WHERE BUSINESS GOES TO GROW
BUSINESS Opportunity Knocking Can we make the most of the once forgotten triangle?
O
pportunity Corridor officially opened last November to a massive ribbon-cutting ceremony that included all of the fanfare of a transformational city-wide project. There was a presentation of colors by the Cleveland Division of Fire Honor Guard, the Cleveland Division of Police Pipes and Drums band and a singing of the National Anthem by Pat Harris. Representatives of the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) welcomed guests and thanked all of those involved with the project, including District 12 Deputy Director John Picuri and ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks. Former Mayor Frank Jackson, County Executive Armond Budish and Grace Gallucci, executive director and CEO of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) all spoke about the future and how the roadway would eventually transform the half-dozen neighborhoods surrounding the boulevard. 38 COMMUNITY LEADER | MAY 2022
All of the stakeholders and participants of the roadway construction project deserved to take a bow. The strategic location of the corridor and its access to what are clearly disadvantaged neighborhoods gives it an upward potential not seen in Cleveland in years. Now the real work starts. How can this corridor be turned into true opportunity? There are three major initiatives that need to be addressed: taking advantage of the corridor’s location in terms of the access it offers; dividing the corridor into different zones to afford maximum economic and job creation; and focusing on community reinvestment in the disadvantaged neighborhoods surrounding the area to promote workforce development and improve the quality of life for area residents. All three will require public/private partnerships of the major companies, nonprofits and government organizations of the community.
BY TERRY TROY
Location. Location. Location. The Opportunity Corridor’s benefits are already being felt. “The corridor creates access to developable and sizeable land parcels that are proximate to major hubs (downtown and University Circle) and to our transportation infrastructure,” says Baiju R. Shah, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership. “Given its location, there has been significant interest in developing land along and nearby the corridor, as demonstrated by the recent food business expansions.”
Chris Ronayne
Baiju R. Shah
