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The Greater Akron region hosts 21,000 businesses, including more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, creating an exciting and lively business climate. Comprised of three counties – Medina, Portage and Summit – the area is proudly known for success in the polymer, liquid crystal and biomedical industries, to name a few.
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Biotech Bioneers Region creates new frontiers
of research, enterprise
Second ActDowntown livingstages a revival
Big Ideas Born Here
Innovation centers cultivate the next great breakthroughs
See video of the Akron Zoo’s animal
magnetism
What’s Online
sesssssssss e
GREATER AKRON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
SPONSORED BY THE GREATER AKRON CHAMBER | 2010
imagesakron.com
WorkstyleBioneers in Biotech 20Greater Akron’s efforts create a new frontier of research and commercial enterprise.
Big Ideas Born Here 24Emerging companies fl ourish in the region’s incubators and innovation centers.
A Bounce in Its Step 28Polymer breakthroughs reshape an industry and an economy.
New Clarity in Crystal 32Cutting-edge research targets biology-related applications.
Second Act 34Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods stage a revival.
InsightOverview 11
Almanac 12
Business Climate 16
Energy/Technology 42
Transportation 44
Economic Profi le 56
LivabilityStrong Sense of Community 38
Health 48
Education 52
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ON THE COVER Greater Akron is a research and innovation powerhouse PHOTO BY JEFF ADKINS
All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer waste.
PLEASE RECYCLE THIS MAGAZINE
GREATER AKRON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 5
2010 EDITION, VOLUME 2
MANAGING EDITOR BILL McMEEKIN
COPY EDITOR JOYCE CARUTHERS
ASSOCIATE EDITORS LISA BATTLES, JESSY YANCEY
STAFF WRITERS CAROL COWAN, KEVIN LITWIN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAMELA COYLE,
JOE MORRIS, AMY STUMPFL
DATA MANAGER CHANDRA BRADSHAW
SALES SUPPORT MANAGER CINDY HALL
SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN McCORD
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS JEFF ADKINS, TODD BENNETT,
ANTONY BOSHIER, J. KYLE KEENER
CREATIVE DIRECTOR KEITH HARRIS
ASSOCIATE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR CHRISTINA CARDEN
PRODUCTION PROJECT MANAGERS
KATIE MIDDENDORF, JILL WYATT
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS LAURA GALLAGHER,
JESSICA MANNER, JANINE MARYLAND, KRIS SEXTON,
CANDICE SWEET, VIKKI WILLIAMS
WEB IMPLEMENTATION DIRECTOR ANDY HARTLEY
WEB DESIGN DIRECTOR FRANCO SCARAMUZZA
WEB CONTENT MANAGER JOHN HOOD
WEB PROJECT MANAGER YAMEL HALL
WEB PRODUCTION JENNIFER GRAVES
COLOR IMAGING TECHNICIAN ALISON HUNTER
AD TRAFFIC MARCIA MILLAR, PATRICIA MOISAN, RAVEN PETTY
CHAIRMAN GREG THURMAN
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER BOB SCHWARTZMAN
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT RAY LANGEN
SR. V.P./CLIENT DEVELOPMENT JEFF HEEFNER
SR. V.P./SALES CARLA H. THURMAN
SR. V.P./OPERATIONS CASEY E. HESTER
V.P./SALES HERB HARPER
V.P./SALES TODD POTTER
V.P./VISUAL CONTENT MARK FORESTER
V.P./EDITORIAL DIRECTOR TEREE CARUTHERS
V.P./CUSTOM PUBLISHING KIM NEWSOM
MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY KIM MADLOM
MANAGING EDITOR/TRAVEL SUSAN CHAPPELL
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR NATASHA LORENS
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR JEFFREY S. OTTO
CONTROLLER CHRIS DUDLEY
ACCOUNTING MORIAH DOMBY, DIANA GUZMAN,
MARIA MCFARLAND, LISA OWENS
RECRUITING/TRAINING DIRECTOR SUZY SIMPSON
DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR GARY SMITH
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTOR YANCEY TURTURICE
IT SERVICE TECHNICIAN RYAN SWEENEY
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER PEGGY BLAKE
SALES SUPPORT RACHAEL GOLDSBERRY
SALES/MARKETING COORDINATOR RACHEL MATHEIS
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY/SALES SUPPORT KRISTY DUNCAN
OFFICE MANAGER SHELLY GRISSOM
RECEPTIONIST LINDA BISHOP
C U S TO M M A G A Z I N E M E D I A
Greater Akron Economic Development Guide is published annually by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the Greater Akron Chamber. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by e-mail at [email protected].
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:Greater Akron Chamber
1 Cascade Plaza, 17th Floor • Akron, OH 44308-1192
Phone: (330) 376-5550 • Fax: (330) 379-3164www.greaterakronchamber.org
VISIT GREATER AKRON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE ONLINE AT IMAGESAKRON.COM
©Copyright 2010 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without written consent.
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I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 7
CONNECTIONS
LifestyleFind out what it’s like to live here and what makes the community such a special place to be.
ONLINEL IFEST Y LE | WORKST Y LE | D IGGING DEEPER | V IDEO | L INK TO U S | ADVERT I SE | C ONTAC T U S | S ITE MAP
WorkstyleA spotlight on the region’s innovative companies
See the VideoOur award-winning photographers give you a virtual tour of unique spaces, places and faces.
NEWS AND NOTES >>
Our editors give you the
Inside Scoop on the latest
development and trends in
the community.
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS >>
Meet the people who set the
pace for business innovation. DIG DEEPER >>
Plug into the community with
links to local Web sites and
resources to give you a big
picture of the region.
DATA CENTRAL >>
A wealth of demographic
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Biotech Bioneers Region creates new frontiers
of research, enterprise
Second ActDowntown livingstages a revival
Big Ideas Born Here
Innovation centers cultivate the next great breakthroughs
See video of the Akron Zoo’s animal
magnetism
What’s Online
s sssseesssse
GREATER AKRON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
SPONSORED BY THE GREATER AKRON CHAMBER | 2010
imagesakron.com
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GREATER AKRON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GUIDE
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 9
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 11
Overview
Greater Akron, On the ‘A’ List As a Place To Live and WorkTHE REGION’S BUSINESS CLIMATE AND SUPERIOR QUALITY OF LIFE PROMOTE NEW INVESTMENT
The Greater Akron region, comprised of Summit, Portage and Medina counties, is rich in history, commerce, industry and culture.
While the region built its commerce on rubber and tire production, it has transformed itself into a world-class center for research and development in a variety of high-tech industries, including polymers and liquid-crystal development.
In recent years, more than $2.5 billion in private capital has been invested in new plants and plant expansions, a testament that the region’s economic and corporate climate is ideal for growing businesses. Greater Akron is home to more than 21,000 enterprises, including more than 150 Fortune 500 companies. In 2008 alone, Greater Akron generated $291 million in corporate facility investments and 1,261 new jobs
For the second straight year, Site Selection magazine ranked Akron No. 2 among metros with populations of 200,000 to 1 million for new business expansions and locations.
A public- and private-sector partnership in October 2008 launched the BioInnovation Institute to capitalize on Greater Akron’s traditional strengths in research,
education and health care to create a nationally distinctive center of excellence for biomaterials and medicine.
Akron is in the heart of Northeastern Ohio, a 4 million-population region that is home to major league sports in baseball, football and basketball, hosts a major pro golf event and offers such cultural treasures as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, renowned art museums and a host of performing arts venues. You can tour local wineries, sample the creations of internationally renowned chefs, and soak up the vibrant and varied
nightlife that the region offers.With its versatility, cosmopolitan
flair, low cost of living, outstanding cultural access, history of innovation and ever-growing employment opportunities, it’s easy to see why Greater Akron is the ideal place to be for work, to live and to visit.
