01-21-08: Maingate Receives Dominion and Cleveland Foundation Grants to Develop Strategic Action Plan for the Future Maingate's Board of Trustees announced the receipt of two major grants totaling $27,500 for the purpose of conducting a Strategic Action Plan exercise for retooling the organization's overall mission, core operating strategy and service programs to its business membership. The grants of $18,500 (Cleveland Foundation) and $9,000 (Dominion Foundation), respectively, will be utilized to chart a renewed path for the Maingate business collective to more effectively serve its constituents and the community in business retention, expansion and broader strategic economic development activities. Maingate will utilize the services of Currere, Inc., a nationally recognized organizational design and development consulting firm, to be the lead facilitator in the strategic planning process. The process is expected to be completed by the end of April, 2008, with a report issued to the organization's leadership in mid-May for implementation. 12-17-07: Maingate Partners with Kaiser-Permanente to Offer Lower Rates in Health Care Coverage to Maingate Businesses With health care coverage costs again rising precipitously for employers, Maingate Business Development Corporation is working with a new health coverage plan being offered by the Kaiser Permanente health network called FlourishPlan. This exciting new program is being offered to Maingate member companies with the key goal to cut their health costs while maintaining excellence in medical service to their employees. The FlourishPlan program is expected to yield healthcare premium savings that range from 4%-11% as compared to the rates that a non-Maingate member would receive from Kaiser Permanente plans. CPI-HR -- one of the largest benefits consulting firms in Northeast Ohio -- has forged this health insurance program relationship between the Kaiser and Maingate groups. For further information on how to take advantage of this extraordinary opportunity, call Mr. Tom Wirbel, V.P. Sales & Marketing, at CPI-HR, at (440) 542-7807, ext. 203, today! 11-28-07: Holiday Open House & Buffet is Great Success as Guests say "Thanks" to Connie Perotti for 17 Years of Service Over 120 guests attended Maingate's Annual Holiday Buffet held at the Arbor Park Village Community Room B. Guests partook of an array of holiday luncheon offerings presented by Food for Thought, Inc. catering services and enjoyed music and conversation with Maingate members, community representatives, business owners and residents from the area. $1,500 was raised through the generosity of the Open House's Raffle ticket purchasers. These funds with be utilized to provide 3 scholarships to students of the Jane Addams Business Careers Center through Maingate's Scholarship Fund. Maingate Board President, Dave DiBiasio, of Great Lakes Mechanical Co., presented Connie with an inscribed Waterford Crystal bowl commemorating the Executive Director's longstanding and invaluable service to the organization and its many business and neighborhood constituencies. Under her creative and effective leadership, Maingate has affected enormous change in the area's physical redevelopment, business attraction & retention, and job growth throughout its service boundary. Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland, Ward 5, also spoke on behalf of the neighborhood to thank Connie for her many years of loyal service to the community. The Board of Trustees also announced that the organization's "PRIDE in Maingate" Award, annually given to the most outstanding effort by a business to preserve the area's high visual standards and quality sense of place, would be here forward named the "Perotti - PRIDE in Maingate Award", in honor of Connie's special achievements in this critical area of concern. Thanks Connie for all of your efforts! The Maingate Board of Trustees presented Connie Perotti with its Resolution of Appreciation and Gratitude for many years of invaluable service. 11-19-2007: Maingate Appoints New Executive Director Maingate Business Development Corporation's Board of Trustees hired Michael J. May as its new Executive Director to lead the community development corporation's business service, economic development & planning activities. A native Clevelander, Michael has over 26 years of experience in urban planning, neighborhood revitalization and economic development. He received a B.A. in Urban Studies from Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs. He also received a Master of City & Regional Planning degree from Harvard University's Graduate School of Design. Michael has most recently been President & CEO of Urban Economics, Inc., a private economic development consulting firm specializing in inner-city real estate, environmental analysis, land-use planning, land assembly, technology transfer development projects and project financing. Previous to that, he has held executive posts with an array of area non-profit community development organizations including MidTown Cleveland, Inc., University Circle, Inc., Doan Center, Inc. and Neighbors Organized for Action in Housing. Michael succeeds Connie Perotti, the Founding Executive Director of the Maingate non-profit corporation. The "Changing of the Guard". Connie Perotti welcomes Michael May to the post of Executive Director at Maingate's 2007 Annual Holiday Open House 10-15-07:  Another Successful Maingate Pride Clean-Up Blitz       This fall’s Pride Blitz went very smoothly with both Grafton and Court Community Service finishing their work in three rather than four days. The teams scoured the complete service area from East 9th Street to Woodhill Avenue. Particular attention was paid to the Buckeye-Woodland cluster and the Bessemer Avenue area by the teams. They worked very fast and completed all of the assigned routes, covering additional ground as well. Kudos to everyone involved for making this yet another successful Pride Blitz.   