Ed Morrison · Region Day

October 29th, 2009

Yesterday, I participated in Region Day at The University of Akron. Over 400 participants from leadership programs across the 16 counties of Northeast Ohio registered for the event. In the morning, they listen to Ned Hill of Cleveland State University and Christine Maher of the Fund for Our Economic Future present their ideas on the future of the regional economy.

We were entertained at lunch by the frank commentary on the health of our region offered by Akron’s mayor, Don Plusquellic. The mayor, never one to shy away from controversy, talked about the sometimes tense relationship between Akron and Cleveland. He also made clear that many of the problems Cleveland confronts should, in his view, be placed on the doorstep of the Cleveland business community.

The mayor remarked, half in jest, that when he’s outside of the state, he tells business people that Akron is located 100 miles north of Columbus.

In the afternoon, the participants broke into eight groups. We conducted Strategic Doing sessions with each of these eight groups. The breakouts focused on different components of the regional strategy that is being developed by the Fund.

So, for example, one group explored how to develop more effective 21st-century skills by making adjustments to curriculum in primary and secondary school. Another group explored ways to support entrepreneurs and high-growth companies more effectively within the region. And another group took on the task of defining some initiatives to improve government efficiency.

We’ll see how far all of this gets. It is clear, however, that a new dynamic is emerging within Northeast Ohio. It’s less Cleveland centric. And that’s a good development.

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One Response to “Region Day”

  1. Douglas Craver Says:
    October 29th, 2009 at 5:40 pm

    AMEN!