For more information, contact:
Greater Akron Chamber 1 Cascade Plaza, 17th FloorAkron, OH 44308-1192 Phone: (330) 376-5550 Fax: (330) 379-3164 www.greaterakronchamber.org
MEDINA
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SUMMIT
PORTAGE
Clinton
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Twinsburg
Cuyahoga Falls
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Akron
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Almanac
THEY HAVE ALL OF THEIR MARBLESAkronite Samuel C. Dyke cemented his place in the pantheon of great American toymakers when he automated his factory in 1884 and invented machinery to fully mass-produce toy marbles.
His innovation spawned a boom in Akron’s toy business, which had grown to 100 companies by 1884 and was turning out 1 million marbles a day.
The American Toy Marble Museum at Lock 3 Park in downtown Akron preserves the city’s toy industry legacy with interactive exhibits, research and programming. Go to www.americantoymarbles.com for more.
THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABORStotler’s Countree Acres Fruitfarm in Randolph in Portage County is a family-owned orchard that grows 113 varieties of apples as well as peaches, pears and plums.
Its 3,000 fruit trees cover more than 30 acres. If you want to pick your own, Stotler’s offers “U Pick It” hours on the weekend.
Its retail store on site sells jams, jellies, cake and muffin mixes, homemade donuts and pies, cider, diabetic products and country craft
items – and, of course, apples. Go to www.stotlersorchard.com for more.
A WHOLE DIFFERENT ATMOSPHEREBuilt on the cusp of the Great Depression in 1929, the Akron Civic Theatre is one of only five remaining atmospheric theaters of its size in the country, allowing patrons to experience a twinkling starlit sky and intermittent clouds moving across the horizon, all while sitting inside an auditorium.
The theater, designed by famed architect John Eberson, underwent a $22.6 million restoration that was completed in November 2002. Today, the theater hosts live entertainment and events ranging from ballet to jazz concerts to rock performances to touring Broadway shows.
In 2003, the Civic began a partnership with the city of Akron to program and operate the Lock 3 Live! outdoor performance venue in downtown Akron, featuring more than 80 events and attractions scheduled between Memorial Day and Labor Day. More than 350,000 people attend the events each year. Go to www.akroncivic.com for more.
Almanac
THE Stotler’sa familypeaches
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A WHOLE DIFFERENT ATMOSP
12 G R E A T E R A K R O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E
NEXT STOP, MEDINAThe Northern Ohio Railway Museum in Medina was founded in 1965 and makes it its work to collect, preserve, restore, operate and display streetcars, interurbans and other railway-related equipment from the bygone trolley era.
The museum’s collection includes a number of streetcars, and rapid transit cars, freight cars and engines, some fully restored.
The museum is open to the public on Saturdays from spring through fall. For more on the museum, go to www.northernohio.railway.museum.
ANIMAL MAGNETISMThe 50-acre Akron Zoological Park houses more than 700 animals, including the endangered Humboldt penguins, snow leopards, Sumatran tigers, jaguars and Komodo dragons.
The zoo, which draws 150,000 visitors each year, is one of only 221 world conservation zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo has undergone numerous expansions since it was founded as the Akron Children’s Zoo in 1953.
In 2005, the zoo underwent the largest expansion in its history with the opening of Legends of the Wild, which features 16 animal exhibits, more than 20 animal species and more than 400 total animals, including snow leopards, jaguars, lemurs and bats. Go to www.akronzoo.org for more on the zoo.
FULL OF HOT AIRFor 31 years each fall, the Portage County community of Ravenna has celebrated the heritage of one of its earliest industries, the manufacturing of toy balloons.
The Balloon-A-Fair culminates with the simultaneous launch of more than two dozen hot air balloons, and the weekend event includes a parade, crafts, fireworks and food. The 2009 event also included an antique tractor show. The 2010 event is set for Sept. 16-19.
For more on the annual event, go to www.ravennaballoonafair.com.
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 13
Connecting with Greater Akron has never been easier …
imagesakron.com1 FIND IT FAST: Our enhanced
search features let you fi nd the information you want in a snap.
2 GET WHERE YOU NEED TO GO: Our site is easy to use and
organized for quick navigation.
3 VIRTUAL VIEW: Flip through the pages of the digital
magazine – an enriched online version of the print publication.
4 SEE IT FOR YOURSELF: Experience fi rst-hand views
of the community in our video gallery and share them with friends and colleagues.
5 A PLACE TO CALL HOME: We give you the word
(and the picture) on living in the community, from health care to education to favorite local eateries to cultural attractions and recreation spots, in one organized and easy to access place.
6 WORK IT OUT: A content-rich and easy to navigate resource
on the community’s economy, organized by industry sector.
7 SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS: Learn about the people and
companies that have made the community thrive.
8 MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS: Meet the movers and
shakers that are shaping the community’s economy.
9 NUMBERS GAME: Drill down into the community with a
treasure-trove of demographic and market information.
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VULTURE CULTURE Call them buzzards, turkey vultures or Cathartes aura, but each March 15, the birds are tourist attractions in Medina County.
Residents of Hinckley Township mark the seasonal return of the birds to their Ohio roosts. The township, in conjunction with Cleveland Metroparks, has marked the annual return of the avian residents each year since 1957.
Sky watchers deck themselves out in all manner of buzzard-themed paraphernalia and the event is marked by buzzard-related activities, including buzzard displays and exhibits, hikes led by naturalists, live bird programs, music and storytelling.
TWO MARATHONS, NO WAITING Road warriors can double dip in Akron. The city hosts two annual marathons that draw thousands of runners and visitors.
The Road Runner Akron Marathon (www.akronmarathon.org) on the last Saturday of September winds its 26.2 miles through diverse neighborhoods, attractions and historical landmarks throughout Akron. The race draws some 10,000 runners.
The Ohio Canal Corridor is the setting for the annual Towpath Marathon (www.towpathmarathon.net), which has been run for the last 19 years. The marathon starts in Cuyahoga Valley National Park and runs through the picturesque scenery of the Towpath Trail located between Akron and Cleveland. The 2010 run is scheduled for Oct. 10.
PUTTING SOME ZIP ON ITWhen The University of Akron Zips kicked off the home stand of their 2009 football season, they did so in the confines of a brand-new, 30,000-seat stadium on campus.
The $61.6 million InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field includes 17 suites and 522 club seats. The new stadium pushed season ticket packages for the Mid-American Conference team to more than 4,200.
Almanac
ir Ohio roosts. The township, in conjunction Metroparks, has marked rn of the avian residents
e 1957.
deck themselves out of buzzard-themed and the event iszard-related
uding buzzard hibits, hikes ts, live bird ic and
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 15
16 G R E A T E R A K R O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E
Business Climate
innovation
workforce
investment
On a RollGreater Akron expands its economic baseStory by Pamela Coyle
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 17
G reater Akron is on a roll that is about much more than rubber and tires.
New investment spans medical devices, polymer and liquid crystal applications, aluminum fabrication and metals, and robust research in both public and private sectors. Despite difficult economic times, Summit, Medina and Portage counties continue to attract new companies, investment and innovators.
In 2008 alone, Greater Akron generated $291 million in corporate facility investments and 1,261 new jobs. In 2009, Greater Akron closed at least 15 deals for retentions/expansions and new companies, down from the average of 20 to 25 a year, but still a significant achievement, says Daniel Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber.
“For the size of Akron, that is really incredible,” he says. “We have continued interest from outside the region from companies looking to relocate. In this economy, we certainly have been challenged but continue to be successful.”
The success is getting attention. Site Selection magazine awarded Akron its No. 2 ranking among metros with populations between 200,000 and 1 million for the 39 corporate facility projects in 2008. A Brookings Institution study released in September 2009 ranked Akron at the top of its winners list for the year’s second quarter. It gained jobs in the second quarter, one of only five of the nation’s 100 largest metro areas that could make that claim.
“We’ve weathered it because we’ve had a major focus on bringing in new economy kinds of jobs,” says Samuel
The region is home to major global companies, such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which is building a new corporate headquarters.