10-4-07: New Development Is Underway at E.55th and Woodland Northeast Quadrant The new 10,000 sq. ft. Kings Plaza is 90% leased. The tenants of the new plaza are Georgio’s Pizza, Subway, Ace Check Cashing and The Athlete’s Foot Shoe Store. Southeast Quadrant At the northern tip of the triangle formed between E. 55th Street and Kinsman where it meets Woodland, the Shell gas station has been demolished to make way for a new state-of-the-art Shell gas station with computerization and new underground installations. A 3,000 sq. ft. convenience store will also be built. The project was made possible by the acquisition of public and privately owned lands and the demolition of The Dayspring Holiness Church. Future phases will include a car wash and retail stores, with landscaping to enhance and complete the entire project. Maingate member Sam Abdelqader is owner and developer of the property. Estimated project cost is $1.7 million. Also, construction of a bright yellow Churches Chicken located between the Owens Post Office and the Woodland Branch Library on land which has long been vacant is quickly coming to fruition. Opening is slated for December 2007.The project is under Design Review by Burten, Bell,Carr Development Corporation. Northwest quadrant – The Hanini Group, owners of the Marathon Service Station located at Woodland Avenue and East 55th Street propose to demolish the existing retail building and construct a 5,600 square-foot structure immediately west of it. It will be the first step in the redevelopment of the northwest corner of East 55th Street and Woodland. The majority of the building will be comprised of a red-colored brick, with tan block and brown marble accents. Plans call for new driveway aprons and a decorative fence to be installed on the periphery of the property. Maingate member Mark Mustafa, The Hanini Group, plans to break ground by the beginning of winter. The project is under design review by Burten Bell Carr Development Corporation.   10-3-07: Kudos to RTA, Major Maingate Stakeholder On October 1, 2007, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) President William Millar announced that Greater Cleveland's own Regional Transit Authority (RTA) has been named North America's Best Public Transportation System. Various local, county, and state government officials were on hand in Cleveland Monday morning as the announcement was made. Congratulations to RTA on this prestigious award and remarkable accomplishment! 9-24-07: Maingate Area Companies Are Invited to a FREE Small Business, Investment & SBA Training Seminar Mark your Calendars!  The Small Business Banking, Investment and SBA Training Seminar  will be held on October 16, 2007 at U.S. Bank-Food Terminal Branch  located at 4100 Woodland Avenue/U.S. Bank from 5pm-8pm, a light buffet dinner will be served. Please RSVP by 9-28-2007 by calling (216) 431-4959.  Bring your business cards and come learn more about the special rates and products that U.S. Bank has to offer that can help boost your business!    9-18-07: Neighborhood Residents Thank Maingate Neighborhood residents expressed their thanks to Maingate for donating to their Back to School Safety fair . "It was a huge success thanks to your support. Your  donation assisted in providing needed school supplies and safety information to youth and their parents. You helped the school year get off to a great start," said volunteer coordinator Myra Simmons and the Marshall Avenue Residents. The fair was held on September 8, 2007 on Marshall Avenue in the Kinsman neighborhood. ATTENTION:  Business and Property Owners Pride in Maingate         Clean-Up Blitz   September 24, 25, 26 & 27, 2007 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Crews from the City of Cleveland, Court Community Service, Northeast Pre-Release Center and Grafton Correctional Institution will be working on the public rights-of-way and vacant lots. Additionally, several industrial streets in the Kinsman neighborhood will be cleared of litter this fall. Help the Cause!  Make sure your property is clean and tidy. Sweep drives and sidewalks, pick-up litter and debris, mend fences, trim shrubbery, wash windows, paint door and window frames and DESTROY WEEDS! Scrap tire drop-off September 24-29, 5600 Carnegie Avenue (M-F 9:00-3:00). For more information, visit the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District website. PLEASE DO NOT DEPOSIT TIRES FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY ONTO CROTON AVENUE AS WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST. Call the numbers below to report problems in Maingate’s public area: · Call the STREETS DEPARTMENT  -  664-2510 to report chuckholes and debris in the streets · Call the ABANDONED CARS Hotline  -  623-CARS (2277) to report abandoned cars on the street or on vacant lots · Call the DUMP Hotline  -  664-DUMP (3867) to report illegal dumping activity, get license numbers if possible · Call the HEALTH DEPARTMENT  -  664-2300 to report areas of high grass, weeds and trash, rats, standing water and other public health hazards · AND call MAINGATE  -  881-7111 We track these problems and follow through on resolutions, and we are researching long-term solutions to long-standing problems.

