Urban Studies and Planning Commons^™

Covid-19 Impact On The Economic Vitality Index Of Ohio’S 88 Counties, Iryna Lendel, Georgina Guadalupe Figueroa, Iryna Demko, Jack Yochum

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This brief illustrates the results of the updated 2020 Economic Vitality Index (EVI) to understand the overall economic impact of the pandemic, including the role of the economic stimuli and related policy responses. This update of the 2019 EVI shows how Ohio’s 88 counties have been affected by COVID-19.

Manufacturing In The 21st Century, Iryna Lendel, Mike Naso

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The manufacturing sector faces more challenges than ever to remain a competitive force in Northeast Ohio. The evolution of manufacturing through the advent of Industry 4.0 poses the most pressing challenge, pushing manufacturers to adopt technologies that are driven by data analysis, cloud computing, and connectivity through the Industrial Internet of Things. Northeast Ohio is falling behind in the adoption of 4.0 technology, especially among small- and medium-sized companies, and some have even delayed adoption of 3.0 technologies like basic automation and the integration of computers into production processes. This research brief investigates the advantages of Industry 4.0 implementation and …

Economic Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Ohio, Matthew Ellerbrock, Iryna Demko, Iryna Lendel, Erica Henrichsen

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The global COVID-19 pandemic has had sweeping impacts on our society; some of the most dire are economic in nature. In Ohio, stay-at-home orders enacted by Governor DeWine in March 2020 resulted in many Ohioans losing work, in part or altogether. The shutdowns also shifted consumption patterns, with more spending online and at grocery stores taking the place of entertainment, travel, and accommodations. To respond to the economic hardships felt by the pandemic, beginning in late March, the United States federal government issued multiple rounds of financial assistance in the form of business loans, stimulus checks, grants, and contracts. This …

Navigating Government Statistics Of Small Businesses For Pandemic Assistance, Iryna Demko, Iryna V. Lendel, Georgina Guadalupe Figueroa

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This brief examines various sources of government statistics to assist in understanding the scope of small businesses, the legal structure of their operations, and their distribution by industry in the Northeast Ohio (NEO) region. Under the current restrictions for business operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many entrepreneurs and small businesses need assistance to maintain cash flow and to retain both their employees and customers. Governments at all levels have developed business assistance programs to help small businesses; more recently, some of these programs have revised their rules. To illustrate who might be affected by the changing rules, several sources …

Moving Cleveland Above The Trend: Innovation & Talent, Iryna V. Lendel, Merissa Piazza, Molly Schnoke, Nora Walsh

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

A recent report conducted by the Center for Economic Development includes a model for understanding and predicting economic growth in U.S. mid-sized regional economies to analyze structural and policy-based factors among similar regions. The Center used factor analysis as a data-reduction technique to identify the influences in mid-sized regional economies. This statistical analysis found five factors influencing the mid-sized regional economies reviewed for this report. They are 1) Innovation and Talent, 2) Entrepreneurship in High-Cost Areas, 3) New Residential Centers, 4) Retirement Destinations, and 5) Polarization. This was followed by an analysis to determine the relationship between these factors and …

Moving Cleveland Above The Trend: Entrepreneurship Policy, Iryna V. Lendel, Merissa Piazza, Molly Schnoke, Shneur Kushner

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

A recent report conducted by the Center for Economic Development discussed the structural and policy factors of economic growth in mid-sized U.S. economies and included an analysis of similar regions. The Center used factor analysis as a data-reduction technique and identified five factors influencing mid-sized regional economies: 1) Innovation and Talent, 2) Entrepreneurship in High-Cost Areas, 3) New Residential Centers, 4) Retirement Destinations, and 5) Polarization. An analysis determined the relationship between these factors and the changes in regional employment, gross regional product (output), and per capita income. This brief outlines the initial analysis primary takeaways as it relates to …

Economic Vitality Index: Mapping Ohio's 88 Counties, Matthew Ellerbrock, Courtney Whitman, Iryna V. Lendel, Merissa Piazza

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

Along with the unimaginable death of hundreds of thousands, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused economic hardship for many more millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of businesses, large and small. After experiencing the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, we are now faced with an unprecedented contraction in modern times as workers see their hours reduced – or jobs eliminated – and businesses scale down operations or close their doors altogether. As part of its effort to aid in responding to Ohio’s economic downturn resulting from the pandemic, the Center for Economic Development (Center) is tracking the overall economic …

Youngstown Economy: Recession And Path To Recovery, Iryna Demko, Iryna V. Lendel, Merissa Piazza, Georgina Figueroa, Matthew Ellerbrock

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This brief seeks to identify opportunities for the Youngstown economy to recover from the COVID-induced economic recession.