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$291 millionCorporate facility investments in Summit, Medina and Portage counties in 2008
1.1 millionTotal of new commercial development in square feet
1,261New jobs created in region in 2008
2Akron’s ranking by Site Selection magazine in 2008 among metros with populations between 200,000 and 1 million
18 G R E A T E R A K R O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E
DeShazior, deputy planning director for Akron’s economic development department.
The region’s signature industry is part of it, too. Bridgestone is makinga $100 million investment in a 240,000-square-foot research center in Akron. Goodyear has sold its 480-acre headquarters, and the buyer plans to build a new $120 million downtown mixed-use complex with retail that the company would lease back for at least two decades.
Sewer, road and utility improve-ments started in early summer 2009, says Scott Baughman, Goodyear’s manager of public affairs.
“Goodyear, the City of Akron, Summit County and the other involved groups continue to work together and are focused on making this work,” he says.
Michael Nelson, chair of The University of Akron’s Department of Economics, says cooperation at all levels of government, across county lines and with the private sector is a significant factor in the region’s success.
“What is primarily going on here is good economic policy, building on the strengths you have,” Nelson says. “That requires cooperation.”
A push to grow the region’s medical device sector as part of the new BioInnovation Institute is a natural progression: Polymers are a main component of many medical devices, and biomaterials represent one of “five core areas we hope will generate jobs,” DeShazior says.
Twenty years from now, Colantone says, leaders will look back and note how this time marked another chapter in the evolution of Greater Akron’s economy. “If you study the history of the Greater Akron region and community, it has always been known as a region for invention and innovation,” he says.
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The iconic Goodyear blimp Stars & Stripes is a symbol of Akron. Top: Bridgestone plans a $100 million research facility in Akron.
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 19
Frequent FliersCHINA TRIPS PAY OFF IN GOOD WILL, NEW BUSINESS
Daniel Thomson, an Akron patent attorney, says the $2,000 it cost to join the Greater Akron Chamber’s nine-day tour to China in April 2009 paid for itself in new business within six months.
Before the trip, Thomson, a partner at law firm Emerson Thomson & Bennett, made appointments with five patent firms in Beijing. One of the Beijing attorneys already has sent him four patent applications in the chemical field.
“To file a patent application in the United States, it has to be filed by the actual inventor or a licensed U.S. patent attorney,” Thomson says. “I think the trip was fantastic.”
Seventy business leaders, politicians, consultants, academics and chamber officials made the first trip, says Becky Guzy Woodford, chamber senior vice president. When the chamber opened up a similar tour to the public in October 2009, 240 people signed up. Two similar trips, visiting Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai in April 2010, are on the books.
“Unless you are a major corporation, you don’t have the resources,” Guzy Woodford says, adding future trips to other countries are likely. “We wanted to be able to provide an introductory educational and cultural trip. We also like to use our buying power and offer our services to citizens of the community.”
The trips are part of the chamber’s expanding global initiative. Chamber delegations have been to major industry-specific trade shows in Mexico, Israel, Australia, Germany and India.
Ohio is the nation’s seventh-largest exporting state. Exports to China grew 40 percent from 2005 to 2006, 15 percent the following 12-month period and another 21 percent the year after.
“We are really tied to the global economy now,” Guzy Woodford says.- Pamela Coyle
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Bioneers in BiotechRegion creates new frontier of research, enterprise
Story by Dave Raiford
F rom manufacturing to financial services to technology, Greater Akron has proven itself adept at marshaling its assets to
place itself on the edge of emerging trends.Through a unique collaboration among
key education, health-care and technology partners, the region is poised to become a leading center of biotechnology innovation and enterprise.
In 2006, city leaders launched the Akron Biomedical Corridor to mesh the region’s expertise in material science with its burgeoning health-care enterprises, including three nationally renowned hospitals and research centers such as The University of Akron, the Orthopaedic Institute of Northeastern Ohio and the Northeastern Ohio Consortium for Wound Healing Research and Education.
After more than a year of groundwork, Children’s Hospital, Akron General Health System, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, Summa Health System and The University of Akron came together at the end of 2008 to form the Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron. The Akron-based John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation and the state of Ohio are also partners in the institute.
The institute’s mission is to identify the strengths of the region’s biomedical research and resources and provide a collaborative platform for the development of that technology.
Leading those efforts is Dr. Frank Douglas, who joined the institute as president and CEO in August 2009.
‘A SHARED VISION’Douglas, founder and former executive
director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center of Biomedical Innovation, says one of the attractions of the Austen institute was the strong spirit of collaboration by the founding organizations.
“There are areas in which they compete, but they nonetheless have a shared vision,” he says. “It’s one thing for leaders to get together, but a totally different thing to see them communicate that vision to the people who have to make it work. And they were already working together.”
More than 500 companies in the health-care sector call Greater Akron home, including
Left: The Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy is a founding partner in the Austen BioInnovation Institute.PHOTO BY BRIAN Mc C ORD
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 21
22 G R E A T E R A K R O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E
large medical device companies such as Philips Medical, OrthoHelix and Hitachi and biopharmaceutical firms such as Bohringer-Ingelheim and Affymetrix, spinal imaging firm SpineMatrix and Purell hand sanitizer pioneer GoJo. Combined, health-care enterprises conduct $500 million in health-care research annually.
“We’ll add to that critical mass as health care becomes a critical portion of the economy,” says Aram Nerpouni, vice president with Cleveland-based BioEnterprise Corp., a company formed to commercialize biotechnology developed locally.
The institute has identified five areas of focus, each of which will fall within a separate center of excellence:
The Center for Biomaterials and Medicine will focus on biopolymers, orthopedics and wound healing.
The Medical Device Development Center will be a resource for design, testing and manufacturing biomedical materials and applications.
The Center for Clinical Trials will work with participating companies and institute members to administer clinical trials and promote collaboration among scientists and clinicians.
The Center for Health Care Training will be a facility for simulation-based education, training and research.
The Community Outreach to the Medically Underserved will work to coordinate regional efforts to improve access to health services and wellness programs to underserved populations.
The institute’s centers will work out of individual space within the founding organizations, with the institute coordinating those efforts. Long term, leaders see the development of a campus that will be home to its administrative offices and The Center for Health Care Training.
As the institute grows, it will become an integral piece of the Greater Akron economy, serving as a magnet for scientists, companies looking to capitalize on the groundbreaking research being accomplished and patients seeking specialized care.
Those elements, along with its outreach programs to increase access to health services for those who cannot afford it, demonstrate a holistic approach that Douglas says will separate it from similar efforts in the nation.
“One of the things we talk about is the importance of creating not just an institute that is nationally known, but doing it in a way that increases the reputations of each of its founders,” he says.
The Austen BioInnovation Institute in Akron has set a goal to develop the top-ranked biomaterials and medicine program in the world within the next 10 years. Among its objectives:
• Developing nationally ranked orthopedic and wound-care programs
• Attracting $150 million in annual academic and clinical research
• Generating $50 million in annual commercialization investments
• Creating 2,400 jobs
BIG AMBITIONS IN BIO
The region’s major health-care enterprises have banded together to promote biomaterials and medical advancement.
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24 G R E A T E R A K R O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E
The Next Big IdeaEmerging companies grow in region’s incubators, innovation centers
Story by Joe MorrisPhotography by Brian McCord
G reater Akron’s legacy as a region driven by innovation is getting a boost as a phalanx of
research facilities and incubators spawn high-tech, creative companies that raise the community’s national and global profile.
The city’s Akron Global Business Accelerator is a prime example of both old and new approaches. Founded in 1983, the accelerator’s original focus was on manufacturing and assembly. It has successfully incubated dozens of companies in its 200,000-square-foot space. Its growth has been gradual, but its overall success – 48 companies currently call it home – has shown that Greater Akron continues to support a significant entrepreneurial base within its business community.
And that, in turn, means finding some new horizons, says Michael LeHere, chief executive officer.
