Christine Nelson, Crain’s Cleveland
November 19, 2025 05:50 AM
“Economic development begins long before a company breaks ground or cuts a ribbon. It starts with building a strong workforce, investing in infrastructure and cultivating a business-friendly climate. Attracting transformative projects also requires a coordinated, region-wide sites strategy. Until recently, this was where Northeast Ohio was falling short.
Historically, site preparation work was happening on individual Northeast Ohio sites. But efforts weren’t connected. The properties most likely to attract investment weren’t always the ones being developed. Sometimes, a promising parcel was already in an individual developer’s hands, but not visible to those fielding inquiries from prospective companies.
Recognizing this barrier to business attraction, Team NEO spearheaded an effort to build a truly integrated, data-driven ecosystem for site development that looks region-wide at supply and demand and identifies the gaps we need to fill to compete. We partnered with JobsOhio, local economic development organizations, communities, utilities providers, engineers and developers to streamline site preparation efforts.”
The exterior of the Wellman-Seaver building at 7000 Central Ave., which the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund acquired after the structure sat mostly vacant since 1993.
Economic development begins long before a company breaks ground or cuts a ribbon. It starts with building a strong workforce, investing in infrastructure and cultivating a business-friendly climate. Attracting transformative projects also requires a coordinated, region-wide sites strategy. Until recently, this was where Northeast Ohio was falling short.
Historically, site preparation work was happening on individual Northeast Ohio sites. But efforts weren’t connected. The properties most likely to attract investment weren’t always the ones being developed. Sometimes, a promising parcel was already in an individual developer’s hands, but not visible to those fielding inquiries from prospective companies.
Recognizing this barrier to business attraction, Team NEO spearheaded an effort to build a truly integrated, data-driven ecosystem for site development that looks region-wide at supply and demand and identifies the gaps we need to fill to compete. We partnered with JobsOhio, local economic development organizations, communities, utilities providers, engineers and developers to streamline site preparation efforts.
By bringing together all stakeholders in the ecosystem, Team NEO is ensuring that site information is being shared and priorities aligned — turning what was once a fragmented effort into a coordinated strategy. This helps the region target investments where we have the greatest probability of winning: sites with attributes like size, utility capacity and proximity to workforce. We know this strategy is working because companies now choose these locations for site visits.
Data-driven site development
Team NEO’s analysis of thousands of site requests has revealed clear patterns, helping us and our local partners develop a sites strategy to focus on properties that align with both current demand and the diverse mix of industries that define our economy.
We’re focused on meeting those needs, especially in manufacturing, where the physical footprint has evolved. Most of Northeast Ohio’s existing industrial space was built before 1964. Ceiling heights, column spacing, and mechanical systems in these facilities no longer meet modern manufacturing standards. Machinery has become more sophisticated with higher precision and tighter tolerances. Integrated technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the utility and space needs, increasing demand for new, flexible sites.
Roughly 80% of manufacturing prospects look for the same things in a site: good utility capacity, access to a skilled workforce, proximity to population centers and public transportation, and enough contiguous space to support their operations (30 acres or more). This information helps us to identify and market sites that appeal to the types of companies we want to attract.
Turning insight into action
Team NEO’s comprehensive site analysis and approach is driving real-world opportunities throughout the region. Cleveland City Council and Mayor Justin Bibb used it to inform their work to create the Site Readiness for Good Jobs Fund, an independent nonprofit redeveloping urban brownfield sites for new business. Mayor Bibb, city council and key partners from economic development, philanthropy and Cuyahoga County are working together to transform 1,000 acres of disinvested property in Cleveland into market-ready industrial sites, and create 2,500 good jobs, while reducing blight, promoting environmental sustainability and helping Cleveland residents build wealth.
Summit County has launched its own private site readiness fund to advance due diligence and make sites more competitive, with the help of research and insights from Team NEO, giving the region more opportunities to win new or expanded business.
A leader in sites strategy
Today, Northeast Ohio is one of the few regions across the country with a comprehensive, coordinated, region-wide site development strategy. Our unified approach, grounded in data, collaboration, and readiness, facilitates smarter, faster decisions about site investment and redevelopment, and gives our region a right to win.
Site development is a long game, typically spanning five to 10 years. Through information, influence, and collaboration, Team NEO and its partners are accelerating that timeline, with some early wins to prove it: a new Shalersville Township manufacturing facility built by pipe and fitting manufacturer Viega, and a new distribution center for Tractor Supply Co. in the Village of Navarre. These wins were heavily influenced by a coordinated sites process. Combined, they are expected to bring nearly 600 new jobs to the region.
Preparation today for opportunity tomorrow
Every site Team NEO and its partners prepare brings us closer to the next big opportunity. Each acre assembled, each brownfield tested, and each partnership forged is a step toward positioning Northeast Ohio as a place where innovation and industry thrive side by side.
We invite local government and economic development officials, developers, engineers, and utilities providers to engage in these efforts. By investing in site readiness today, we can position Northeast Ohio to capture tomorrow’s most transformative opportunities.
