Timeline
Timeline
Since 2018, Elevate Greater Akron has been the driving collaboration behind some of our region’s most noteworthy accomplishments.
2019
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Opened The Generator in May, officially inviting the public into the Bounce Innovation Hub on a daily basis.
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Published the Inclusion Narrative and hosted the inaugural Greater Akron Inclusion Summit in September, illustrating the impact of racial exclusion on the regional economic and actional essential to creating an inclusive approach to economic development.
2020
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Launched MORTAR at the Bounce Innovation Hub in February and having since hosted 11 cohorts, 118 entrepreneurs, 11 Life’s a Pitch competitions, and awarded $33K in grant funds.
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Coordinated the distribution of over $14.3M in Covid Small Business Grants to over 3,200 businesses across 30 Summit County communities, 21% going to minority-owned businesses and 38% going to woman-owned businesses.
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Created and registered a future Downtown Community Development Corporation.
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Opened Amazon’s new $2.5M SR Fulfillment Center and anchored the Roming Road Corridor in November, originally projected to have 1,500 employees the center now boasts 5K employees…and 10K robots!
2021
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Launched the Polymer Industry Cluster in January to elevate Northeast Ohio’s polymer industry into a truly dynamic enterprise that is better position for strong, sustainable growth.
2022
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Secured US Economic Development Administration award in May to expand the Bounce Innovation Hub Generator, adding more space for startups and the community to gather.
2023
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Launched the Greater Akron Business Navigator to provide all business with easy-to-access information on over 200 resources, attracting over 6,000 visitor in its first year.
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Awarded a $250K Industry Sector Partnership Accelerant grant in January to increase the talent pipeline in polymer-related jobs.
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Successfully advocated for the creation of the Ohio Innovation Hub Program
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Garnered $100K in investment into the Polymer Industry Cluster from over 30 partners.
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Increased the number of downtown Akron residents by 22% since 2019.
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Attracted $176M in private downtown investment since 2018.
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Attracted $46M in investment into Main Street and $17M investment into Lock 3.
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Raised $59M in third party capital, paid out $102M in payroll, earned 89 non-provisional patents, created 575 new jobs, and generated $200M in revenue since 2018.
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In partnership with JobsOhio, closed 56 projects totaling a capital investment of $461M, impacting 3,375 jobs, and a payroll of $166M.
2024
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Ohio Senate approved $2.5M in June for Cascade Plaza redevelopment.
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Polymer Industry Cluster received competitive $51M award as the nation’s Sustainable Polymer Tech Hub.
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Polymer Industry Cluster received competitive $31M State of Ohio Polymer Innovation Hub award in September.
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Development Fund of the Western Reserve received a $45M New Markets Tax Credit allocation in September.
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Grand re-opening of downtown Akron’s Lock 3 park after multi-million renovations in November
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Launched Elevate Greater Akron 3.0 in November.
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Since 2019, conducted 1,376 business retention and expansion visits (and counting) with existing business, 38% of which are minority or woman-owned businesses.
Interested in learning more about Elevate Greater Akron and/or getting involved in the work? Contact Us
Find Us
388 S Main St., Ste. 205
Akron, OH 44311
Interested in learning more about Elevate Greater Akron and/or getting involved in the work? Contact Us
Find Us
388 S Main St., Ste. 205
Akron, OH 44311