“The city is working on establishing
its biomedical corridor, and we’re located in that,” LeHere says. “We have major hospitals and also a growing cluster of biomedical device companies starting here in our facility, and we have a very aggressive international tech-outreach program with cooperative arrangements with Israel, Germany and Finland. We’re taking biomedical technology developed in those countries and exposing them to U.S. markets. We’re also working with green-energy companies that are developing renewable-energy sources, so we’re really becoming a biomed and bioinnovation institute.”
MAKING CONNECTIONSThe accelerator’s current occupants
include NicheVision Inc., a provider of automated technology for crime labs; FMI Technologies Inc., which is creating medical systems that allow
William K. McCroskey, president and CEO of FMI Technologies Inc., works in lab space at the Akron Global Business Accelerator, an incubator for emerging companies.
What’s Online eRead more about Greater Akron’s research prowess and legacy of innovation at imagesakron.com.
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 25
Accelerated Praise
AKRON INCUBATOR WINS AWARD
The Akron Global Business Accelerator received kudos from the National Business
Incubator Association in 2008 for its global
technology commer-cialization initiative. That
program is designed to support new domestic
startups and attract foreign-owned firms involved in advanced
materials, energy, biomedicine, instrumen-tation and controls, and information technology.
The accelerator, founded in 1983, has successfully
incubated dozens of companies in its
200,000-square-foot space; 48 companies are
now housed there.
for advanced therapy for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias; and InSeT Systems LLC, which is finalizing a tracking and communication system for coal miners while they’re underground. For each of these firms, the accelerator has been the difference between just having an idea and being able to launch a product.
“If we had rented out any other space, we probably wouldn’t have met up with the people we need to make our product possible,” says Mike Millam, chief engineer at InSeT Systems. “Because of tours going through here, we have
met people from the Ohio Department of Development, who helped us apply for and receive an Innovation Ohio loan. We’re now looking at doing beta testing at one of the largest coal mines in Ohio during the first quarter of 2010.”
Akron joined with public and private forces for a $1.5 million investment in a technology-based incubator in Netanya, Israel. The Targetech incubator is an endeavor by the Israeli government to stimulate technology innovation. The government offers tenants of the incubator start-up loans, which are paid
Mike Millam, chief engineer at InSeT Systems, an Akron Global Business Accelerator client company. InSeT is developing a tracking and communication system for the coal mining industry.
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back if the company is successful and forgiven if the venture doesn’t survive. In return, companies give the incubator a 50 percent interest in their firm. The companies have also agreed that, when they are ready to establish a U.S. presence, they will do it in Akron. The city now holds a 40 percent stake in the incubator.
Another center of activity is Akron Polymer Systems Inc., (APS) which develops and commercializes high performance polymers for aerospace, optical and photonic applications. APS is preparing to move into new downtown digs in 2010 and will be a founding anchor in the city’s new bioinnovation corridor.
The 15,000-square-foot building will be owned by APS, a first for the institute and another indicator of how quickly and successfully bioinnovation is taking root in Akron, says Matt Graham, vice president of business development.
“We’ll be one of the first people to be in this new bioinnovation corridor, and it should be a very good location for us,” Graham says. “As a material supplier, we can help other companies that are developing biomedical products, and we’ll be able to promote the growth and development of this whole area.”
The activity in and around the region pleases officials charged with economic development, who say that strong growth in any one innovation sector can only lead to new ideas, and companies, finding the area an attractive place to set up shop.
“We have specifically targeted technology centers, such as our half-interest in an Israeli incubator, so we can bring them through our accelerator and get that product into the U.S. market,” says Bob Bowman, Akron deputy mayor for economic development. “That generates a lot of interest in us from early-stage companies around the world, so it lets us target other new and emerging industries as well. We can bring them here and connect them with sources of capital, so we can hold their hands through the entire process.”
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A Bounce in Its StepPolymer breakthroughs reshape industry, region
Story by Pamela CoylePhotography by Jeff Adkins
B .F. Goodrich and the other industrialists who made Akron The Rubber City more than a
century ago might not recognize today’s generation of engineered materials, but their legacy shines in a polymer sector that attracts global attention.
The regional concentration of polymer activity includes more than 400 companies and 35,000 employees. The University of Akron graduates more doctoral students in polymer science than any other institution in the country, and its research efforts are world-renowned.
Research across the region is cutting edge – f lexible cell phones that change colors, television screens that roll up for stowing in a pocket, wallpaper that morphs into a series of your favorite images. The applications for polymers – which, like the synthetic rubber that preceded them, start as modified oil byproducts – are virtually endless.
Medical devices, consumer electronics, business equipment and construction are just a few of the end markets.
Diamond Polymers Inc., has been in the business for more than 20 years
and provides polymer pellets for toys, lawn items, appliances, cosmetics packaging, automotive products, lawn and garden items, appliances and packaging. Manufacturers order the raw pellets for their fabrication plants.
“We are a value-added application,” says CEO Alan Woll. “We design what you need.”
The company’s newest line uses acrylonitrile styrene acrylate, or ASA, allowing the material to better withstand heat, pressure and other forces. That means the coating on vinyl siding lasts longer, the bright green body on a lawn tractor wears better.
Dr. Matt Graham loads a sample into a diffraction apparatus to determine the crystal structure of a polymeric material at the Goodyear Polymer Center on the campus of The University of Akron.
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“It is the most weatherable product there is,” Woll says. “Most of the big players want to run 100,000 pounds at one time. We bring the technical and niche boutique side.”
ENDLESS APPLICATIONSThe company, partnered with
Network Polymers Inc., its sales arm, also offers other composites, including polycarbonate, crystal and high-impact polystyrene, and high- and low-density polyethylene.
Ovation Polymers Inc. in Medina is a newer player with a different focus. The company started about six years ago with backing from Early Stage Partners, a Northeast Ohio venture capital company. It develops high-performance polymers for electronics, batteries, fuel cells, wind and solar components.
Ovation uses nanotechnology to compound polymers with specific thermal, electrical, elastic, lubricating and f lame-retardant properties.
“Our focus is on niche areas into conductivity and nanomaterials and nanocompounds,” says Ovation’s Asis Banerjie. “We’ve developed our own product line, and it is very diverse.”
Applications include tiny medical devices and aerospace components.
Carbon-based nanotubes are gaining momentum in many industries because of their high strength-to-weight ratio, Banerjie says.
In basic terms, polymers are plastics with added molecules that make them stronger and improve resistance to heat, shattering, chemicals and corrosion. Regardless of the target market, polymer firms in the region get a boost from multiple industry groups, including PolymerOhio Inc., the Ohio Polymer Strategy Council, Ohio BioProducts Innovation Center, the Center for Multifunctional Polymer Nanomaterials and Devices, and the National Composites Center, all based in Ohio.
The Akron Global Polymer Academy at The University of Akron reaches out to preschoolers through college students. The university’s Polymer Training Center sponsors courses on nanomaterials, corrosion testing, polymer compounding, medical elastomers and injection molding for engineers, and the university itself turns out highly sought-after candidates.
“Of our 58 people, 25 are graduates of The University of Akron,” Woll says.
By the Numbers
35,000Plastics industry employment in Greater Akron
400Plastics industry establishments in Greater Akron
No. 1Ohio’s rank for the manufacture of plastics machinery
10Percentage of U.S. plastics products made in Ohio
Dr. Darrell H. Reneker demonstrates the absorption capabilities of a nanofiber bandage he developed at The University of Akron’s College of Polymer Science.
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New Clarity in Crystal
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Research targets biology-related applications
Story by Pamela CoylePhotography by Jeff Adkins
T echnology that made possible video game displays, mood rings, cell phones and digital watches is breaking into biology.
Liquid crystal research done jointly by Kent State University and Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, or NEOUCOM, is headed for commercialization as a way to rapidly test beach water for microbial contaminants such as E. coli. Applications in medicine, such as rapid testing for urinary tract infections and food safety, may not be far behind. The same technology could quickly detect anthrax or plague.