9-12-07:  Marathon Petroleum Sponsors Successful General Membership Meeting

Maingate members, public sector partners and friends congregated at Marathon Petroleum's facility in the industrial valley for an informative meeting. Beside the usual meet-and-greet cordiality customary to Maingate meetings, there were also some interesting presentations. Chris Alvarado of the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission shared the vision of the Cuyahoga Valley Initiative that the county and other organizations have been fostering for many years. Tim Donovan of the Ohio Canal Corridor shared some recent accomplishments in his effort to extend the Towpath Trail, including the one-mile extension through Steelyard Commons built by developer and Maingate member First Interstate. Marathon Petroleum Terminal Manager Bill Mihaly, also a Maingate Trustee, gave an enlightening overview about the history of the terminal and the types of industrial activity that take place at the facility. Delicious gourmet picnic food was provided by Bubba's Q, the catering company owned by former Cleveland Browns player Bubba Baker and his wife Sabrina. The meeting was held in a new building whose rolling truck door revealed a magnificent view of the industrial valley with new construction on Tremont Ridge as a contrasting backdrop. Maingate would like to thank Bill Mihaly and the great people at Marathon for holding the meeting, Chris Alvarado and Tim Donovan for their presentations and, of course, our guests.

Marathon Petroleum Facts

• Marathon Petroleum Company is the nation’s fifth largest petroleum refiner.

• Marathon operates the nation’s largest private inland liquid marine fleet in the US.  It includes 10 tugs and 173 barges.

• Marathon owns approx. 2300 railcars and operates a 135 truck transport fleet.

• Marathon operates 62 gasoline terminals and 21 asphalt terminals throughout the Midwest and Southeast. Marathon is the top producer of asphalt in the US.

• Part of  Marathon’s mission statement is as follows: “ We conduct our business in accord with the highest standards of business ethics, environmental stewardship, employee safety, and community responsibility."

6-13-07: Woodland Avenue and Kinsman Avenue Reconstruction Scheduled

Woodland Avenue will be rebuilt from East 30th Street to East 55th Street, and Kinsman Avenue will be reconstructed from East 55th Street to East 93rd Street. These projects will include sidewalk, traffic signal and ADA ramp upgrades. The projects are scheduled to begin in Oct. 2007 and continue through Oct. 2008. The Kinsman Avenue rebuild will complete the reconstruction of Kinsman from East 55th to the city border.

6-7-07: Neighborhood Graduates Earn Maingate Scholarships

Robbie Christian and Charles D. Smith, area graduates from Jane Addams High School,  both received a $500 scholarship from Maingate. The scholarships were presented by Maingate Trustee and American Bronze President Gerald Goldstein. Robbie, who was valedictorian of her class in 2007, will be attending the University of Toledo this fall to become a pharmacist. Charles D. Smith will be attending Johnson & Wales College to become a master chef.

