In 2004, philanthropy of all stripes came together with the goal of transforming Northeast Ohio’s economy. In the ensuing years, our Fund has evolved, but we remain laser focused on growing the economy in ways that benefit all people. Follow along with the interactive timeline and short video series below to learn more about our journey.

2002 - A QUIET CRISIS

28 April, 2002
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Economic research confirms that Northeast Ohio's four metros are underperforming...
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2002 - THE NORTHEAST OHIO BAROMETER OF ECONOMIC ATTITUDES

29 April, 2002
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A group of organizations release The Northeast Ohio Barometer of Economic Attitudes...
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2004 - FUND'S OFFICIAL LAUNCH

1 May, 2004
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The Fund officially launches at the Great Again conference in February 2004...
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2004 - FOUNDING PRINCIPLES

28 June, 2004
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Our founding members believe that for too long philanthropy had focused on addressing the social symptoms of our region's declining economy...
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2004 - ROB BRIGGS ELECTED AS FUND'S FOUNDING CHAIR

28 July, 2004
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Rob Briggs, then president of GAR Foundation, is elected as the Fund's founding chair, an important signal of its commitment to the region.
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2004 - FUNDING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS

28 August, 2004
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Goals are set to advance a shared and highly focused regional economic development agenda...
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2004 - VOICES AND CHOICES

28 September, 2004
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The Fund conducts two public opinion surveys and a $3 million, 18-month civic engagement project...
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2004 - WE CALL IT

28 October, 2004
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Fund members coin a new word to describe the work their doing, "regioning."
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2005 - CALL FOR IDEAS

28 April, 2005
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The Fund puts out a request for ideas from the community to help shape the strategic direction of the Fund going forward...
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2006 - DASHBOARD INDICATORS

28 April, 2006
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The Fund collaborates with the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland to issue the first Dashboard Indicators for the Northeast Ohio economy...
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2006 - PHASE I COMPLETE

28 June, 2006
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In phase 1, job creation grantees generate 487 additional jobs and attract $156 million in capital.
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2007 - PHASE 2 BEGINS

28 April, 2007
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During Phase 2, 67 members raise $30.4 million. Members have four goals for Phase 2...
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2007 - ADVANCE NORTHEAST OHIO

28 May, 2007
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The Fund and its partners launch Advance Northeast Ohio, the region's economic competitiveness agenda...
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2007 - SUPPORTING MINORITY BUSINESS AND TALENT DEVELOPMENT

28 July, 2007
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The Fund awards its first grants to support minority business development and talent development...
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2008 - DAVE ABBOTT BECOMES CHAIR

28 April, 2008
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Dave Abbott, executive director of The George Gund Foundation, becomes chair...
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2008 - EDUCATION WORKS

28 August, 2008
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The Fund joins with three foundations to invite a diverse group of leaders from throughout the region...
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2009 - EFFICIENTGOVNOW

28 April, 2009
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The Fund releases research on the cost of local government and launches the first of two EfficientGovNow competitions...
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2009 - 501(C)(3) STATUS

28 May, 2009
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The Fund becomes a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
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2009 - PHASE 2 COMPLETE

28 July, 2009
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In Phase 2, job creation grantees generate 4,416 additional jobs, add $97 million in payroll and attract $1 billion in capital.
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2010 - PHASE 3 BEGINS

28 April, 2010
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About $12.8 million is raised by more than 50 members to support Phase 3...
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2010 - LAUNCH PF THE NORTHEAST OHIO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES CONSORTIUM

28 April, 2010
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The Fund convenes regional stakeholders to apply for and win $4.25 million grant...
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2010 -

28 September, 2010
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The Fund embraces its spotlighting and convening role, and the need for a professional staff to advance the day-to-day work...
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2010 - PRISM

28 October, 2010
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Metropolitan planning work by the Brookings Institution in partnership with the Fund and MAGNET...
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2010 - THE CIVIC COMMONS

28 November, 2010
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The Civic Commons, a Fund-conceived civic engagement platform, receives $3 million...
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2011 - AGRICULTURE-BIOSCIENCE INDUSTRY CLUSTER (AG-BIO)

28 April, 2011
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The Fund supports a collaboration among the Wayne County Economic Development Council...
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2011 - WORKADVANCE PILOT BEGINS

28 May, 2011
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The Fund convenes regional stakeholders to apply for and win $5.7 million Social Innovation Fund award...
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2011 - TEAM NEO IS IDENTIFIED AS REGIONAL INTERMEDIARY FOR JOBSOHIO

28 November, 2011
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JobsOhio takes over the functions of the Ohio Department of Development...
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2012 - 100th GRANT

28 April, 2012
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The Fund issues its 100th grant. In total, the Fund awards $19.3 million during Phase 3.
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2012 - OHIO THIRD FRONTIER AWARDS $14 MILLION IN GRANTS

28 June, 2012
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Ohio Third Frontier awards $14 million in grants...
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2012 - PHASE 3 COMPLETE

28 September, 2012
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in Phase 3, job creation grantees generate 7,544 additional jobs, add $301 million in payroll and attract $1.14 billion in capital.
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2013 - PHASE 4 BEGINS

28 April, 2013
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Forty-two members raise a total of $14.1 million during Phase 4...
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2013 - WHAT MATTERS TO METROS

28 April, 2013
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The Dashboard of Economic Indicators evolves into What Matters to Metros...
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2013 - DEBORAH HOOVER ELECTED AS CHAIR