Crystal Diagnostics already has a working prototype of its water biosensor and has tested it along California’s beaches. The company is one of many spinoffs from the Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State, a research powerhouse and global leader in the field for nearly 50 years. The institute was established in 1965 by Dr. Glenn H. Brown, a Kent State chemistry professor who helped make the university a global leader and sparked greater interest for studying applications of liquid crystals, an in-between stage of matter first discovered in the 19th century.
IT’S IN THE WATERWater testing is not only a big public health
issue, but also a huge economic one. Closed beaches can cost coastal communities and even those along inland lakes millions in lost tourism and recreational revenue. Traditional technology involves growing cultures from water samples to test for harmful invaders, a process that requires waiting at least 24 hours and the services of a microbiologist.
The liquid crystal biosensor can detect microbes faster and at smaller concentrations.
The process takes place in near real time, with a portable laptop-sized “laboratory” that analyzes the results with the push of a button, says Bob
Bunting, Crystal Diagnostics’ CEO. Microbial testing is a $30 billion industry. No other firms, Bunting says, are using liquid crystals.
“We are coming at it with a different technology,” he says. “We know we are going to be faster and we know we are going to be easier to use.”
These tiny crystals – a phase of matter between liquid and solid – are very sensitive to small changes in their environment. Biosensors use the unique alignment and optical qualities of liquid crystals, and the microbes create a disruption in the matrix that allows rapid detection.
The goal is commercial launch of the technology within two years, Bunting says.
“Patience is a virtue in technology development,” he says.
Gregory Wilson, Kent State’s associate vice president for university relations and economic, development and strategic partnerships, is optimistic. Kent State and NEOUCOM granted Crystal Diagnostics an exclusive license of the patented technology in 2009.
The company has some operations in Colorado, but also is a tenant at Kent State’s Centennial Research Park. In 2008, the project received a $3 million Wright Project grant from the Ohio Department of Development; the company received a NorTech innovation award in 2009.
“I think they have outstanding prospects for success,” Wilson says. “We are very excited about it. This kind of rapid-sensitive technology can be used in the medical market, defense, food, milk testing and meat sensors.”
Crystal Diagnostics is the 16th commercial venture that got its start at the institute’s labs since 1996, he says. “We have a very entrepreneurial spirit,” Wilson says. “This is a new advancement out of displays and into the bio arena.”
Clear LeaderLCI IS RENOWNED FOR INNOVATIONThe Liquid Crystal Institute at Kent State University was named in honor of its founder, Dr. Glenn H. Brown, a faculty member in Kent State University’s Chemistry Department who established the LCI in 1965 and served as its director until his retirement in 1983. The Liquid Crystal and Materials Sciences building was completed in 1996. The three-story facility provides 65,000 square feet to house the Liquid Crystal Institute and the Chemical Physics Interdisciplinary Program. The building includes classrooms, a 150-seat auditorium, 22,000 square feet of laboratory space, clean rooms and display manufacturing line.
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Second ActDowntown, surrounding neighborhoods stage a revival
Story by Amy Stumpfl
W ith its strategic location and pro-business atmosphere, Greater Akron has long been
known as a hub for industry and technology. But as more people are discovering, downtown Akron and its surrounding neighborhoods also are among the region’s most desirable places to live, work and play.
Ken Stapleton, senior economic development adviser and executive director of the University Park Alliance, says the urban revival is all about creating the right lifestyle to attract the “creative class,” a term coined by economist and social scientist Richard Florida to describe clusters of people in arts, media, science, technology, education and other knowledge-based professions.
“The main goal – whether you’re talking to employers or economic development professionals – is attracting the creative talent that is essential to the region’s success,” Stapleton says. “These people are
looking for a ‘green’ lifestyle – active, walkable city living, with great diversity and amazing arts and cultural amenities.
A 50-block area surrounding The University of Akron, the dynamic University Park neighborhood plays host to a variety of business and residential developments, including Spicer Village, a 25-unit townhome community featuring plenty of amenities and ample green space.
“Spicer Village is a great example of green living with rooftop gardens, Energy Star appliances and bamboo f looring,” Stapleton says. “But what makes University Park unique is the access to the university campus and vibrant urban core. We’re just improving on Akron’s already-strong amenities.”
BRINGING THEM BACK DOWNTOWNJoel Testa, chief operating officer of
locally based builder and developer Testa Cos., points to Akron’s many
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One of Greater Akron’s greatest features is its ready access to nature and the outdoors.
From downtown parks to Summit County’s acclaimed Metro Parks system to a bevy of state sites to the crown jewel that is Cuyahoga Valley National Park, hikers, bikers, skiers and nature lovers of all stripes can get outside in Greater Akron.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the only national park in the Buckeye State, is just minutes from downtown Akron. Its 33,000 acres of ravines, waterways and forests draw nearly 2.5 million visitors a year and provide countless opportunities for recreation.
The Towpath Trail, a hard-pack path once used by mules pulling barges down the Ohio & Erie Canal, is now a haven for strollers, bikers and runners. The Canal Visitor Center highlights 12,000 years of the valley’s history, including the canal’s heyday, and the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad lets riders take a 26-mile tour of the valley aboard a vintage diesel train.
Metro Parks manages nearly 10,000 acres, including 13 developed parks, six conservation areas and more than 120 miles of trails, including a 33.5-mile Bike & Hike Trail.
The parks draw an average of 4 million visitors each year, with more than 50,000 people taking part in the annual Fall Hiking Spree and an estimated 10,000 people participating in the award-winning Spree For All, an annual spring hiking series for visitors of all abilities.
The Wolf Creek Environmental Center, part of the Medina County Parks District, is a 250-acre site that serves as an outdoor classroom for connecting people with nature. The center offers a number of programs geared to schoolchildren, and its facilities include a building with a classroom for formal instruction and a lab room for detailed studies.
location advantages and a downtown that offers a rich collection of galleries, restaurants, nightlife and other attractions. “The only thing missing was the residential option,” he says.
Testa is working to remedy that situation, marketing the company’s Northside Lofts as “The Cure for Suburbia.” Located in the trendy arts and entertainment district of downtown Akron, Northside Lofts offers a decidedly upscale urban lifestyle complete with sophisticated amenities normally associated with world-class hotels. From dedicated concierge services to a private limousine, Northside residents enjoy ready access to all that the city has to offer.
A healthy mix of shops and restaurants also is emerging, including The VegiTerranean – a hot new vegan restaurant opened by Akron native and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Chrissie Hynde.
“We run into people who grew up here and moved away, and they can’t believe the transformation,” Testa says. “They’re blown away.”
But along with attracting new investment, Stapleton insists that successful revitalization efforts are about facilitating a genuine sense of community through local partnerships and neighborhood events. For example, University Park hosted the inaugural “Light-UP” Lantern Festival in October. Presented by the University Park Business Association in cooperation with Leandra Drumm Designs, the free, family-friendly event presented a colorful display of lantern lights as well as plenty of music, dance, performance art and great food.
“This is the kind of event that makes University Park so special,” Stapleton says. “Here’s an active, self-organized business group bringing the neighborhood together for an evening of fun. Engaging the community and celebrating the global culture that already exists, that’s a big part of what’s driving our success.”
A Year-Round ExercisePARKS MAKE OUTDOOR FUN A FOUR-SEASON EXPERIENCE
Clockwise from top: The Townhomes at Spicer Village in University Park. Icehouse Lofts are creative studios with a contemporary style. The public library is an anchor in University Park.
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Region is a draw for entrepreneurs, young professionals
I t would seem as if Heather Barnes is already too busy.
She is a married mother of three, a patent attorney with law firm Brouse McDowell and on the board of National Super Kids Classic, a national soap box derby event for children with special needs. She is also president of Torchbearers, an Akron-based young professionals’ organization that focuses on leadership skills and active participation in the community.
“I’m busy, but I like it that way,” she says.
Barnes was raised in Steubenville, but attended The University of Akron and now lives in Green in Summit County.
