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lobal Cleveland Announces New Funding and Location of
Headquarters
Organization receives $1 million in initial fundingCLEVELAND, Ohio–
Global Cleveland, an organization focused on regional economic
development through actively attracting and welcoming newcomers, has
raised $1 million through its founding sponsors. The organization
also announced the location of the Global Cleveland Welcome Hub, a
connection point for all newcomers to Greater Cleveland.
Huntington National Bank bestowed the largest contribution to date
with a gift of $500,000. The Ohio-based bank, which has aggressively
expanded its services and gained market share in Cleveland, will
host the organization’s offices in the new Huntington Bank Building
on Public Square in the heart of Downtown Cleveland. The offices,
with a direct entrance on Euclid Avenue, will provide easy access
for all newcomers seeking opportunities, information and services.
It will also serve as a connection point for partner organizations.
“We believe in fostering a welcoming community and understand the
value in attracting and retaining talented people,” said Daniel P.
Walsh, Northeast Ohio area president, Huntington National Bank. “We
have a deep commitment to Cleveland’s economic growth and vitality.
Investing in an important organization like Global Cleveland that
celebrates our city’s strengths and actively attracts newcomers
complements Huntington’s community efforts in Cleveland.”
The emphasis of Global Cleveland is to connect people to
opportunities and the community to help attract and retain workers
for the more than 20,000 currently open jobs in the Cleveland
region.
Global Cleveland also received $150,000 from the Cleveland
Foundation, the world's firstcommunity foundation and the nation’s
second-largest today with assets of $1.87 billion and 2010 grantsof
nearly $85 million. The foundation improves the lives of Greater
Clevelandersnow and for generations to comeby building
communityendowment,addressing needs through grant making, and
providing leadership onvital issues.
“Newcomers are assets to our region and will contribute to the
broader community’s prosperity,” said Ronn Richard, president and
CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. “Increasing immigration and
migration of highly skilled workers to Cleveland will support
economic development as newcomers fill high-tech job vacancies,
start innovative companies and add to the educational attainment of
the region.”
The Jewish Federation of Cleveland and Forest City Enterprises
contributed gifts of $100,000 each. In February 2010, the Jewish
Federation of Cleveland contributed $35,000 towards a study on how
to retain and attract foreign born residents. In May 2010, the Maltz
Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation
of Cleveland, contributed $50,000 towards the development of a
business plan for the Global Cleveland initiative.
“One of our goals will be to significantly increase the population
of Northeast Ohio,” said Albert Ratner, chairman of the board,
Forest City Enterprises. “In order to reverse the trend of
population decline, we need to demonstrate that we are a welcoming
and open region with opportunity for all.”
In addition, in November, 2010, The Treu-Mart Fund, a supporting
foundation managed jointly by the Jewish Federation and the
Cleveland Foundation, contributed $75,000 and the Giving Back
Circle, a fund managed by the Cleveland Foundation, contributed
$10,000 as transitional funding to establish Global Cleveland. The
City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County are also founding partners of
Global Cleveland and have provided the initiative with support.
“We are extremely appreciative of our generous funders, partners and
civic leaders who have joined us on the mission to strengthen our
region by attracting newcomers and making them feel welcome in the
city,” said Baiju Shah, Global Cleveland’s chairman of the board.
“This is a critical economic development initiative to continue the
region’s revitalization.”
In addition to the Global Cleveland Welcome Hub, memorandums of
understanding (MOUs) have been signed with Positively Cleveland,
University Circle Inc. and Ohio City Near West Development
Corporation to establish satellite locations to ensure that
resources and information are available in their visitors’ centers.
Global Cleveland will also sign partnership agreements with the
Cleveland Public Library and Cuyahoga County Public Library to serve
as connection points, and the organization will engage existing
young professional, international and refugee-focused organizations
to help enhance and develop new programs to aid newcomers’ arrival
and integration into Cleveland.
“Positively Cleveland is excited to partner with Global Cleveland,”
said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Positively Cleveland and
the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “There are a lot of natural
synergies between our role as the region’s travel and tourism
economic development organization and the important work of Global
Cleveland.”
Global Cleveland will officially commence its services on May 24,
2011 with a free-public evening event at City Hall, and then a full
day working summit with community members on May 25, 2011 at
Cleveland State University. The summit will provide an opportunity
to educate and engage the community about Global Cleveland and its
programs.
For more information about Global Cleveland, contact Lauren Freiman,
communications consultant, at 216-861-1862.
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Global Cleveland is an organization that will help regional economic
development by actively attracting newcomers, welcoming and
connecting them both economically and socially to the many
opportunities throughout Greater Cleveland. Its focus is on
attracting skilled newcomers to the region, filling open jobs,
retaining talent, expanding community networks to spur innovation
and creating a welcoming and open region that is a place of
diversity and opportunity for all.
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