5-9-07: Transportation For Livable Communities Initiative

Maingate has filed for a NOACA (Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency) planning grant for a feasibility study for the Rockefeller Alternate. The project has received support from the City of Cleveland Department of Economic Development and the Department of Engineering and Construction. The Rockefeller Alternate would be a new roadway stretching from the intersection of Rockefeller Avenue and Central Furnace Avenue down along the east bank of the Cuyahoga River to the intersection of West 3rd Street, Commercial Avenue and Canal Avenue. The new roadway would replace the closed Rockefeller Bridge and provide transportation options for the entire industrial valley.

Maingate Business Development Corp.

2007-2008  Board of Trustees 

    Chairman, Governance : Richard Morgan, Vice President - Collins Equipment Corp.
    Chairman, Pride & Security in Maingate : Jay Ross, Director of Central Services - Cuyahoga County
    Chairman, Development : Joseph A. Carey, President - Carey Roofing & Construction
    Michael Couse, Director, Grand Avenue Rail Complex - Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority
    Sandy Ferguson, Manager - Depot - Mason Dixon Intermodal, Inc.

    Suzanne Ferrara, National City Bank

    Gerald Goldstein, President - American Bronze Corp.
    Don J. Henderson, President - Farasey Steels Fabricators, Inc.
    Matthew J. Krug - Cuyahoga Materials Co.  -  Div. of Osborne, Inc.
    Daniel J. LoPresti, Executive Vice President - A.LoPresti & Sons
    Bill Mihaly, Terminal Supervisor - Marathon  Petroleum Company LLC
    Mark Mustafa, President - Hanini Marathon / Hanini Properties
    Craig Stacy, President - G & M Towing & Recovery, LLC

    Thomas McTier II, Business Banking Officer-U.S. Bank
    Bruce Yule, Director of Operations, North American Roofing - TREMCO

"The Event" Maingate's Benefit Gala & Annual Meeting

Wednesday, May 9th, 2007, 5:00PM-7:30PM

jac's restaurant
1303 West 6th Street (in the Warehouse District)

Members - $25    Non-Members - $35

Sponsored by:
Key Bank
National City Bank
US Bank

This year's event was a major success thanks to our sponsors, donors and volunteers, the Maingate Marketing Committee, jac's restaurant and those who came to browse and bid on our many outstanding items. Several notables from the private and public sector joined us for the occasion, including Mayor Frank Jackson and our Councilwoman Phyllis Cleveland. Many compliments were paid to the Maingate staff, and in turn, our compliments and gratitude go to those that helped make the event so memorable.

2007 ANNUAL MEETING AWARD WINNERS:

Life Time Achievement Award

Joseph T. Turgeon

CEO Zaclon and three time Maingate President

For exceptional commitment in leading and building the Maingate organization and for generously and cheerfully contributing his wisdom and expertise over the years for the common good.

Pride In Maingate Pacesetter

Ernest J. Fisco

President, AAA Pipe Cleaning

For his outstanding contributions to the 2006 Blitz including road signs, vehicles, equipment and employees to assist in clearing public rights of way.

Pride in Maingate Pacesetter

Dave Oster

President, All Terrain Tire

For his outstanding contributions to the 2006 Blitz, including trucks, hoists and staff to clear away 500 roadside tires which dramatically enhanced the Maingate working environment.

Spirit Award

Steve Morey

Assistant Vice President, National City Bank

For presiding over the successful blending of three committees under the Marketing Committee umbrella and for enthusiastically moving the process to effect positive change.

Government Partner Award

Gwynette Shaw

Grafton Correctional Institution

For her outstanding community service in coordinating and supervising inmates for Maingate’s semi-annual area wide Blitzes, which have contributed to the redevelopment of our vital business community.

Volunteers Through The Years Award

Sandi and Karl Heinz-Duhr

Foote Printing

For their extraordinary annual contributions and for their professionalism in delivering printing services and supplies for Annual Reports, Mailers and Signage helping to forward not only the Maingate mission, but also the Maingate brand.

Year 2007 Annual Meeting Award

Joseph A. Carey, President

Carey Roofing and Construction and Founding Maingate President

 For long standing allegiance and commitment to the Maingate Cleveland organization and for his extraordinary support of  “The Event”. 