“I especially like Akron because it’s a big city with a small town feel,” she says. “It seems to be ideally located, with quick access to major cities like Cleveland, Columbus and Pittsburgh.
I can honestly say that my family and I are thriving these days living in the Greater Akron environment.”
In fact, many young professionals are thriving thanks to Greater Akron’s sound economy, neighborhood and community diversity, and rich cultural and recreational opportunities. Those factors have helped to attract and nurture a cadre of young professionals.
Ray Lampner, 39, has spent most of his life in the Akron area. He and his wife, Blair, appreciate the quality schools for their three children and the accessibility of parks and recreation opportunities. Lampner lives in Fairlawn and is director of BCG & Co., which helps privately owned businesses that are planning mergers or seeking to acquire assets. “The cost of living in Northeast Ohio is reasonable, and I also appreciate the easy access to good
Strong Sense of Community
Story by Kevin Litwin
Livability
Clockwise from top: Colorful houses framed by an iron sculpture created by artist Don Drumm in University Park. Cascade Valley Park in Akron. VegiTerranean is a restaurant opened by Akron native and rock singer Chrissie Hynde at downtown’s Northside Lofts.
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transportation routes,” he says.Lampner is also involved with a
local United Way chapter, and is impressed with how many companies throughout the region are stepping up to support the nonprofit even in difficult economic times.
“It’s nice to know that if my family was ever faced with a tough situation, the people of Greater Akron are here to help one another,” he says. “This is a community that really cares, and proves it all the time.”
Meghan MacDonald, 34, is an Akron native who now lives in Sharon Township. She works in Cuyahoga Falls and owns Meghan MacDonald Insurance Agency Inc., which is affiliated with State Farm.
“I especially enjoy the restaurants, shopping opportunities and
friendliness of the people in Akron and the surrounding areas,” she says. “Akron is very welcoming to its residents. It’s easy to fit in here.”
MacDonald is also a community-minded young professional who serves as a member of Torchbearers.
“I am past president of the group and am most proud that many Torchbearers members serve on nonprofit boards,” she says. “This is a successful community, and one that gives back. Maybe that’s why it’s so successful.”
What’s Online See video of military aviation history at the MAPS museum at imagesakron.com. B
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Cascade Valley Park Mustill Area in Akron
Sporting events are part of the social and recreational fabric of Greater Akron. Here are just a few examples:
KING JAMESThe Cleveland Browns of the NFL and Cleveland
Indians of baseball’s American League play just a short drive away from downtown Akron.
And Akron native LeBron James, National Basketball Association superstar and one of the world’s most recognized athletes, plays just up the road for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
James supports a number of charitable causes in the community.
Founded in 2004, the LeBron James Family Foundation aims to empower children and single-parent households through programs and initiatives that strengthen the ties between family members and build hope through education, physical fitness and improved health.
An annual bikeathon in Akron supported by James draws some 3,500 riders, with proceeds donated to local charities.
WGC BRIDGESTONE INVITATIONALThe Bridgestone Invitational is one of four World Golf
Championships and brings together the most elite players in the game.
The tournament is played at Akron’s famed Firestone Country Club on the 7,400-yard South Course. The tournament always fields the top players in the game.
Bridgestone has agreed to renew its title sponsorship and the tournament will be played at Firestone through at least 2014. The 2010 event is scheduled for Aug. 3-8.
For more, go to www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r476.
AKRON AEROSAkron has its claim on the summer game.The Double-A Akron Aeros, an affiliate of the Cleveland
Indians, play their game downtown at Canal Park, a $31 million stadium that opened in 1997, seats 9,100 and features 25 luxury boxes.
In 2009, the team won its third Eastern League championship in seven years.
Go to www.akronaeros.com for more on the team.
ALL-AMERICAN SOAP BOX DERBYAkron is the birthplace of the Soap Box Derby,
sometimes called The Greatest Amateur Racing Event in the World.
The All-American Soap Box Derby is a youth racing program that began nationally in 1934, with world championships held each summer at Derby Downs in Akron. Youngsters from throughout the United States and several foreign countries build nonmotorized cars that they ride and steer in a straight line down a steep road. Racers are grouped into three divisions based on age and level of expertise.
The 73rd All-American Soap Box Derby takes place in Akron on July 24, 2010. Go to www.aasbd.com for more.
The Sporting LifeBIG NAMES, EVENTS LEAVE PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT
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Clockwise from top left: Mark L. Cironi, president and founder of Green Energy Technologies, and the company’s signature WindCube product. Solar generation is catching on as an energy source in the Greater Akron region.
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Renewable-energy enterprises take root in Greater Akron
G reen energy businesses are sprouting up all across Greater Akron, and the region’s
entrepreneurial culture is serving the f ledgling industry well.
Even before Green Energy Technologies’ signature product – the WindCube – hit the market, would-be customers were lined up at founder and President Mark Cironi’s door.
The rooftop design uses a wind-tunnel effect to create 60 kilowatts on site. For big box stores, malls, commercial office buildings, industrial sites and even condo complexes, the payback could come as little as three years after factoring in tax breaks and other government incentives.
The WindCube system, designed for big energy users with small footprints, costs $250,000 to $300,000, not including installation.
“The demand is enormous,” Cironi says.
The company received $2 million in equity financing in 2009 from Roth Bros. Inc. in Youngstown to help finance initial production and commercial launch. The first system went up on Crown Battery’s facility in Fremont in July 2009.
Cynthia Bailey launched The Energy Junction LLC in Cuyahoga Falls after realizing that general information about the benefits of renewable energy bombarded a public that had few places to turn for real-world answers about what might work for their homes or businesses.
Greener Pastures
Story by Pamela Coyle
Energy/Technology
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has awarded a fi ve-year grant of up to $25 million to Cleveland-based OneCommunity, an acclaimed expert in helping communities create sustainable universal access, to create the Knight Center of Digital Excellence in Akron. The center will support deployment of networking technology for community-based digital-access projects and extend broadband Internet connections for community residents and businesses. For more, go to www.knightcenter.info.
MORE INSIGHT
“That was my million-dollar question,” says Bailey, who started the business as an at-home consulting enterprise after losing her 20-year job in marketing and sales. “Nobody knew where to go.”
She started the home-based work in April 2008 and held the official “vine-cutting” ceremony for the new company in July 2009. “I wanted to do it in a way that had the quickest impact,” Bailey says.
The Energy Junction promotes wind and solar power for homeowners and businesses, serves as a renewable-energy broker, conducts energy audits and counsels workers who want jobs in this growing sector. Bailey helps homeowners and companies determine if solar, wind or a combination of the two makes sense for their site, financially and otherwise.
“I have an engineering team that I work with and we put a plan together and see if it makes economic sense, and if it does not make sense, I will not sell a system,” she says.
If solar is the ticket, Mark Farson is ready to go.
Solar Cents LLC, also in Cuyahoga Falls, installs solar systems to supplement conventional heating systems in homes and businesses.
The sun shines plenty, even on cold winter days, and a solar system can generate 15 to 30 degrees, says Farson. One client heats his pool to 85 degrees with a solar array in the summer; in October, he f lips a few switches and the sun’s power allows him to keep his home thermostat set at 50 degrees. The system will pay for itself in four years.
“He was spending $1,000 a month to heat his pool with gas,” Farson says.
Businesses also are getting interested. One manufacturer considering a 40-panel array spends $1.5 million a year on heating and cooling; Farson says he could cut his bill by a third.
“What you want to look at is your payback,” he says. “If it is more than seven years, you may not want to do it.”
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Transportation
Cost, convenience make traffic soar at Akron-Canton Airport
A kron-Canton Airport is D.C.-bound. US Airways added daily nonstop service between Akron
and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in 2009, another significant achievement in what was another record year for the airport.
“We have never had access to any of the three Washington airports, but now we do, and we’re ecstatic about it,” says Kristie Van Auken, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Akron-Canton Airport. “Washington, D.C., is a coveted slot.”