Neo Grids Performance In 2020, Iryna Demko, Merissa Piazza, Iryna V. Lendel

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The Center for Economic Development identified 33 driver industries in the 2019 report titled “Northeast Ohio Front Runners: Groups of Regional Industry Drivers (GRIDs).” GRIDs are wealth-creating industries that pay high wages, have a robust regional specialization, and contribute to the economy through regional supply chains. However, in this year alone, the U.S. and Ohio economies have seen a trade war with China, retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, the collapse of oil prices, and mandatory business closings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These events contributed to the already ongoing cyclical repression, and impacted the wealth creation of Northeast Ohio’s (NEO)3 …

From Economic Slowdown To Recession, Iryna Demko, Iryna V. Lendel, Merissa Piazza

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The most recent recession, known as the “Great Recession,” began in December 2007 and ended in June 2009. The recession affected the entire U.S., but its impacts were not uniform. Unfortunately, Ohio was a primary example of the recession’s iniquities as the recession lasted five months longer here compared to the rest of the nation. Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we face further uncertainty and another recession with economic activity contracting “sharply and abruptly” across the entire U.S. This research brief examines the state of the economy in the U.S. and Northeast Ohio pre-pandemic (2019) and provides an analysis of …

Good Jobs: Employment And Wages In Groups Of Regional Industrial Drivers, Iryna Lendel, Merissa Piazza, Iryna Demko, Matthew Ellerbrock, Emily Forsee

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

Talent attraction and workforce development are urgent topics in Northeast Ohio, as many companies are finding it challenging to locate and attract necessary workers for open jobs. This dilemma spans across sectors: from the manufacturing industry finding appropriately skilled labor to professional services finding experienced IT staff. This research analyzes employment dynamics among Northeast Ohio (NEO) industries, so policymakers and economic development practitioners can utilize our findings and design programs to improve the economic conditions in the region. This report builds on The Center for Economic Development’s prior work, which identified NEO’s Groups of Regional Industry Drivers (GRIDs). These sectors …

The Future Is Now: Akron’S Dynamic And Inclusive Economy, Iryna Lendel, Iryna Demko, Merissa Piazza, Matthew Ellerbrock

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

• The economic trends in Northeast Ohio (NEO) over the last 20 years are typical of the Midwest region, with a positive increase in output outpaced by the state of Ohio, and the United States
  
  
• The double recessions of 2001 and 2007-2009 show a deeper output decline in NEO than in comparable Midwest regions and the United States
  
  
• Traditionally, industries with high regional specialization that have a competitive advantage and drive regional economies are called economic base industries
  
  
• Groups of Regional Industry Drivers (GRIDs) are part of the economic base of a region 2

Local Front Runners: Grids In The 4 Northeast Ohio Metropolitan Areas, Merissa Piazza, Iryna Demko, Iryna Lendel, Matthew B. Ellerbrock

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

Northeast Ohio (NEO) is an 18-county region which encompasses four different Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs); MSAs commonly refer to the labor market of a given area (for this study: the Akron MSA, the Canton-Massillon MSA, the Cleveland-Elyria MSA, a part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA MSA) and remaining rural counties (“non-MSA counties”). Within NEO, these four distinct metro areas have different industry structures. Investigating the internal dynamics of each region’s economic driver industries—what we call Groups of Regional Industry Drivers (GRIDs)—can inform local leaders and economic development practitioners of expanding and emerging industries to foster regional growth.

