Chamber Pulse

JUNE 2016

The business community in Northeast Ohio is growing, advancing and thriving. So, businesses are in constant need of resources, information, and support to continue to build and develop. This is why COSE and the Greater Cleveland Partnership work collaboratively to represent the interests of our region’s enterprises – from global Fortune 500 corporations to middle-market companies to local entrepreneurs and small businesses. We’re dedicated to building regional prosperity by advocating for critical policy issues, advancing growth by supporting business development within our region’s companies, making capital investments to strengthen Cleveland’s urban core, leading the broader community discussion about economic development priorities and initiatives, and providing education, information and connections to help businesses grow.

GCP Focuses on Growing our Region’s Companies and Economy 

2016 will be a milestone in Cleveland’s history. The countdown is on with the start of the 2016 Republican National Convention less than three months away.

Here at the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP)—one of the largest metro chambers of commerce in the U.S.—we’re working collaboratively to help our city put its best foot forward as we host this phenomenal event, which is expected to be covered by more than 15,000 media reps.

We’re also continuing to advance other initiatives that support our region’s positive economic momentum. Our priorities include:

• Helping drive The Cleveland Plan and supporting college and career readiness.
• Expanding CEO engagement with inclusion initiatives through the Commission on Economic Inclusion.
• Driving business development with a focus on expansion and retention in targeted industry sectors.
• Advancing game-changing physical development projects that transform Cleveland neighborhoods.
• Assisting Cuyahoga County government with delivering economic development outcomes.

Keep reading for recent developments in two other areas of focus.

Advocacy: Activity Accelerates to Legalize Medical Marijuana in Ohio

The Greater Cleveland Partnership’s advocacy efforts are in full gear, working to ensure that employers’ rights are protected, if medical marijuana is legalized in Ohio.

As a member of the Ohio Metro Chambers Coalition—which includes chambers of commerce in Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo and Youngstown, and the Ohio Chamber of Commerce—the GCP is adding its voice to speak out about business community concerns and potential issues for employers should medical marijuana legalization get the green light.

Check out this recent “GCP Insight” interview, with GCP Senior Vice President of Advocacy Marty McGann to learn more about this issue and the business community’s advocacy efforts.

The ”GCP Insight” video series focuses on topics of interest to the Greater Cleveland business community.

Resources for Your Business

This year, COSE began publishing a series of Resource Guides meant to give members actionable advice in areas such as sales, marketing, information technology, and more. Inside each guide is a directory small business owners can use to get additional information related to the topic of that particular guide. The first of these guides, published in April, focused on sales growth and financials.