Industry Items of Interest

Employment Connection Can Help Upgrade Your Workforce  Hiring new employees?  Updating  the skills of your workforce?  Employment Connection can help and at NO COST!
Employment Connectioin, Northeast Ohio's premier workforce organization, is a collaboration between the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County that helps local businesses stay competitive.  Employment Connections' Business Service Team is concerned about your business, your employees, your bottom line, and your succes.  They are committed to developing a working partnership with your business; assessing and assisting you in your workforce needs and supplying you with the latest information concerning hiring and financial incentives that can benefit your business.  Employment Connection's goal is to help you find the right employees easily and quickly by developing a personalized recruitment strategy to save you time and money.  Employment Connection's business Service Team also has the latest information regarding training grants.  To learn more about Employment Connection contact Tom Hasson at 216-664-4123 or by email at tom.hasson@ula-ohio.org

MEMBER NEWS

Famicos Foundation Awarded Funding for University Towers  The Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) has awarded the Famicos Foundation $1,375,000 of Low Income Housing Tax Credits for the rehabilitation of University Tower Apartments.  This funding, which is a ten year credit sold to investors, will generate approximately $10 million of equity for the project.  Awarding of Low Income Housing Tax Credits is extremely competitive.  The award for University Tower, which ranked highest among all applications in its category, is one of the largest OHFA has ever awarded.  OHFA's award will be combined with Federal Historic Tax Credits and other funding to finance the $20 million project.  University Tower, located at 1575 East Boulevard is a 158-unit historic apartment building.  It was originally built in 1922 as the Sovereign Hotel and was converted to apartments in the 1960's.  Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2011. 


Land Trust Affordable Home Earns Highest Green Building Certification  The first Green Cottages project home, an affordable housing project of the Community Land Trust of Greater Cleveland has achieved a LEED Platinum Certification, the highest rating in the nationally recognized green rating system.  Fewer than 20% of LEED-certified homes achieve a Platinum rating.  The Green Cottage, located in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood,  is the only affordable home in Northeast Ohio to receive a Platinum rating.  It is one of 8 affordable LEED for Homes projects certified in Ohio. 
LEED for Homes is a green home certification program that rewards homes that are designed and built to be energy and resource efficient and more healthy and durable for the occupants.  LEED-certified homes complete a technically rigorous process that often includes a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections to verify that the home is built to be energy and water efficient, environmentally sound, and a healthier place to live.  The Land Trust plans to build another two-bedroom home on the lot next to the current Green Cottage.  For more information about the Land Trust visit www.ccLandTrust.org.  Further information about LEED for Homes can be found at www.usgbc.org/homes.


Show Us Your Cleveland!  This summer LiveCLEVELAND! incorporated the "Show us Your Cleveland!" photo contest into its marketing outreach efforts.  As a result, the general public submitted nearly 250 photographs that capture city life.  From streetscapes to architecture to hidden gems, amateurs and professionals contributed their artistic take on what Cleveland neighborhoods have to offer.  The best photos will be on display at the Paul Duda Gallery (2342 Professor Avenue in the Tremont neighborhood) on Friday, October 8th from 6-10 pm.  The "Show us Your Cleveland!" gallery will be a big part of the monthly Tremont Art Walk occuring that evening.   For more information about LiveCLEVELAND!  visit www.livecleveland.org.


Heritage Ohio Awards Two CNDC Member Organizations  Heritage Ohio is the Statewide Main Street Coordinating Program in Ohio as designated by the National Main Street Center.  They recently awarded two CNDC members for their preservation and revitalization efforts.  The Detroit-Shoreway Community Development Organization received an award for the Capitol Theatre Project and The Historic Gateway Neighborhood Corporation for its "Take a Hike!"event.  Congratulations to both for receiving this prestigious award. 


Cleveland Restoration Society "Old is the New Green"
The Cleveland Restoration Society (CRS) will hold its 37th annual Community Luncheon on Tuesday, November 23rd from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm.  The luncheon convenes people committed to sustainable design and historic preservation.  The CRS legacy of existing buidings and landmarks is a natural fit for the green building movement.  With the support of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the US Green Building Council, all are welcome to learn about sustainability, protection of natural resources, and heritage conservation.  Thought leader and architect, Mike Jackson, FAIA, will be the guest speaker.  For information on sponsorship and tickets, please visit www.clevelandrestoration.org or contact Felicia Hall at 216-426-3110 or felicia.hall@clevelandrestoration.org.