Earlier in 2004, Peter Lewis offered to provide funding for a proposal to improve Northeast Ohio. Not that he hasn't already done his share - CEO of Progressive Insurance, Peter employs many people in the region, has been a major contributor to our arts and social program, and literally gave us the region's finest landmark building - the Gehry at University Circle - he has offered to do more. Unfortunately, on 11/16/04, Peter explained to area leaders that the proposals he received for the community were not sufficient. Rather than complain about Peter not funding proposals his wisdom rejects, REALNEO is getting the entire community involved to develop for and with Peter solutions that will lead to sustainable development for the region. Add pages to this book with your proposals, and comment on others - no whining... just winning!

A book of ideas, responding to Peter Lewis' request for proposals and continuing generosity in offering to help fund the future development of Northeast Ohio. Please add your proposals and build on others here.

Developing a sustainable community, defined by the UN as "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". How we may accomplish this for future generations of NEO is developing here!

Go Global Cleveland is a research, advocacy, and outreach
initiative designed to promote greater regional understanding of the importance
that internationals play in local economic development, and the need for NE
Ohio to be a welcoming destination for immigrant entrepreneurs, international technology talent, and foreign
direct investment.

According
to the National Association of International Educators, international students
to NE Ohio colleges and universities contribute over $100,000,000 to the
regional economy per year. Ohio’s nearly
19,000 international students (and their family members) made a net
contribution to the State economy of over $425,000,000 in 2002-2003. Read on to consider related opportunities - entire proposal is attached at the bottom of this posting.

Job creation, repopulation, and
rehabilitation of distressed housing stock, present the most difficult
challenges to Cleveland’s West Side neighborhoods. Entrepreneurial immigrants are an untapped
resource to help revitalize and repopulate the West Side neighborhoods. Why? Two reasons: high ratio of
entrepreneurship in immigrant communities; and population growth in U.S. cities
are predominantly driven by immigrant influx. Read the intruction to the following Pilot Program proposal below and follow the link and the bottom of this posting for the complete proposal:

The following Washington Post article puts the immigration issue and opportunity in economic development perspective, regarding NEO. From 1980-2000, foreign-born population of Cleveland sank 11 percent. Cleveland -- in earlier times known as a city of immigrants -- has joined
the ranks of cities seeking more immigrants. Civic and ethnic groups have
mounted major immigration forums over a three-month period. This region
is suffering an "entrepreneurial drought." Residents need only look
across the Great Lakes to the "bustling international metropolis of
Toronto" to see the difference. Toronto's population is 43 percent
foreign-born, Cleveland's only 5 percent. Read the entire article, posted here. 

In an increasingly global economy, highly skilled and entrepreneurial
immigrants provide the necessary bridge to the talent, business, and
capital in their homeland. The risk-taking factor in the immigrant
community, coupled with scientific accomplishment, internal networks
providing seed capital, and access to inexpensive overseas labor markets,
provide a formidable combination for local economic development. Recent
studies show that immigrants to the U.S. are much more likely to be
entrepreneurs than native-born Americans. For some immigrant groups, the
entrepreneurship rate is 2 to 3 times greater than the American-born
population. As a result, Northeast Ohio is less connected to global
opportunities (particularly in emerging markets), and remains vulnerable
to adverse consequences of globalization.

My thanks
to Ed Morrison and Betsey Merkel of REI for leading a vibrant discussion last Tuesday@REI
on the importance of international human capital (students, entrepreneurs,
knowledge workers, venture capitalists, etc.) to the future of NE Ohio. I am
pleased by their further interest in a potential collaboration between CASE/REI
and CSU/URBAN AFFAIRS COLLEGE in holding a national conference/workshop
entitled: â€œAttraction, Integration,
Retention of International Talent to Post-Industrial, Depopulating Cities.�

Regarding
this issue, Harvard Business Review and American Demographics Magazine this
month feature articles by/about Richard Florida who argues that nations and
regions that do the best job in attracting international talent (the best minds
the world has to offer, and very mobile) will prosper in the new global
market. 

The 11/16/04 Tuesday@REI session surfaced one of the most serious problems being confronting by America, our region, and Case today - the fact foreigners are not interested to visit, work, and study in America at levels seen in the past. This is in fact a reason for the most pressing and escalating outsourcing issues surfacing today, that American knowledge-based jobs and important innovations are being realized in foreign regions having greater talent than here - its not just about cheap labor.

Enlightened economic strategy appreciates diversity in population, education and workforce development, including attracting and retaining excellent international inputs through promoting immigration and visas for foreign entrepreneurs, students and workers. Because of current national and local economic, political and global conflict issues, America is facing a crisis of poor inflow of international talent - the world's best and brightest are not coming to America at previous levels, and that is of concern for USA and NEO universities, employers, and overall economic development. Addressing these issues in NEO offers opportunities and competitive advantages here. Read and post related information in this area of REALNEO.

Case's Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) has lead a movement in Northeast Ohio called "Making Change", and this is where related links, content and insight post on REALNEO.

Link to Preliminary Attendee List

Please go to this link to register with REALNEO for updates

1:00 – 2:00 -Close of Seminar - Networking

Comments from this session - Overview - post your comments below 

12:45-1:00 Next steps - 15 minutes

Work group reports, wrap-up and next steps

Comments from this session - Overview - post your comments below 

12:00 – 12:45 Panel Discussion - 45 minutes
Moderator: Ed Morrison

During lunch Ed Morrison led a panel discussion where he read to the panel questions/issued by the break-out groups for their feedback 

10:00-11:45 Applications 3: Sustainable Business Development

Assistant passes out participant folders

Moderator provides small group introductory comments and orientation - 10 minutes

10:00-11:45 Applications 2: Inner City Prosperity

Assistant passes out participant folders

Moderator provides small group introductory comments and orientation - 10 minutes

10:00-11:45 Applications 1: Creative Arts & Industries

Assistant passes out participant folders

Moderator provides small group introductory comments and orientation - 10 minutes

8:30-9:45 Learning - 1 hour, 15 minutes

Seminar on open source economic development

• Ed Morrison - Universities Collaborative
  
• Valdis Krebs – Social Network Mapping
  
• Laszlo Kozmon – Cooperative Processes
  
• June Holley - Civic Entrepreneurial Networks
  
• Jack Ricchiuto - Appreciative Leadership

Comments from this session - Overview - post your comments below

PANELIST 1: Valdis Krebs

8:15-8:30 Welcome and target outcomes for the meeting - 15 minutes

Ed Morrison welcomes the attendees, talks briefly about the history of Making
Change and describes the outcomes for the meeting.

Our Program

“Making Change: Creating New Networks for our New Economy�

Get Your Link On!

"Making Change:Creating New Networks for our New Economy"

WIth over 150 leaders of Northeast Ohio attending, and 100s of hours of effort by dozens for great economic development leaders in the planning, "Making Change" is an important event for mapping out the future of this region. Linked below is material you should review preparing for and following up on next steps:

People who complain there aren't leaders in Northeast Ohio fighting each day to improve our economy and quality of life are themselves ignorant and to blame for the problems in this community. Innumerable exceptional, dedicated, capable and effective leaders fight day in and out to improve everyone's lives here, every day - it is the people who do not participate actively in this process who are our region's "quiet crisis"?. Each day we have opportunities to be solutions - visit the REALNEO calendar frequently to get up to speed and learn where, when and how to make differences in the future of this community, participate in forums on-line, find and share insight with our community leaders, and take personal responsibility, now.