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9/20/2013
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$2.00/SEPTEMBER 23 - 29, 2013
ANALYSIS
INSIDE
County, MMPI grew apart Coming split of tradeshow partners reflects divergent paths By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com
It isn’t hard to compare the parting of the ways at the Cleveland Convention Center and Global Cen-
ter for Health Innovation with what can happen when two people marry too young, before each really knows where their lives are headed. Cuyahoga County and its partner, tradeshow complex manager
MMPI Inc. of Chicago, are parting, it appears, because neither side has maintained the enthusiasm for the other that they had when they were courting a half-dozen years ago and then got hitched in 2010.
Last Wednesday, Sept. 18, Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald told Crain’s his administration and MMPI are looking for an experienced convention center manager to take over operations at the complex. See MMPI Page 18
OHIO CITY HOME TO MARKET OPTIMISM
As venture funds struggle to raise cash, commission ponders investing
By STAN BULLARD sbullard@crain.com
P
By CHUCK SODER csoder@crain.com
atty and Steve Roberts recently sold their four-bedroom, Shaker Heights home with a large yard and in-ground pool to downsize, because their daughters are grown. The couple this month moved into a two-bedroom place with a one-car carport and 30% less space. The new place is a single-family home built in 1854 on Carroll Avenue in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood that cost $290,000. “We know we’re at the higher end in Ohio City, but we got a really good home,” Mrs. Roberts said.
As venture capital firms step out, the state of Ohio could step in. The Ohio Third Frontier Commission is thinking about funneling more money to young technology companies that normally would rely on venture capital, which is becoming harder to find.
INSIDE: With Third Frontier’s help, high-tech companies in state are hiring more employees. Page 7
See OHIO CITY Page 17
MARC GOLUB PHOTOS
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Bruce Carroll — right, of Schoolbelles — and other smaller Northeast Ohio retailers are seeing their school uniform business facing more of a challenge from major companies such as Walmart, Target, Kmart and TJ Maxx. PAGE 3
Third Frontier may open its wallet
Area has experienced an ‘enormous’ change in sales of houses at $200K and up
Steve and Patty Roberts’ living room
Sizing up the competition
Steve and Patty Roberts purchased their home on Carroll Ave. in Ohio City for $290,000.
In Ohio and across the country, venture capital firms are finding it hard to raise cash. Thus, they’re making fewer investments — a trend that many industry watchers expect to continue. Several members of the Third Frontier Commission and its advisory board voiced concern about the state of the venture capital sector last week during their annual retreat in Mount Sterling, just south of Columbus. See FRONTIER Page 7
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SPECIAL SECTION
GREEN CONSTRUCTION Green roofs can have a lasting impact on buildings and businesses ■ Pages 11-15 PLUS: GREEN SPACE PROFILES ■ INCENTIVE PROGRAMS ■ & MORE
Entire contents © 2013 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 34, No. 38