Economic trends in NEO …

Northeast Ohio Front Runners: Groups Of Regional Industry Drivers (Grids), Iryna Lendel, Iryna Demko, Merissa Piazza, Matthew Ellerbrock

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

• The economic trends in Northeast Ohio (NEO) over the last 20 years are typical of the Midwest region, with a positive increase in output outpaced by the state of Ohio, and the United States

• The double recessions of 2001 and 2007-2009 show a deeper output decline in NEO than in comparable Midwest regions and the United States

• Traditionally, industries with high regional specialization that have a competitive advantage and drive regional economies are called economic base industries

• Groups of Regional Industry Drivers (GRIDs) are part of the economic base of a region

Northeast Ohio Grids Monitor, Merissa Piazza

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

Groups of Regional Industry Drivers (GRIDs) were identified in Northeast Ohio (NEO). GRIDs are wealth-creating industries that have a strong regional specialization, growing output, rising productivity, and local competitive advantage. Overall, the three identified GRIDs—Professional Services, Growing Legacy Manufacturing, and Oil and Gas—contributed nearly 40% ($90.4 billion) to NEO’s total output and employed 20% (369,054 people) of NEO workforce in 2018. This research provides an update on the performance of GRIDs economy focusing on 2017-18 changes and projections for 2019. Calculations in this monitor are based on the data from Moody's Analytics Economy.com.

Youngstown Msa: Growing Regional Industry Drivers (Grids), Iryna Lendel, Iryna Demko, Merissa Piazza, Samuel Owusu-Agyemang, Matthew Ellerbrock, Kyle Jarus

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Northeast Ohio Front Runners: Groups Of Regional Industry Drivers (Grids), Iryna Lendel, Merissa Piazza, Iryna Demko, Jinhee Yun, Samuel Owusu-Agyemang

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This research provides relevant, data-driven insights on competitive industries in the Northeast Ohio (NEO)1 economy over the 2013-2017 period. This report informs the reader on industries that over the last five years outperformed their national counterparts in wealth creation. These industries employ a significant amount of regional workforce, create sizable output, and have a regional competitive advantage. This research updates previous research conducted by the Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy in 2011 and provides up-to-date insights into the future growth areas of NEO’s regional economy.

2018 Downstream Challenges And Opportunities, Iryna Lendel

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Inside The Margins: A Cleveland Literature Industry Study, Iryna Lendel, Candi Clouse, Merissa Piazza, Ellen Cyran, Simon Husted, Dro Sohrabian, Jinhee Yun

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

Writing—humans documenting our history in the form of the “written word”—has been one of the largest transitive forces through time. The act of becoming an author, however—of moving away from the mere transcription of events to becoming the voice and translator of events—has changed how we examine ourselves, society, and life. Most of us remember the first novel that drew us into its story, thus changing how we looked out at the world, contributing to our emotional acumen, enriching our overall intelligence, and giving us a new perspective on our view of life. This is the joy felt by writers—to …

Greater University Circle Initiative: Year 7 Evaluation Report, Molly Schnoke, Merissa Piazza, Heather Smith, Liam Robinson

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

The Greater University Circle Economic Inclusion (GUCI) Initiative has surpassed a decade of existence by connecting neighborhoods, businesses, and leaders throughout seven neighborhoods that encompass Greater University Circle (GUC) in Cleveland, Ohio. This initiative was first assembled by the Cleveland Foundation in 2005 to bring together the three major anchor institutions located in these neighborhoods (Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals Health System) to convene and meet shared goals by harnessing their collective economic power. It is important to recognize that in many other anchor initiatives in other parts of the country, initiatives are brought by …

Greater University Circle Initiative: Year 5 Evaluation Report, Kathryn W. Hexter, Candi Clouse, Kenneth Kalynchuk

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

In 2015, the partners of the Greater University Circle Economic Inclusion Initiative reached an important milestone—5 years of working together to revitalize the seven neighborhoods that comprise Greater University Circle (GUC). This milestone offers an opportunity to take a step back and reflect on why the group first came together as well as their collective accomplishments, challenges, and opportunities. This fifth evaluation report includes a very brief summary of the history of the Initiative before launching into reflections from the participants on the major accomplishments, challenges, and opportunities on the horizon. It concludes with significant outcomes to date. The report …

Economic Impact Of Ohio Aerospace Institute, Fy 1998-2015, Candi Clouse, Kenneth S. Kalynchuk

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This report assesses the contributions of The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) to the economy of the State of Ohio during the specific period of its 1998-2015 fiscal years. The study was conducted by the Center for Economic Development at Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs. The impact of OAI is described here in terms of the employment, labor income, value added, output, and tax revenue generated because of OAI’s presence in the state. The impacts of OAI’s four main operating functions were assessed, including OAI operating expenses, OAI employee compensation, support to industry research and development, …