Nearly 1.5 million passengers used the airport in 2008, nearly 6 percent better than the previous year and more than 3.5 times the number of passengers who f lew Akron-Canton as recently as 10 years earlier. Even with Cleveland-Hopkins International
Fresh Airspace
Story by Kevin LitwinPhotography by Brian McCord
1.47 millionAkron-Canton Airport
passenger count in 2008
300,000Size of terminal in square feet
at Akron-Canton Airport
11Number of nonstop destinations
from Akron-Canton Airport
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Airport in the region, Akron-Canton is drawing passenger traffic throughout Northeast Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and even West Virginia.
“One of the key reasons why this airport has grown so much in popularity over the past 10 years is the introduction of low-fare service, especially fares provided by AirTran,” Van Auken says. “They are the carrier that deserves much credit for our growth, simply because of the good deals they provide travelers.”
AirTran started at Akron-Canton with nonstop service to Atlanta and then added New York City, Boston, Orlando, Tampa, Ft. Myers and Ft. Lauderdale.
“AirTran features big jets, and every f light has a comfortable business class section,” Van Auken says. “They offer low fares and high quality to business travelers, and AirTran helps to make Akron-Canton the envy of many communities our size across America.”
The airport also offers affordable fares to the West thanks to Frontier Airlines and its nonstop service to Denver. Akron-Canton also has Delta and United in its airline carrier lineup, which can link passengers to international destinations.
“We don’t have the hassle and stress of big airports, plus offer low fares,” Van Auken says. “Those fares are a big
reason why we attract passengers from as far away as West Virginia. Families will drive here from 3 1/2 hours away to save $200 a ticket in this economy.”
The airport was established in 1946, and Van Auken credits government leaders for their wisdom in locating Akron-Canton along a busy interstate.
“Having an original on-ramp and an off-ramp built along Interstate 77, which is a main corridor in Ohio, was what set up this airport for success right from the start,” she says. “The interstate makes everything easy for the airlines, and just as important, it makes everything easy for our passengers.”
PASSENGER TRAFFIC: 1.47 million in 2008, up 5.6 percent from 2007
CARRIERS: Five commercial airlines – AirTran, Delta, Frontier Airlines, United Express and US Airways
SERVICE: Nonstop fl ights to New York, Boston, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Ft. Myers (seasonally) Akron-Canton Airport offers the lowest average airfare in Ohio
FACILITIES: 300,000-square-foot terminal, fi ve baggage carousels, business lounge
RUNWAYS: Two 7,600-foot runways, one of which is being extended to 8,200 feet
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT: The adjacent 47-acre Port Jackson industrial park; the 157-acre Foreign Trade Zone 181, operated by Summit County Port Authority, is nearby
SOARING SUCCESS AKRON-CANTON AIRPORT
www.akroncantonairport.com
The Akron-Canton airport handled a record 1.47 million passengers in 2008, and the volume increases set monthly records.
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On Board With the EnvironmentNEW TRANSIT CENTER IN AKRON IS CHOCK FULL OF SUSTAINABLE FEATURES
Akron’s transit system has taken on a greener look.
The Metro Regional Transit Authority has opened a $17 million bus station equipped with several renewable features.
The Metro Intermodal Transit Center in Akron’s downtown features solar panels and an ecofriendly heating and cooling system.
The transit authority spent a year building the 14,000-square-foot transit center, which can comfortably accommodate 300 people. Environmentally friendly features of the center, used by more than 4,000 transit riders each day, include capturing and storing rainwater for use in restrooms and landscaping and use of “green” cleaning supplies. The center features Ohio’s largest array of solar panels, which help generate about a third of the energy needed to heat the terminal. And a 45-well geothermal system installed at the site also is designed to help with heating and cooling. About 75 percent of the construction waste for the project was recycled.
Transit authority officials expect the building to earn a LEED certificate from the U.S. Green Building Council, which recognizes adoption of sustainable green building and development practices. The center’s amenities include free wireless Internet access and art displays.
The transit system provides service on 37 routes including neighborhood circulator routes that don’t go downtown and two express routes to Cleveland.
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Health
Hospital systems, academic centers create potent health hub
W hether it’s for nationally recognized expertise and treatments or the sheer
volume of employees and their related economic impact, Greater Akron’s medical and research facilities are key components of this thriving region.
Akron General Health System and Summa Health System call the city home, and both employ thousands of
health professionals ranging from physicians to nurses to community-outreach specialists.
Akron Children’s Hospital, the largest pediatric-care provider in Northeast Ohio, serves 450,000 patients each year and performs more pediatric surgeries than any other hospital in the region. At its 253-bed main facility in downtown Akron and
Booster Shots
Story by Joe Morris
Children’s Hospitalwww.akronchildrens.org
285Total licensed beds
3,907Employees
8,647Admissions in 2008
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40 related locations in the region, the hospital focuses on more than 30 areas of specialized medicine and surgery staffed by 600 medical workers.
A major health asset for the region is the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, a collaboration among four public universities, community pharmacies, two boards of health and area teaching hospitals that offer graduate-level research and degree opportunities.
Summa Health has focused on a fully integrated delivery system in which hospitals and health plans tie in with technology and physicians, says Tom Strauss, president and CEO.
“We’ve seen a very rapid expansion in the last three years that really brings all those elements of our strategic plan together,” Strauss says. “But we’re really excited about the culture we’ve created between the way we care for patients and also for each other, which we think makes a difference for the people who work here at Summa.”
The provider has moved into the joint-venture hospital arena and is opening up specialty centers within its main campus and elsewhere to meet specific community needs.
Summa and Akron General are key
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Akron General Health Systemwww.akrongeneral.org
572Total licensed beds
5,651Employees
29,836Admissions in 2008
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partners in Greater Akron’s efforts to establish the region as a major center of bioscience innovation.
At Akron General, the push remains strong for general health and wellness, so the system continues to expand its lifestyle centers within the community, says Jim Gosky, director of media and public relations.
“We are consistently being recognized for our fitness centers, and the people here have really made them popular,” Gosky says. “In summer 2009, we opened an emergency center at one site, so we were able to expand the services at that campus. That’s
something we’re looking at doing at our centers in growing population areas, because it’s a way we can add different services in communities without acquiring or merging with other hospitals.”
Northeastern Ohio Universities’ researchers are spinning out ideas from the lab into the commercial realm, which is helping to grow the area’s emerging biotech industry as well, says Dr. Walter Horton, vice president of research and also associate dean of graduate studies at the Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy.
The school attracted more than $10 million in new research funding in 2008 for such efforts as a study on how the brain functions in various neurodegenerative diseases and for programs such as the BeST Center, which is establishing a model for a community-based treatment program for schizophrenia.
“We are a very active core of what’s going on around here in terms of biomedical research and commercialization,” Horton of Northeastern Ohio Universities says. “There’s a lot of activity, and it’s all happening right here in Akron.”
Treated WellTHE REGION BOASTS A STRONG NETWORK OF CARE PROVIDERS
A commitment to high-quality health care doesn’t end at the Akron city limits.
In addition to its facilities in Akron, Summa Health System operates hospitals in Barberton, Ravenna and Wadsworth, as well as a number of specialized service and wellness centers throughout the region. It also maintains an ownership stake in Summa Western Reserve hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, whose majority ownership was acquired in 2009 by a group of 200 doctors in the community. The group plans to build a 100-bed, $100 million replacement hospital in northern Summit County with a target opening date of 2012.
Akron General Health System operates Lodi Community Hospital in Medina County, as well as rehabilitation hospitals, specialized treatment centers and other medical services providers throughout the community.
The 118-bed Medina General Hospital has more than 1,000 employees, and its 44 departments provide a full
range of services, including a 24-hour emergency room, a family birthing center that delivers more than 1,000 babies a year and high-tech surgical procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, and small-incision cataract surgery.
Its satellite facility, the Brunswick Medical Care Center, includes an urgent care center, physician offices, radiology services, and physical and occupational therapy services.
