Spotlight: Civic Theatre Board President Ralph Palmisano on The Civic & the Mayor's Role in Development

Just a few short years ago, the Civic Theatre was in danger of closing -- needing costly renovations, and struggling to find a new identity and relevant programming. In this video, Civic Board President Ralph Palmisano talks about how the leadership of Mayor Plusquellic was critical to changing the environment downtown and turning the Civic into a thriving attraction. Along with other venues like Lock 3 and Canal Park, the city's efforts to bring more people downtown have continued to pay off in a big way.

Ralph also believes the spirit of teamwork that Mayor Plusquellic encourages is central to the success we are seeing in so many citywide developments, from the Bridgestone and Goodyear projects to the University of Akron's new football stadium. He believes the Mayor's ability to bring different personalities and interests together has had a major impact in moving these important projects forward.

Spotlight: Ohio & Erie Canal Coalition Executive Director Dan Rice on Akron & The Canalway

When the Heritage Canalway through Summit County is finished by late next year or early 2011, Summit will be the first to have achieve that county-line to county-line goal. Dan Rice, executive director of the Ohio & Erie Canal Coalition, says one of the main reasons that Summit will be the first to the finish line is the outstanding leadership of Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, his administration and county leaders.

According to Rice, Akron's involvement not only brought partners to the table, but also providing a limited amount of city money has enabled the coalition to leverage significant matching grants from the state and other sources. The canal path has now been restored to Akron's central business district, and work will soon begin on the south end of downtown.

Spolight: Akron's Efforts on Expanding Jobs and Global Business Development

As two innovative Israeli companies make the move into Akron's Global Business Accelerator, Mayor Don Plusquellic made some remarks at a May 29 news conference about the city's efforts to attract international businesses to the area. He explains why marketing our advantages to the rest of the World is important, and how it can be a vital source of new jobs for Akron residents.

In return for public and private investment during their operation in an Israeli business incubator, companies agree to set up operations in Akron later on, after their businesses have advanced to the point where expansion is necessary. This business agreement has provided an innovative foundation for bringing new technologies to our area - many of which could turn into major industries over the coming years. For more information on the two companies featured in this press conference, see the press release here.

Spotlight: AMHA Executive Director Tony O'Leary Talks About Edgewood Village & the Mayor's Leadership on Housing

Eighty families have now moved into Akron's new $53 million Edgewood Village, and construction will soon begin on an additional 49 units. The housing project has recently won three awards and the response from residents is overwhelming, according to AMHA Director Tony O'Leary, who speaks about the project and the transformation of a neighborhood in this video.

The partnership between the city and the housing authority was instrumental in getting this grant, and Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic played a big role in that, according to O'Leary. Plusquellic was president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and put Akron in the spotlight during much of the evaluation process. The Mayor also worked closely to ensure that other community interests, like the Urban League, the Akron Zoo and the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, remained committed to the area, helping attract private investment that maximized the benefits of this project.