4-30-07: Another satisfying Pride Blitz comes to a close

Maingate further expanded the reach of this spring's Pride Clean-Up Blitz to include parts of the Kinsman neighborhood. The four-day event included crews from Grafton Correctional, Northeast Prerelease Center and Court Community Service. The Blitz netted the lowest number of scrap tires in recent history. As always, thanks go to the aforementioned institutions, the United States Postal Service for cleaning the area around their property and The Sanson Company and Seaway Cash'N'Carry for their generous food donations.

ATTENTION:  Business and Property Owners

Pride in Maingate

Clean-Up Blitz

April 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2007

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

Crews from the City of Cleveland, Court Community Service, Northeast Pre-Release Center and Grafton Correctional Institution will be working on the public rights-of-way and vacant lots. Additionally, several industrial streets in the Kinsman neighborhood will be cleared of litter this spring.

Help the Cause!  Make sure your property is clean and tidy. Sweep drives and sidewalks, pick-up litter and debris, mend fences, trim shrubbery, wash windows, paint door and window frames and DESTROY WEEDS!

There will be no tire round-up until fall 2007. PLEASE DO NOT DEPOSIT TIRES FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY ONTO CROTON AVENUE AS WE HAD DONE IN THE PAST.

Call the numbers below to report problems in Maingate’s public area.

· Call the STREETS DEPARTMENT  -  664-2510

to report chuckholes and debris in the streets.

· Call the ABANDONED CARS Hotline  -  623-CARS (2277)

to report abandoned cars on the street or on vacant lots

· Call the DUMP Hotline  -  664-DUMP (3867)

to report illegal dumping activity, get license numbers if possible

· Call the HEALTH DEPARTMENT  -  664-2300

to report areas of high grass, weeds and trash, rats,

standing water and other public health hazards

· AND call MAINGATE  -  881-7111

We track these problems and follow through on resolutions, and we are researching long-term solutions to long-standing problems

1-10-07: Maingate Says "Thank You" to the City of Cleveland's Traffic Engineering Department

With the Rockefeller Avenue bridge having been closed for a few years now, many problems have resulted from this inconvenience. Since there is no cul-de-sac at the southern abutment of the bridge, it is very difficult to turn commercial freight vehicles around. Many drivers are used to having an outlet at Broadway Avenue and are unprepared for the closure, especially if they approach Rockefeller Avenue from Independence Road, where there is little warning of no egress. Recently, a truck inadvertently did $3,000 worth of damage to fencing on General Environmental Management's property. After being contacted by GEM, we asked Rob Mavec at the City of Cleveland Department of Traffic Engineering to install additional signage at the entrance to GEM and Mason Dixon Intermodal, warning of a bridge closure ahead. The signs were installed within a week! Thanks go to Rob and all at the Traffic Engineering Department for their responsiveness.

January 2007: Key Maingate Stakeholder Buys Former Consumer Steel Plant

Dave DiBiasio, Maingate Vice President and General Manager of Tempest Inc., has acquired the former Consumer Steel building at 8510 Bessemer. A 22,000 sq. ft. and a 12,000 sq. ft. building were included in the transaction. The larger facility will become headquarters for Tempest’s manufacturing operation, which designs and builds fluid heat transfer systems servicing the pharmaceutical, rubber, fine chemical and food processing industries. Great Lakes Mechanical, a mechanical contracting company that services industrial refrigeration equipment, will also move their operation to the new location. Renovation of the buildings is now under way. A spring move is planned.
 
"Adaptive reuse on the part of growing, young, high-energy entrepreneurial companies such as Tempest can be a catalytic model for new company attraction and jobs growth here," said Maingate Director Connie Perotti.  "Tempest and Great Lakes Mechanical contributed significantly to Maingate’s award winning company and jobs growth when it first started business here in the 90’s .“

The expansion creates additional opportunities at National Freezer’s 150,000 sq. ft. E. 40th Street facility (part to be vacated by Tempest and Great Lakes Mechanical) for companies needing warehousing and office space. National Freezer's primary business is in providing public warehousing for freezer, refrigerated and dry product.