University Circle & Little Italy Study: Demographic Trends, Property Assessment, And Recommendations For Neighborhood Revitalization, Ziona Austrian, Kathryn W. Hexter, Ellen Cyran, Paul Boehnlein, Bryan Townley, Kenneth Kalynchuk

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This report was prepared at the request of University Circle Inc. (UCI) and Little Italy Redevelopment Corporation (LIRC), and was funded by The Cleveland Foundation. The research was conducted by the Center for Economic Development and the Center for Community Planning & Development at Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs and by the Thriving Communities Institute at the Western Reserve Land Conservancy.

This report presents the findings from a detailed demographic analysis and property conditions assessment. These findings inform program and policy recommendations to guide future efforts to manage development, as well as to stabilize and revitalize the …

Economic Profile: Village Of Middlefield, Ohio, Kirby Date

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

A small town of 2700 residents in rural eastern Geauga County, the Village of Middlefield has nonetheless taken an aggressive approach to attracting business, resulting in sizable local employment that is disproportionate to its small population. As of 2012, 5900 people were employed in the Village and its immediate vicinity, with the potential for an additional 2000 in non-employment and family-based businesses. Businesses have been particularly attracted by the stable, skilled workforce, the small town lifestyle, and the Village’s support for business retention and expansion.

A large proportion of the Village’s employment, in 2012 over 60%, is based in manufacturing, …

Greater University Circle Initiative: Year 4 Evaluation Report, Ziona Austrian, Kathryn W. Hexter, Candi Clouse, Kenneth Kalynchuk

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This report evaluates the fourth year of the Economic Inclusion program of the Greater University Circle Initiative (GUCI) in Cleveland, Ohio, namely the activities and accomplishments during 2014. The GUCI combines the economic power of anchor institutions with the resources of philanthropy and government to create economic opportunity, build individual wealth, and strengthen communities in the neighborhoods around University Circle and the Health Tech Corridor of Cleveland. The program, spearheaded by The Cleveland Foundation, is based on the premise that anchor institutions and residents share an interest in revitalizing their neighborhoods and by working together they can create jobs, income, …

2014 Economic Impact Of Companies Funded And/Or Assisted By The Northeast Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program, Candi Clouse, Ziona Austrian

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

This report measures the economic impact of early-stage companies that have been supported by JumpStart Inc. and its partners in the Northeast Ohio Entrepreneurial Signature Program (ESP) in 2014. Companies included in this report have received significant technical assistance and direct investment funding from entrepreneurial support organizations in the ESP or purely technical assistance. It is important to note that North Coast Angel Fund invests in companies throughout Ohio and the economic outcomes generated by these firms are included in the statewide economic impact reported here; while the remainder of the ESP’s entrepreneurial acceleration activities are confined geographically to the …

Water Resources Shaping Ohio's Future: Water Efficiency Manual For Industrial, Commercial, And Institutional Facilities (Presentation), Serena Alexander, Wendy A. Kellogg, Iryna Lendel, Andrew R. Thomas, Nicholas C. Zingale

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Water Resources Shaping Ohio's Future: Water Efficiency Manual For Industrial, Commercial, And Institutional Facilities (Report), Serena Alexander, Wendy A. Kellogg, Iryna Lendel, Andrew R. Thomas, Nicholas C. Zingale

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.

Distinctly Cleveland: How The Arts Are Helping To Revitalize Rust Belt Cities, Gregory M. Sadlek, Joan Chase

English Faculty Publications

This book addresses many of the common reasons why the so-called “Rust Belt” cities suffered decline and the many solutions proposed and efforts already undertaken that seek to reverse the decline and spur rejuvenation. The contributors discuss the reasons for the decline including globalization, energy policy–related issues, and even the impact of air conditioning on location decisions. They also detail many of the entrepreneurial efforts undertaken in cities like Cleveland that are helping to reinvigorate once-depressed areas, offer suggestions related to investments in workforce training and current energy policy, critique the use of economic development subsidies, discuss the success of …

Moving Ohio Manufacturing Forward: Competitive Electricity Pricing, Iryna Lendel, Sunjoo Park, Andrew R. Thomas

All Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs Publications

No abstract provided.