLand is an integral step toward transforming Cleveland's innovation and tech ecosystem by welcoming and supporting BIPOC innovators and creatives. CIP funded a local Hispanic female entrepreneur to lead in the design of FutureLand, which was presented by partnering organizations. FutureLand was intentionally held in conjunction with pre-existing GCP's programs that feature "tech" such as Tech Week and the Best of Tech Awards. Together this series of events attracted 3,000+ participants and moved the region closer to its goal of becoming a "Midwest leader for technology-led growth and inclusion."Federal Opportunities: In 2022, the team took on a heightened effort beyond monitoring, to translate and leverage new federal policy priorities such as reshoring, and sustainability. GCP's Innovation & Growth team undertook an effort that went beyond simply monitoring federal policy. The team translated the impact of legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS & Science Act and other critical actions from DoD, or NIH. In 2022, we identified a handful of large individual opportunities to pursue that were aimed at delivering inclusive economic growth for the region through catalytic investments in research and development and adjacent workforce development. Examples include; ARPA-H (HHS), Hydrogen Hubs and Industrial Decarbonization Demonstration Projects (DoE), Regional Innovation Engines (NSF). GCP invested significant time and staff resources to support initial framing, scoping of an NSF RIE application being led by a local university on the topic of "Sustainable Manufacturing". Through this process, GCP provided the bulk of content relating to the needs of industry, supporting the final preparation of content, and coordination with regional industry players.Federal Funding Hub: In 2022, GCP participated in establishing a statewide network (Ohio Grants Alliance) to evaluate and pursue multi-regional federal funding opportunities/consortia. GCP established a similar initiative specifically focused in northeast Ohio, which assembled key partners across local government, foundations, economic development, and higher education. Three topical working groups were established including infrastructure, talent + workforce, and innovation + technology. More than 50 individuals from across the region were invited to participate in this network.Corporate Functional Leader Groups: GCP expanded upon the success of the CIO's Forum, by catalyzing & coordinating engagement with two new groups. CTO (Chief Technology Officers) e.g. the most senior member of a company who would oversee areas like R&D, innovation, supply chain, manufacturing. The other cadre established was Corporate Sustainability leaders. These groups were established to create an ecosystem for businesses to share best practice, tackle challenges or pursue collaborative opportunities together for the betterment of the collective region. The team continued to support and drive the CIO's Forum which includes more than 75 participants representing banking, insurance, manufacturing, healthcare, higher education, and local government.Small BusinessThe Council of Smaller Enterprises' (COSE) mission is to grow small businesses. As the small business arm of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, members have access to educational content, networking opportunities, cost-saving benefits, and navigation to resources that best support their business needs and interests. COSE also advocates for small businesses to ensure a positive business environment. A few highlights from the year include the celebration of COSE 50th anniversary recognizing the accomplishments of the organization and the impact COSE has had on the small business community. COSE also hosted the fifth season of "Cleveland Chain Reaction," a small business pitch competition that connects entrepreneurs to capital and mentors and places new businesses in Cleveland neighborhoods to create jobs and build prosperity. Twenty small businesses participated in the business bootcamp, and four winners were identified. Winners and semi-finalists were awarded a total of $155K to take their businesses to the next level.Driving Industry Institutional Partnerships: The team analyzed research spending at universities and identified a material gap in corporate funded research. We sought to better understand the underlying reasons. We also formed the hypothesis that, when compared to other NASA research centers, the GRC lags in industry collaboration. Increasing engagement between industry and these institutions would deliver collective economic benefit for the region. To solve these challenges we embarked on an effort to better understand the real capabilities, interests, and priorities of these institutions and industry players. In 2022, the team met individually with members of the regional institutions as well as interviewed more than 40 of the largest companies in the region.Greater Cleveland's R&D Economy: We kicked off a large piece of work centered on delivering an in-depth landscape of "Greater Cleveland's R&D Economy", the first of attempt to do so in the region. This report will be published in 2023, while significant work was completed in 2022.Business Expansions: In 2022, the team continued to monitor and report on new jobs created via close coordination with partner organizations. GCP transitioned the bulk of its generalized business expansion activities to a partner organization, while remaining highly engaged on key initiatives such as the establishment of a regional EV & Semiconductor task force. The region saw 3,800 new jobs which exceeded the annual target of 3,000. These new jobs contribute to increasing GMP/worker which is the key metric for the Dynamic Business Pillar of the "All In" vision for the region.
Talent:Dynamic businesses need abundant talent to grow. Our focus is work-based learning for in-demand jobs, both for today and into the future. We work with partners not only to increase degree and certificate program enrollments and completions in growth sectors, but also to expand internships, apprenticeships, and co-opsand support for participantsthrough industry-led partnerships with educational institutions and training providers. We also focus on broadening career awareness among high school students through exposure and placement programs that build pathways to employment.Industry Led Partnerships: Sector partnerships are collaborations of employers and workforce providers in which employer-led strategies develop and connect talent to jobs and career pathways. Partnerships formed include Manufacturing, Information Technology, Healthcare, Construction and Hospitality. Through these efforts, we are working to meet industry needs and supporting inclusive talent development. IT Career Expo draws more than 1,000 high school and college students. First Clevelanders graduate from unique IT apprenticeship program.Tech Talent: GCP's High School Tech Talent Portfolio of career exploration programs provides students with opportunities to explore IT careers and pathways so they can make purposeful steps towards their future. Our no-cost high school programs are designed to stimulate students' growing interest and excitement in the IT field and to provide the knowledge, experiences, and connections necessary to pursue IT careers in our region. We bring students into direct contact with IT educators and professionals working in the field. Students learn about the availability, advantages, and requirements of IT careers, as well as the skills and competencies needed for IT jobs today and in the future.GCP's Tech Talent Programs engaged 4,751 high school students from 136 Northeast Ohio schools during the 2022-2023 school year with 80 IT professionals (from 41 NEO companies) engaging students in IT career exploration experiences.Internships & Micro Internships: Internships, apprenticeships, and other experiential learning opportunities benefit both students and employers and help the region develop and retain talent from colleges and universities. Internships and Co-ops augment classroom learning with experience in a professional setting. Apprenticeships are skills-based training programs that create diverse talent pipelines for employers while providing opportunities for individuals to attain a post-secondary credential with a career track. GCP partnered with local colleges to expand internships and co-ops.
Advocacy:GCP advocates for policies and programs at the regional, state, and federal levels that support the priorities and advance our vision. We work with partners to build and sustain an environment where businesses thrive. We promote an inclusive and resilient economic infrastructure. We invest in a better future for business owners, students, and workers.Thriving Business Ecosystem: Advocacy is fundamental to maintaining and improving conditions that help businesses start, scale, and thrive. Our work advocates for policies and programs that support business growth and ease regulatory and administrative burdens for employers.An Inclusive Economy: The business community supports programs and policies that enable abundant, diverse, and inclusive talent and also attract and retain newcomers.Investing for The Future: Investments in education, workforce development, and entrepreneurship support a better future for businesses, students, and workers. Systems and practices at all levels need consistent review for our region to reach its full potential.