LAWSON JONES OFFERS PRAISE TO HRCC 'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Cuyahoga County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones was the guest speaker at the July meeting of the Heights-Hillcrest Regional Chamber of Commerce (HRCC) Civic Involvement/Economic Development Team. "It is my pleasure to be here today to talk to group that discusses economic development with both the civic and the private sector at the table," Jones said. Acknowledging the rarity of this combination, he praised HRCC's forward thinking in bringing vested players from both arenas together, particularly important for a regional organization. HRCC's Civic Involvement/Economic Development (CI/ED) Team formed two years ago, primarily as a means of offering HRCC's six member cities a forum for discussing best practices and common concerns with each other and the chamber. Member city mayors, community coordinators, city councilpersons, and economic development directors attend regularly, along with HRCC board and staff. Interested HRCC members and other community players are encouraged to attend and engage in the dialogue; participants hail from sectors as diverse as real estate, urban planning, higher education, technology, banking, workforce development, marketing, and media. Invited guest speakers from business and government have shared their own insights, opportunities and concerns with this attentive team. Past speakers have included Chris Mather of Nortech, Peter Rubin of The Coral Company, and Holly Harlan from Entrepreneurs for Sustainability.

HRCC Board President and CI/ED Team Captain Michael Struk is proud of the phenomenal collaboration this team affords. "That a city or an industry can succeed on its own is an antiquated notion. To thrive, businesses and the entire local community must work together." HRCC provides the opportunities and the resources for our business community to reach out to the residents, cities, and regional, state and federal leadership, and vis versa.

The CI/ED Team is one of dozens of HRCC programs designed to empower business people and strengthen commerce in HRCC’s member cities – Cleveland Heights, Lyndhurst, Richmond Heights, Shaker Heights, South Euclid, and University Heights. Members enjoy innovative networking and marketing opportunities, powerful professional development events, and big savings on business products and services. More than 300 member businesses create a wealth of resources from which to draw ideas, energy, and leadership. For more information on the CI/ED Team or any of HRCC's programs, call (216) 397-7322 or visit www.hrcc.org.