Brewed Fresh Daily

Advanced manufacturing is a core part of our region’s economy, so it makes see to see how others view the opportunities. In the last couple of weeks, two items have appeared that are valuable to ecivic leaders in NEO interested in the future of manufacturing.

The University Research Corridor in Michigan — a collaboration of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University — has released an interesting report on advanced manufacturing. The report focuses on how the university research and technology base supports advanced manufacturing firms.


Michigan Advanced Manufacturing Report


In addition, a couple of weeks ago, Aneesh Chopra, Chief Technology Officer and Associate Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, provided some insight into where national manufacturing policy is heading.


Advanced Manufacturing Chopra Testimony July 2010


Does NEO need a Progressive Business Leaders Network?

The voice of business in this region is muddled and, in the case of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, too often hijacked by narrow, Cleveland-centric real estate interests.

Perhaps a network along the lines of the PBLN in Massachusetts might make some sense.

A new set of business voices might be able to focus policy on long term issues that matter to the region. The Massachusetts PBLN has expressed strong support for the common core standards in education.

When was the last time we heard the business leaders in the region speak up on any issue of regional consequence? (Although there are some efforts to bring together Akron and Cleveland, this initiative is moving at a glacial pace.)

It’s a good time for a younger business leadership to step forward with some new ideas.

Kathy Hexter and Claudia Coulton have produced a good report on the home foreclosure crisis in Greater Cleveland.


Greater Cleveland Facing the Foreclosure Crisis June 2010


Over on EDPro Weblog, I highlight both the incubators in Cleveland and Youngstown.

Here’s a note from Youngstown:

As the national media spotlight continues to shine on downtown’s emerging high-tech cluster, the success of the Youngstown Business Incubator has caught the attention of three longtime industry professionals eager to be a part of the city’s changing business landscape.

Inspired by the incubator’s enterprising spirit and open-source culture, Marv Schwartz, Jeff Hermann and Jack Scott — successful businessmen with more than a half-century of combined experience — have become fixtures at the downtown tech campus in the last year.

The Northeast Ohio natives have been sharing their expertise with the incubator’s budding entrepreneurs to help the eight portfolio companies commercialize their ideas and bring their products to market.

At YBI, they share wealth of knowledge

This week, the Brookings Institution will be releasing an important report on the importance of exports to economic prosperity. The report should be released tomorrow. The launch event is scheduled for Tuesday.

The report presents valuable insights for NEO on the importance of exports to the regional economy. I was surprised at how deeply the Youngstown metro is tied to exports. As a percent of the economy, exports play a bigger role in Youngstown than they do in either Cleveland or Akron.

Shandong Province is part of China’s economic powerhouse, one of the leading manufacturing provinces. It’s the home of two famous brands: Tsintao beer and Haier appliances. Shandong is China’s third largest provincial economy. This is a potentially big deal for the Valley.

Regional Chamber, China Trade Council to Sign Economic Cooperation Agreement

Earlier this month, Med City News published a very good summary on Cleveland Clinic’s cardiovascular technology incubator that opened in April. The lab space is 75% leased; office space is 95% occupied.

Cleveland Clinic-led cardiovascular technology incubator aims high

Cleveland aims to use purchasing power to attract LED jobs
Jul 20, 2010 12:46 PM, By Michael Keating

Some time around Aug. 18, the Cleveland City Council is expected to approve legislation that authorizes the city to seek bids that would tie municipal purchases of LED lights to the creation of jobs at a new manufacturing and research facility in the city… [see full article here].

As today’s NYT underscores, engineers can learn a lot from failure. So can cities, if leaders take the time to reflect.

Aaron Renn provides an interesting take on the changing landscape for Cleveland and the Cavs.

Rather than trying to take on the Chicagos, Miamis, and New Yorks of this world at their strongest points, Cleveland would be far better served ceding that market and fighting where it can best compete. Believe it or not, not everyone wants to live in a huge global city. There are plenty of people who might choose to live in Cleveland, if the city focused on the basic blocking and tackling of city services, quality of life, and business climate instead of splashy grands projets. As Anthony Bourdain said this week:

I think that troubled cities often tragically misinterpret what’s coolest about themselves. They scramble for cure-alls, something that will “attract business”, always one convention center, one pedestrian mall or restaurant district away from revival. They miss their biggest, best and probably most marketable asset: their unique and slightly off-center character….Cleveland is one of my favorite cities. I don’t arrive there with a smile on my face every time because of the Cleveland Philharmonic.

In short, Cleveland needs less South Beach, less Chicago Loop, and more American Splendor. Ultimately, my bet is Cleveland will end up missing Harvey Pekar a lot more than it will any multi-millionaire sports star.

“James Drain” hits Cleveland

Here’s a good article providing background on local food policy councils.

Food Policy Councils support local economy