Committee places renewed contract with Summit Medina Business Alliance on consent agenda

Akron City Council’s Planning and Economic Development Committee voted to place on the council consent agenda an ordinance authorizing the mayor or his designee to enter into an agreement with Summit Medina Business Alliance Inc. to provide financial support for consulting services to Akron residents and small businesses.

The action followed a presentation from representatives of the nonprofit small-business development center, who described the center’s services and annual impact. "We have before you today a piece of legislation to renew our, many years long partnership with the Summit Medina Business Alliance who acts as a small business development center," said Sean Bowman, a city staff member addressing the committee. Mary Anne Jasanowski, representing Summit Medina Business Alliance, told the committee the center provides no-cost, confidential one-on-one consulting, workshops and financial-projection support to businesses at multiple stages.

The ordinance text read into the record requests authorization for the mayor to enter into agreements with Summit Medina Business Alliance Inc. and includes a clause "declaring an emergency," according to the item read by staff. Jasanowski said the center recorded 227 clients in calendar year 2024, and that 17 clients provided post-service impact data showing $8,400,000 in capital infusion. She said the center counted 17 jobs created and 172 jobs retained for a combined total of 189 jobs, and reported $1,300,000 in sales attributable to clients who returned impact information.

"We are staffed with 5 certified business advisors," Jasanowski said, describing the center as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit that receives funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Ohio Department of Development and local partners. She cited partnerships and referrals with Akron Summit County Public Library, the Greater Akron Chamber, Summit County economic development, Portage County and the Downtown Akron Partnership.

Jim Grigge, identified as a senior advisor with the center, summarized trends the center is seeing among small businesses, including federal-policy uncertainty and an increase in baby-boomer owners seeking to sell as an exit strategy. "AI is here to stay," Grigge told the committee, saying the technology’s impact on business operations is comparable to early internet adoption.

Committee discussion was brief. Sean Bowman asked that the piece be placed on the consent agenda; a motion to do so was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition. The committee record notes that one committee member, Fusco, was absent from the meeting when the committee approved placing the ordinance on the consent agenda.

The committee action places the item on the council’s consent agenda for full council consideration; the committee did not take final legislative action on the ordinance at this meeting.