Greater Cleveland is cementing its place as "The New Center of the World."

That’s what The Wall Street Journal said about The Land in 2024. We are leading with innovation, opportunity and transformative growth. Named a Top 10 City for new college graduates and the second-best U.S. city to start your career, Cleveland is attracting young professionals with cutting-edge educational and workforce initiatives. And that’s just the beginning: from $312M for solar initiatives and $94M to green the Port of Cleveland, to a $300M biotech hub at CWRU, the city is redefining innovation.  And from hosting major events like the Women’s Final Four, the solar eclipse and the Rock Hall Inductions, plus Sherwin-Williams' global headquarters reshaping our skyline and groundbreaking investments, 2024 has been a year of progress and growth. The future is bright, and Cleveland’s just getting started...

Dynamic Business

• Ohio, Cleveland coalition receive $312M from EPA for Solar for All.
• Port of Cleveland gets $94.2M for green cargo and infrastructure upgrades.
• Akron tech hub gains $51M for climate-focused rubber and plastic research; Ohio invests $31M in polymer cluster.
• Babcock & Wilcox commits $60M to Massillon hydrogen plant.
• Schaeffler plans $230M EV axle plant. Ford expands hybrid and EV projects in Avon Lake.
• Cleveland and Cleveland Foundation launch $100M site readiness fund.
• Swagelok to add 200K sq. ft. distribution facility to Solon campus.
• Cleveland Innovation District exceeds targets in research and educational growth.
  • CWRU breaks ground on $300M research facility and launches biotech incubator.
  • Cleveland Clinic began construction on two new research buildings.
• Ohio was ranked one of the best states to start a small business.
• Food manufacturing thriving: Cleveland Kitchen becomes no.1 kraut and kimchi brand in the U.S., expanding to 12,000 stores.; Oat Haus relocates from Philadelphia.; Brew Kettle expanding craft beer enterprise in Ohio with the opening of a new location.
• Cleveland index of 35 companies outperforms S&P 500 and Russell 3000 since 2010; returns 29% in 2024 vs. S&P’s 22%.
• Sherwin-Williams added to Dow Jones index.
• NASA Glenn surpasses $1 billion in revenue, a historic milestone for Greater Cleveland’s economy.

Abundant Talent

• Cleveland named a Top 10 City for new college graduates.
• Cleveland named one of the top cities for young professionals.
• Cleveland ranked second best U.S. city to start your career
• Cleveland Talent Alliance hosts record-breaking event with 1700+ interns.
• Greater Cleveland unemployment hits a 23-year low; local rate below national and state averages as Ohio adds jobs.
• Lincoln Electric adopts VR welding for workforce training.
• University and college enrollments rise in Greater Cleveland.
• Tri-C launches first bachelor’s degree in smart manufacturing to meet demand for skilled tech workers.
• Programs including Ace Cleveland connect high school students with trade mentors.
• MAGNET’s ECEC program promotes manufacturing careers in high schools.
• Greater Cleveland Career Consortium expands PACE to 10 districts, unveils three-year strategic plan.
• CSU and CMSD partner to boost K-12 IT education; Cleveland Public Library opens tech hub for young innovators.
• WSCC Culinary Academy launches pre-apprenticeship program; Driftwood introduces Restaurant Manager Apprenticeship.

 Inclusive Opportunity

• Bedrock launches first Community Benefit Plan under Cleveland ordinance; Sherwin-Williams and Guardians promote DEI standards for inclusive growth.
• Ohio MBDA drives success: $110M in contracts, 136 jobs and 1 joint venture and 1 strategic partnership through MAP Lab
• Emerging developers of color win business pitch competition. CDA announced the second cohort.
• Community Benefits Ordinance MOU signed by >20 public, business, labor, and community groups
• Women increasingly enter Greater Cleveland’s construction talent pipeline.
• Greater Cleveland welcomed 8,000+ immigrants in 2022; Welcome Center aids job placement, hosting a third of Ohio’s recent refugees.
• CentroVilla25, a $14M community hub on West 25th, nears completion.
• County Executive Ronayne proposes $3.4M fund to support women and minority entrepreneurs.

Appealing Community

• The New Center of the World is Cleveland - WSJ
• Cleveland highlighted as a travel destination by Forbes and Midwest Living; ranked top food city by Travel & Leisure.
• Cleveland a top destination for great healthcare and education.
• Cleveland is one of America's hottest housing markets for 2024.
• Regional tourism generates $10.9B in 2023, a 2.8% increase from 2022.
• Solar eclipse, Women’s Final Four, Rock Hall induction, and Guardians playoffs contribute $75M+ to local economy.
• Cleveland named a Top-50 Must-Visit Destination
• Lake Erie named the best in the U.S.
• Cleveland proposes $1B incentive package for Bedrock’s Riverfront project ; groundbreaking held for Cleveland Clinic Global Peak Performance Center.
• City secures $60M federal grant to convert the Shoreway into a boulevard, building on $20M state funding.
• Metroparks receives $19.5M grant for two key trail projects, breaks ground on North Marginal Trail, and will open a community sailing center at 55th St. marina.
• Cleveland among most affordable metros for median-priced homes.
• Cleveland has been named a top arts & culture destination
• Cuyahoga Arts & Culture to fund millions in arts and cultural experiences following passage of Issue 55.
• Cleveland Museum of Art ranked #7 on The Washington Post's list of top U.S. art museums; City highlighted by ABC News as a theater destination.
• Playhouse Square expands with new dining, music venue, festivals, and plans for rehearsal space and educational programming in newly acquired building.
• Frontier Airlines Opens Cleveland Base, Grows to 24 Direct Destinations
• Cleveland Hopkins nearly matches pre-pandemic traffic in 2023, with July 2024 marking its busiest month since 2008, reaching nearly 1M passengers
• Airport secures $175M to begin design and planning for a multibillion-dollar modernization project.
• Cleveland sports boost the economy as Guardians, Browns, and Cavaliers all reach the playoffs in 2024.
• "Superman" filmed in Cleveland for six weeks with $11M in Ohio tax credits, generating estimated $37M economic impact.