Cuyahoga County Economic Development Plan Takes Aim At Barriers To Jobs

Cuyahoga County’s latest economic development plan puts a new focus on workforce, officials told council on Monday.

This year’s version of the five-year economic plan is largely similar to its predecessor, with a few changes. It calls for the county to support manufacturers, healthcare companies, the information technology industry and startups. 

Ted Carter, the county’s chief economic development and business officer, said this version also includes a new major goal: removing barriers between people and jobs.

“These barriers are partly physical: a lack of affordable housing located near jobs and a shortage of reliable, affordable transportation from home, to daycare, to work,” Carter said. “The barriers are also structural: a shortage of affordable, reliable childcare options and lack of supports for newly employed public assistance recipients to maintain their employment and advance in their careers.”

Some council members questioned whether the county’s economic development arm was reaching beyond its mandate, taking on work handled by other agencies.

“Your No. 1 priority is to encourage business to locate and expand in Cuyahoga County. That, to me, seems to be the most important for that department to focus on,” Republican member Nan Baker said.

Council will hold another meeting on the plan in the coming weeks.