Report Calls for Increased Exporting in Ohio

Today, the Brookings Institution released a report focusing on the importance of exports to both Ohio and the nation's largest metropolitan areas. The report, Export Nation: How U.S. Metros Lead National Export Growth and Boost Competitiveness, is the first comprehensive analysis of U.S. exports of goods and services produced in America’s 100 largest metropolitan areas. Seven of Ohio’s metros are included in the report: Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown.

Export Nation’s findings are consistent with Greater Ohio Policy Center/Brookings’ Restoring Prosperity report, which called upon Ohio’s regions to build upon their strength in manufacturing and exporting goods, while also strategically adapting to new demands in the next economy.

Both reports call for policies that promote increasing educational attainment, workforce training based on industry demand, and greater investment in innovation. Greater Ohio’s Restoring Prosperity report emphasized the need for Ohio’s state policy efforts to promote exports and encourage growth in Ohio’s cities and metropolitan areas.

According to Export Nation service exports make up a lower percent of total exports in Ohio metros than the nation's other large metros, which likely correlates to below average, college attainment.  With regards to goods exports, all of Ohio's metros surpass the national average.  However, the recent Brookings report also found that Ohio's major metros are comparatively weak in innovation as shown by patent rates compared with their national peers, despite the high levels of manufacturing employment and generally high export intensity.  Nationally, metros that are manufacturing oriented or export intensive typically tend to have higher patent rates.

Greater Ohio believes reliable export data can inform state and local leaders about the untapped export potential of Ohio’s metropolitan areas, and assist them as they reorient the state and its metros to the global trade environment to remain competitive in the 21^st century global economy.

For additional Ohio-specific export data click here or see the full report at http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2010/0726_exports_istrate_rothwell_katz.aspx

The Evergreen Cooperative in Cleveland

By Zach Crafton. Last week I had the opportunity to take part in GLUE's very informative and interactive conference. The three day event, which pulled together nearly 100 individuals from the Great Lakes region, took place in the heart of downtown Cleveland. Unlike many typical conferences, participants were not confined to the boundaries of the hotel (although the arcade is quite lovely) or even limited to the downtown area. Instead, we were encouraged to get out and experience Cleveland and all it has to offer, as well as learn a few lessons from projects that are working and some that are not.

That being said, last Friday afternoon, I eagerly took advantage of the opportunity to visit and learn more about one of Cleveland’s most innovative programs. A team of GLUEsters and me hopped on a bus and headed for the city’s east side to tour a commercial-scale laundry facility created by the Evergreen Cooperative. Now, I recognize that a laundry facility might not elicit intense excitement in most, but this laundry company is different in a number of ways.

Photo from Cleveland Plain Dealer

First, it focuses on environmental sustainability and exceeds all industry “green” standards. Second, it leverages its location to nearby anchor institutions (i.e. University Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, Case Western University, etc.) by focusing on their current/future demands for laundry services to create jobs in the community that would otherwise be lost to businesses outside of the neighborhood. Lastly, it is a worker-owned operation, focused on creating local jobs, community wealth (rather than simply providing a “living wage”) and equity in a neighborhood that has faced disinvestment and many other barriers.

The tour of the Evergreen Laundry Cooperative was hot (literally), but thoroughly interesting. I especially liked watching the laundry move from station to station on various mechanizes, which to me resembled Mouse Trap, a wacky board game I enjoyed as a child. Following the tour we were given a short presentation about the Evergreen Cooperative and its other worker-owned companies, including Ohio Solar Cooperative and the GreenCity Growers Cooperative. For more information on this nationally recognized program visit http://www.evergreencoop.com/.

GLUE Urban Laboratories Conference

By Katherine Buckingham. I just attended the Great Lakes Cities Urban Laboratories Conference in Cleveland, Ohio hosted by GLUE (Great Lakes Urban Exchange).  Over eighty people from across the Great Lakes region attended this exciting event.  It was three days of Cleveland tours and field trips, inspired speakers, brainstorming, and problem solving dedicated to the cause of renovating our rust belt cities throughout the region.  It was great to see so many young people committed to the revitalization of their cities.

The conference was themed around the Re-imagine a More Sustainable Cleveland plan which is an innovative strategy to put vacant land in Cleveland back into productive use.   Neighborhood Progress, Inc is working with the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative at Kent State on this effort.  Bobbie Reichtell of NPI and Terry Schwarz of the Cleveland Urban Design Collaborative gave an excellent presentation to frame the project.  Participants then worked in groups throughout the conference to think of signature projects for Re-imagining Cleveland 2.0.  This new version of the project is called Re-imagining a Greater Cleveland, and it is a county-wide framework for the use of vacant land.

Some of the suggestions for signature projects included variations of the “Mini-Emerald Necklace” plan to create off-road biked and pedestrian greenway.  Another idea was to use materials from deconstructed buildings to create an inter-generational playground placed on vacant land.  Other suggestions included urban agriculture related projects.  Do you have any ideas for Re-imagining Cleveland signature projects?

Happy Birthday Cuyahoga County Land Bank!

Congratulations to the Cuyahoga County Land Reutilization Corporation for finishing its inaugural year. So far, the land bank has acquired 212 properties and is on track to acquire an additional 500, due in large part to innovative deals they have finalized with Fannie Mae and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Greater Ohio hopes to send our birthday wishes next year to additional counties that have recently received access to this important tool and looks forward to continuing to keep you updated on  best practices and progress throughout Ohio in addressing the challenges caused by vacant and abandoned properties.

The Importance of Walkability

By Gene Krebs

Greater Ohio has been forecasting for several years that people would be and are already choosing to move to walkable communities and leave the car-centric city behind.  According to a recent article from the Wall Street Journal, the free market is now validating this assertion in stronger terms than we had anticipated.  The article explains that the desire to live in a walkable community is reshaping the real estate market.

"Today's home buyers aren't just looking for good schools and low crime rates when they evaluate a neighborhood, many brokers say. They're paying much more attention to what they can walk to."

This article confirms that the increased interest in walkability is not just a blip, but a burgeoning trend that is worthy of the attention of homeowners and policy makers alike.  If you want to checkout the walkability of your neighborhood, visit https://www.redfin.com/how-walk-score-works.