Get Collaborative in Greater Akron

Only in Greater Akron is so much happening in the fields of advanced manufacturing, polymers, plastics, composites, and metals. And Newsweek magazine named Akron a top-10 "hot-tech" U.S. city. In Greater Akron, government, businesses, academia, and other institutions work collaboratively to create

Choose Greater Akron

More than 21,000 businesses, including more than 150 Fortune 500 companies, have facilities in Greater Akron. The area also has the largest number of polymer companies in Ohio and about 16,000 polymer-industry employees.

The University of Akron's polymer science and polymer engineering program, ranked second in the nation, is vital to Ohio's $22 billion polymer industry. Kent State University's Glenn H. Brown Liquid Crystal Institute (LCD is the nation's first and largest academic center devoted to basic and applied research on liquid crystals.

You'll find a legacy of business excellence in the Akron international research facilities of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and Bridgestone-Firestone, as well as Greater Akron scientific units of other high-tech materials producers such as Goodrich, Continental AG, Hankook, Kumho, and Advanced Elastomer Systems (an ExxonMobil Chemical affiliate).

Greater Akron companies benefit from strategic industry clusters that allow them to leverage common technologies, a shared labor pool, and proximity to suppliers and buyers. Akron's cluster industries include:

* Plastic products, polymers, and chemicals

* Biomedical industry

* Instruments and controls

* Information technology

* Motor vehicles and equipment

* Metalworking

* Insurance and related services

Advantageous Attributes

Greater Akron is a perfect place to start, expand, or relocate a business because of its central location, efficient distribution and transportation network, abundant water supply, cluster industries, low cost of living and conducting business, sophisticated technology, and outstanding educational and research facilities. The area also features world-class healthcare facilities, a diverse population, and a high-quality, dedicated work force.

Greater Akron thrives within a 500-mile radius of 42 major U.S. cities that encompass 55 percent of U.S. manufacturing plants, 57 percent of the U.S. population, and 60 percent of its buying power. The Greater Akron region is well-served by excellent interstate highway systems, two airports, four railways, 150 trucking firms, the Port of Cleveland, and the St. Lawrence Seaway.

Recreation/Sports and Culture

The Cuyahoga Valley National Park's 33,000 acres provide vibrant recreation for the public. The Greater Akron area is home to numerous challenging public and private golf courses. The Bridgestone Invitational World Golf Championships tournament is held each summer at the prestigious Firestone County Club in Akron. The area also offers a wide range of cultural activities, from theatre and classical music to dance and the visual arts.

RiCk RebadOW, Senior VP, Economic Development

Greater Akron Chamber

1 Cascade Plaza, 17th Floor

Akron, OH HH308

Phone:(800)621-8001

Fax: (330) 379-316H

E-mail: rebadow@grealerakronchamber.org

www.greaterakronchamber.org

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