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Akron officials tout downtown gains, polymer cluster and Lock 3 growth in budget hearing
Summary
Economic development officials told council the city will target individualized outreach to 250 businesses in 2026, highlighted 2025 results from the Elevate Greater Akron collaborative and said downtown'focused investments and a polymer innovation bid position Akron for private capital and job growth.
Economic development leaders briefed the Akron City Council'budget committee on a string of 2025 results and 2026 priorities, underscoring downtown activation, small-business supports and a nascent polymer industry cluster.
"In 2026, we intend to connect individually with more than 250 businesses," Susie Graham Moore told council, adding that the Elevate Greater Akron collaborative reached 288 businesses in 2025, including 102 MBE/WBE firms, closed 16 projects that brought an estimated 263 jobs and helped attract about $50 million in capital.
Moore described a mix of city programming and partner-delivered services to support business…
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