28 June, 2013
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The Fund elects Deborah Hoover, president and CEO of the Burton D. Morgan Foundation, as its third chair.
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2013 - VIBRANT NEO 2040

28 October, 2013
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NEOSCC delivers Vibrant NEO 2040...
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2013 - METROPOLITAN REVOLUTION

28 December, 2013
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The Metropolitan Revolution, by Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley, features our Fund’s work in Chapter 4...
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2014 - REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS STRATEGY (RECS)

28 April, 2014
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Team NEO is reconstituted to lead implementation of the regional economic competitiveness strategy...
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2014 - ESTABLISHING A GROWTH & OPPORTUNITY FRAMEWORK

28 May, 2014
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in 2014, the Fund releases two reports...
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2015 - CONXUSNEO

28 April, 2015
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Forty-two members raised a total of $14.1 million. Included is a $2 million award from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation...
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2015 – BRIAN FREDERICK BECOMES CHAIR

6 June, 2015
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Brian Frederick, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Lorain County, assumes the chair position...
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2015 – GEOGRAPHY OF JOBS

5 July, 2015
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Fund publishes the Geography of Jobs research...
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2015 – PHASE 4 COMPLETE

3 August, 2015
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In Phase 4, job creation grantees generate 6,118 additional jobs...
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2016 – PHASE 5 BEGINS

3 September, 2015
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The Fund sets out to raise $10.5 million in direct resources to support three goals...
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2016 – OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR

3 March, 2016
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The Fund advances an economic growth strategy for the Opportunity Corridor in Cleveland...
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2016 – ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

3 June, 2016
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Northeast Ohio additive manufacturing market potential is defined...
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2016 – COLLABORATION HANDBOOK

3 July, 2016
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The Fund publishes a Collaboration Handbook, a guide for members and partners...
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2016 – WORKADVANCE RESULTS

3 September, 2016
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WorkAdvance results demonstrate increased earnings for participants...
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2016 – TALENTNEO

3 October, 2016
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The Fund advances TalentNEO, a skills-based hiring pilot designed to demonstrate...
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2016 – OUR MOVE TO MIDTOWN

3 November, 2016
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The Fund receives a grant from The Edward A. and Catherine L. Lozick Foundation...
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2017 – COVERMYMEDS: OHIO'S FIRST

3 January, 2017
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CoverMyMeds, a portfolio company of two Fund-supported job creation grantees...
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2017 – JOBS HUBS

3 March, 2017
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The Fund defines and identifies the region’s job hubs...
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2017 – YEAR OF AWARENESS BUILDING

3 April, 2017
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Racial Equity Institute (REI) trainings take place as part of a "Year of Awareness Building,"
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2017 – NORTHEAST OHIO ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING CLUSTER

3 June, 2017
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The Fund grants a two-year award of up to $50,000 to the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI)...
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2017 – G&O IMPACT ASSESSMENT

3 July, 2017
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Our Fund releases the results of a multi-month-long assessment of whether the jobs...
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2017 – AKRON ENTREPRENEURSHIP

3 August, 2017
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Fund Akron Entrepreneurship Fellow Heather Roszczyk is hired...
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2017 – STRENGHTENING STARK

3 September, 2017
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Fund member Stark Community Foundation releases "Strengthening Stark"...
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2017 – EARLY COLLEGE EARLY CAREER

3 October, 2017
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The Fund awards $50,000 to MAGNET’s Early College Early Career (ECEC) program...
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2017 – TEAM NEO: HIGHEST PERFORMING JOBS OHIO REGION

5 October, 2017
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Team NEO has supported the creation of 8,629 new jobs...
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2017 – OPPORTUNITY CORRIDOR LAND ACQUISION

3 November, 2017
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Fund members approve up to $300,000 to support our long-term goal of bringing traded-sector jobs...
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2017 – MARK SAMOLCZYK BECOMES FIFTH CHAIR

3 December, 2017
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In late 2017, Mark Samolczyk, president and CEO of Stark Community Foundation, becomes chair.
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2018 – THE TWO TOMORROWS REPORT

3 May, 2018
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The Fund releases The Two Tomorrows in early 2018 to recognize that, in the coming years...
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2019 – WHICH TOMORROW WILL WE CHOSE?

3 June, 2019
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Northeast Ohio is faced with the challenge of deciding between two tomorrows...
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2019 – MOVING ON, MAKING ROOM

20 November, 2020
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Founding President Brad Whitehead announces plans to step down, make way for next generation of leadership.
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2020 - BETHIA BURKE ELECTED PRESIDENT

18 December, 2020
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Bethia Burke began her term as the organization's second president beginning in March 2020.
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Fund for Our Economic Future Reorganizes Board Structure to Create Greater Diversity

10 February, 2020
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Eight new civic board members bring fresh perspectives, greater reach and deeper connections.
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William Gary, Sr. elected chair

31 March, 2022
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Chairperson William H. Gary, Sr., executive vice president of workforce, community and economic development at Cuyahoga Community College.
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Just a Big Idea,
Our Founding (Pre-2004)

Designing the Fund and Making the Case for Regionalism,
Phase One (2004-2006)

Advancing a 21st Century Roadmap for Northeast Ohio,
Phase Two (2007-2009)

Convening and Collaborating,
Phase Three (2010-2012)

The Emergence of Growth & Opportunity,
Phase Four (2013-2015)

Making Growth & Opportunity Real,
Phase Five (2016-2018)