The county-owned Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna in Portage County operates a 150-staffed bed facility and offers a full slate of inpatient and outpatient services, an urgent-care facility, surgery center, imaging facilities and a network of physician practices throughout the county.
In 2009, the hospital opened a $21 million health facility in Streetsboro to consolidate a number of medical offices and bring several new services to the community.
Summa Health Systemwww.summahealth.org
2,060Total licensed beds
8,100Full-time employees
61,600Admissions in 2008 (adult/NICU)
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University research drives the regional economy
W ith a combined enrollment of nearly 65,000, The University of Akron and Kent State University are widely
known for academic excellence. Beyond the classroom, the two universities also serve as a catalyst for economic growth and development, thanks in large part to their cutting-edge research efforts.
As the largest public university in Northeast Ohio and one of the area’s top 20 employers, Kent State is a major player in terms of economic development, says Iris Harvey, vice president of university relations at Kent State. Educational services, research and entrepreneurial support are each part of the university’s mission.
Harvey says that Kent State provides a number of valuable resources for business, from state-of-the-art facilities and research to assistance with technology transfer.
“We have built strong relationships with local business and industry, and so much of
our research has been commercialized,” she says. “There are many entrepreneurial success stories, specifically within the area of liquid crystals.”
In fact, Kent State was a true pioneer in liquid crystalline materials, establishing its Liquid Crystal Institute back in 1965. Since then, the LCI has been the center for global advancement in the field, supporting both basic research and technological development. The Liquid Crystal Display Resource Facility at LCI includes a 3,500-square-foot clean room for the manufacture or prototyping of liquid crystal devices and related research, as well as a complete passive LCD pilot manufacturing line.
The University of Akron (UA) also sees research as a driving force behind its success. Known for its expertise in polymers and advanced materials, biomaterials and medical devices, advanced energy, computational science and nanotechnology, UA has built a solid reputation on technology transfer and
Classroom to Boardroom
Story by Amy StumpflPhotography by Jeff Adkins
Education
More Insight The University of Akronwww.uakron.eduFounded: 1870Enrollment: 26,000Campus: 87 buildings on 222 acres near downtown Akron; also operates Wayne College in Orrville and Medina County University Center, a 33,000-square-foot facility in MedinaPrograms of study: Certificates and associate degrees, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees offered in nearly 300 academic programsEmployment: 2,845
The University of Akron is a powerhouse in research and major economic asset for the region.
I M A G E S A K R O N . C O M 53
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54 G R E A T E R A K R O N E C O N O M I C D E V E L O P M E N T G U I D E
collaborative research projects. Each year, the university works
with more than 100 companies on various research projects, partnering with local industry to solve problems and create opportunities.
Recent partnerships have included big names such as Bridgestone, Goodyear, Lockheed Martin, Parker Hannifin and Sherwin-Williams.
In addition, UA’s Office of Technology Transfer assists start-up companies throughout the commercialization process, examining marketability of inventions, applying
for and maintaining appropriate patents, and arranging for the licensing of university technology.
According to Kent State’s Harvey, such collaborative efforts are crucial to any institution’s success and typical of the region’s pro-business approach.
“Like any university, we are constantly striving for strong community and corporate partnerships – and we’re very proud of our record,” she says. “Just as the strength and diversity of our students translate into a strong workforce, the global resources and partnerships we foster strengthen the local economy.”
New Branch of KnowledgeSTEM SCHOOL CULTIVATES MATH, SCIENCE LEARNING
The future is now in Akron Public Schools, with the opening of a school geared to math, science, technology and new ways of thinking and learning.
The National Inventors Hall of Fame School – Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning, or STEM, began classes in fall 2009 in a temporary space.
The school takes a major leap in fall 2010, moving into renovated space inside the former National Inventors Hall of Fame building in downtown Akron.
The school’s goal is to teach some 500 students in grades 5 through 8 21st-century knowledge and skills; increase achievement in science, math and technology learning; enhance delivery of science, mathematics, engineering and technology education; and develop innovative teaching and learning techniques that challenge the students and make use of each partner’s expertise.
The school capitalizes on Akron’s rich heritage and expertise in the sciences. And while math, science and technology are obvious focuses, the school is also close to such educational and cultural beacons as the Akron Art Museum and the main branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library.
The curriculum is designed to let students work collectively with inventors, STEM-related businesses and organizations, and faculty and students from nearby The University of Akron. The school prepares students to become inventive and creative problem-solvers.
The school, whose start was aided by a $600,000 state grant, is a collaborative effort among Akron Public Schools, the City of Akron, The University of Akron, National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation, Greater Akron Chamber and Akron Tomorrow.
www.kent.edu
Founded: 1910
Enrollment: 22,578 on its main campus; operates an eight-campus regional system in Northeast Ohio, with additional enrollment of 11,800
Programs of study: More than 200 majors and minors in 10 colleges, as well as interdisciplinary programs for undergraduates and graduates
Employment: 3,400
MORE INSIGHT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
Students walk across campus past fall colors at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio
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BUSINESS SNAPSHOTThe Greater Akron region hosts 21,000 businesses, including more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, creating an exciting and lively business climate. Comprised of three counties – Medina, Portage and Summit – the area is proudly known for success in the polymer, liquid crystal and biomedical industries, to name a few.
ECONOMIC PROFILE
What’s Online e For more in-depth demographic, statistical and community information on Akron, go to imagesakron.com and click on Economic Profi le.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$47,575Summit County
$61,812Medina County
$50,629Portage County
TRANSPORTATION
HighwaysI-77, I-76, I-71
AirportsAkron-Canton Airport, www.akroncantonairport.com, (330) 499-4221
Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, www.clevelandairport.com, (216) 265-6000
RailwaysAmtrak, www.amtrak.com, (800) USA-RAIL
BusGreyhound, www.greyhound.com, (800) 231-2222
COST OF LIVING (AKRON MSA)
Composite, 93.7Grocery items, 101.3Housing, 82.0Utilities, 101.4Transportation, 103.9Health care, 93.1Misc. goods/services, 95.7U.S. average, 100Source: C2ER
MAJOR EMPLOYMENT SECTORS
Manufacturing, 16.3%
Health Care, Education & Social Assistance, 15.5%
Retail Trade, 13.3%
Accommodation & Food Services, 8.8%
Admin. Support, Waste Mgt., Remediation Services, 6.9%
Wholesale Trade, 5.7%
Construction, 5%
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, 5%
Management of Companies & Enterprises, 4.8%
Finance & Insurance, 4.2%
Transportation & Warehousing, 3.3%
POPULATION
209,704Akron
542,562Summit County
171,210Medina County
155,991Portage County
SOURCES
census.govhttp://www.ci.akron.oh.us/http://www.odod.state.oh.us/research/www.greaterakronchamber.orghttp://www.retirementliving.com/RLstate3.html#OHIO
MAJOR EMPLOYERS & NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
Summa Health System 8,100
Akron General Health System 5,928
Akron General Medical Center 3,697
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. 3,500
Summit County 3,468
Kent State University 3,400
Akron School District 3,050
The University of Akron 2,845
FirstMerit Corp. 2,695
Akron Children’s Hospital 2,567
Ad Index 4 AKRON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
C4 AKRON GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM
19 AKRON METROPOLITAN HOUSING AUTHORITY
54 BOTNICK REALTY
40 CAMBRIA SUITES AKRON CANTON AIRPORT
22 CB RICHARD ELLIS
7 CHURCH AGENCY INC
40 CITY OF GREEN
27 COUNTY OF SUMMIT BOARD OF MRDD
47 FEDEX CUSTOM CRITICAL
C2 GREATER AKRON
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
22 HUNTINGTON NATIONAL BANK
2 KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
C3 METRO REGIONAL
TRANSIT AUTHORITY
9 NATIONAL CITY PNC
8 SHERATON SUITES AKRON
50 SUMMA HEALTH SYSTEM
10 TIME WARNER CABLE
BUSINESS CLASS
1 UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
6 WELTY BUILDING
COMPANY LLC
