Perk Up Cleveland - Yes, Cleveland is a success! 10+ stories to prove it

There are so many great stories about successes in Cleveland -

Cleveland: Mayor Jackson delivers 'State of the City' speech - everyone should read this article in the PD, it provides highlights from the speech that were provided to the media. I can only hope this makes the front page tomorrow because THIS is what we need to hear! Here are just a few highlights:

1. Cleveland's budget is balanced - without layoffs (how many major cities can say this???)
   
2. Cleveland is providing loans to local businesses
3. Mayor Jackson is investing $1.5 billion in our neighborhoods
4. There is and will continue to be increased regional cooperation
5. Partnering with Cuyahoga County to make Cleveland a leader in wind power generation, both on-shore and off-shore
   
6. In August, Mayor Jackson will host a three-day summit, bringing together everyone from CEOs to students to create an action plan for building a green economy for Cleveland's future.

As a follow up to yesterday's yippie skippy on the CAVS, I can add that they clinched a playoff spot! Read the article from the PD

LaunchTown is being proactive and encouraging the success of tomorrow. Read about the contest encouraging college students to submit ideas for new products or services.
services.

Congratulations Michael DeAloia, James DeRosa and Francis Valencheck. Three out of the 53 emerging American leaders awarded the prestigious Marshall Memorial Fellowship are from Cleveland! Congratulations gentlemen, this is a great achievement.

Another winner this week is Caroline Keleman. She won first in the state for a doll she submitted at the Ohio Latin Convention in Columbus over the weekend. Congratulations Caroline!

Hats off to Women of Excellence that will be recognized next week; SARI FELDMAN, Executive Director, Cuyahoga County Public Library; APRIL MILLER BOISE, Partner-in-Charge, Thompson Hine; TINA HAMRICK, President, NAWBO & Partner, SJK Beringer Group Read the bios of these fascinating women

There's been a lot of publicity regarding the PNC deal, here's a bit of good news to come out of it - they are donating $2 million to introduce preschoolers to the arts

Sheffield Lake has a plan for a green economic development opportunity. If their wind turbine plan is successful it will become one of the first cities in Northeast Ohio to use the turbines to support part of its downtown.

Cleveland's Hopkins Airport's AirMall lands seven new tenants!

Our friends in Akron are having a lot of success too!

University of Akron ranks seventh in tech revenue - best efficiency in U.S. Ken Prestn, associate vice president for research and director of technology transfer for the university said, ''We have the ability to convert research into commercialization and revenue at a better rate than other schools that have vastly more research going on, these numbers are great for 2007.'' For all the details, check out the article on ohio.com.

The PD is reporting that developer Stuart Lichter plans to keep Ohio projects moving. I love this quote "We are not dropping anything," Lichter said. "There's no choice but to believe there's a future and we're going to get past this." The specific project mentioned is the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.'s new world headquarters.