This week we conducted our 100th Business Retention and Expansion visit to CommuteAir in North Olmsted.

About CommuteAir: Did you know that their headquarters are here in NE Ohio? After United Airlines hub departure, CommuteAir moved its flight hubs to other locations, such as Houston, Dulles, and maintenance operations moved to Albany and Lincoln, Nebraska. Fortunately for us, they have maintained their headquarters and control center and around 175 jobs in North Olmsted.

This monumental effort of engaging with a 100 local businesses, would not be possible without the time and effort of our critical partners such as our local economic development leaders such as Paul Herdeg (Cuyahoga County), Matt Madzy (City of Berea), Paul Marnecheck (City of Brook Park), Ifeoma Ezepue (City of Cleveland), May Kay Costello (City of Fairview Park), Charles Bichara (City of Middleburg Heights), Max Upton (City of North Olmsted), Mayor Bobst (Rocky River), and Brent Painter (City of Strongsville), and our incredible regional/state partners such as TeamNEO/JobsOhio, Manufacturing Works (CIRI), Ohio Aerospace Institute, Baldwin Wallace University, and many others.

Thanks to the work of this diverse team, our businesses in the Aerozone retained/added 364 jobs, created $12MM of annual payroll, and made $6.5MM of fixed capital investment.

Our biggest learnings:

  • The Aerozone is home to an incredible array of companies (Space, Aeronautics, Advanced Manufacturing, Critical Support Services, etc.).
  • The industries that they operate in are growing and our companies are thriving. They are expanding. And they are looking to hire talent.
  • The companies also need help and support. Primarily in the form of connectivity to local assets and resources, addressing infrastructure opportunities, access to talent (skilled and entry level).

We closely track the areas where the region is supporting the businesses in the form of ‘opportunities’. Here is a brief snapshot:

  • Total opportunities (tickets) identified: 337
  • Opportunities addressed: 230
  • Workforce Assist: 88
  • General Assist: 83
  • Sites & Infrastructure assist: 21
  • Incentive Assist: 18
  • Other: 20

And we are just getting started, our goal for 2024, is to re/connect with 120 businesses at the Aerozone.

If you are a business leader that we have not met with (or if you know of any businesses that could use regional support) at the Aerozone, please contact us!