Below is a list of economic development organizations in NEO and their international activities. We invite you to explore them even further by visiting their websites.
Bridge Investment Fund
Contact: Michael Goldberg, Managing Partner
Email:
mgoldberg@bridgefundllc.com
Website:
bridgefundllc.com
Footprint: Nationwide, with an emphasis on Cleveland and NEO
Industry Focus: Medical device companies
Country Focus: Israel
Primary International Activity: business and investment attraction
Bridge Investment Fund is a private venture capital fund which invests in Israeli medical device companies that have strong synergies to Ohio medical institutions. The fund invests in companies which already have venture backing in Israel and works closely with each company until an exit strategy/plan is executed.
Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority
Website:
www.portofcleveland.com
Footprint: Cuyahoga County
Industry Focus: logistics
Country Focus: Canada and Europe
Primary International Activity: maritime-international movement of goods
The Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority’s focus is on helping its maritime customers improve their logistics efficiencies. It also supports the city’s and county’s efforts to attract international investment and businesses.
Cleveland State University International Services and Programs
Contact: George Burke, Director International Students
Email:
g.burke@csuohio.edu
Website:
www.csuohio.edu/offices/international/
Footprint: Cleveland
Industry Focus: Higher Education
Country Focus: India, China, Korea, Turkey, Taiwan, Brazil; new focus is Indonesia
Primary International Activity: education and talent attraction
The International Services program strives to increase and diversify the university population through international student attraction. It develops and nurtures partnerships and joint degree programs with universities throughout the world. The Center also provides support and guidance to faculty and staff in their international endeavors.
CSI Advisory Services
Contact: Chris Schmid
Website:
schmidc@nvi.net
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: The company is a serious contender for Northeast Ohio if it’s revenues are between $200M and $300M Euros and if it already does $5M worth of business in the U.S.
Country Focus: Europe – Germany and France; Japan
Primary International Activity: Business Attraction
CSI is a consulting business which focuses on providing financing and project management support to midsize companies that have an economic necessity/justification to come to the U.S.
Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center (GCIC)
Contact: Tom Sudow, Director Business Development
Email:
tsudow@teamneo.org
Website:
www.clevelandclinic.org/gcic/
Footprint: State of Ohio
Industry Focus: start up and existing small companies focused on cardiovascular innovations; also works with established medium sized biomedical companies with some emphasis on cardiovascular
Country Focus: Ireland, Israel; plan to focus more on Italy, India, France, Hungary and Japan
Primary International Activity: Business attraction
GCIC strives to attract and retain cardiovascular companies to NEO by capitalizing on the region’s institutions, expertise and capital. GCIC collaborates with partners like CWRU, UH, OSU, University of Cincinnati, University of Toledo, Team NEO, BioOhio, Bio Enterprise and Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation to nurture and grow its companies.
Global Markets Division, Ohio Department of Development
Contact: Scott Kuehn
Email:
Scott.Kuehn@development.ohio.gov
Website:
www.development.ohio.gov/itd/
Footprint: State of Ohio, offices and staff in 11 foreign companies
Industry Focus: Ohio manufacturers and service providers
Country Focus: Historically, Mexico, Canada, Japan and Western Europe; greater focus now on India and China
Primary International Activity: Export assistance and FDI attraction
The Global Markets Division is extending Ohio’s economic reach into the global marketplace. Ohio’s trade managers and network of international offices – in Canada, Mexico, Belgium, Chile, Brazil, Israel, South Africa, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and India – promote the exports of Ohio goods and services and work to solidify Ohio’s position as a premier location for investment.
International Community Council
Contact: Ken Kovach, Executive Director
Email:
KennethJKovach@wowway.com
Website:
www.internationalcommunitycouncil.org/
Footprint: Northeast Ohio
Industry Focus: N/A
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Convening and Facilitation of International community leaders
ICC convenes summits of International community leaders to promote collaboration and discussion of issues that face Cleveland’s International community. The organization also strives to further the conversation around international strategies that will strengthen the Northeast Ohio region.
International Services Center
Contact: Ken Kovach, Board President and Karin Wishner, Executive Director
Email:
KennethJKovach@wowway.com
Website:
www.internationalservicescenter.org/
Footprint: City of Cleveland
Industry Focus: N/A
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Resettlement of refugees
ISC has been an official federal refugee resettlement agency since 1916, helping refugees find housing and employment and connecting them to support services in the Cleveland area.
MAGNET
Contact: Randy Nemetz, Director Business Development
Email:
randy.nemetz@magnetwork.org
Website:
www.magnetwork.org/
Footprint: 33 counties;
Industry Focus: Small and medium sized manufacturers - 14,000 in the footprint;
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Export preparation
MAGNET strives to be the one stop shop for manufacturers to streamline their businesses to be competitive in the global marketplace. Services include product design (ideation through design validation) and development (prototyping to market research) and process reengineering (six sigma, factory floor redesign).
Northeast Ohio International Business Network
Contact: Donald Esarove
Email:
desarove@cypresscorp.com
Website:
www.neoibn.org
Footprint: Northeast Ohio International Business Network
Industry Focus: Manufacturing
Country Focus: N/A
Primary International Activity: Export
The mission of the IBN is to stimulate economic growth in Northeast Ohio through international business. The all volunteer group organizes networking opportunities among current international business practitioners, attracts young people to international business, hosts international groups and educates the community on international business opportunities.
NEOTEC, Trade & Economic Consortium
Contact: Ron Debarr, President & CEO
Email:
rdebarr@neotec.org
Website:
www.neotec.org
Footprint: Joint Office of economic development (JED) - 10 counties; ITAC footprint is 12 counties
Industry Focus: Export, supply chain/logistics, transportation, alternative energy, plastics, metals, ICE
Country Focus: Western Europe
Primary International Activity: Export and business attraction
NEOTEC helps businesses export products and optimize their supply chain through the International Trade Assistance Center (ITAC). It is also part of a ten county joint office of economic development that works to attract businesses to NEO. In addition, NEOTEC operates Foreign Trade Zone 181.
U.S. Export Assistance Center Cleveland
Contact: Sue Whitney, Office Director
Email:
swhitney@mail.doc.gov
Website:
www.buyusa.gov/northeastohio/
Footprint: 46 counties
Industry Focus: N/A
Country Focus: presence in 81 countries
Primary International Activity: Export assistance
With offices across the United States and in more than 80 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration utilizes its global network of trade specialists to connect U.S. companies with international buyers worldwide.
Wayne County Economic Development Corporation
Contact: Rod Crider
Email:
rcrider@waynecountyedc.com
Website:
www.waynecountyedc.com/
Footprint: Wayne County
Industry Focus: Agbioscience
Country Focus: Germany and Israel; long term – Asia
Primary International Activity: Business and investment attraction
The Wayne County Economic Development Corporation works with corporations, partners and site selection consultants to market Wayne County. The organization won approval to establish the Northeast Ohio Regional Investor Center, an EB5 foreign investor zone open to the 16 county NEO region which will initially be utilized to fund the BioOhio research park.