Encourage Businesses to Improve Visibility and Design of Street-Facing Signage

Neighborhood Vision 2025

Celebrate Local Businesses

MidTown comprises a rich array of unique businesses including wholesalers, manufacturers, retailers, professional and creative offices and more. These local industries and businesses truly set MidTown apart from other neighborhoods. The local businesses that have helped to shape MidTown’s identity should be celebrated to promote MidTown as a good place to do business and to increase the visibility and awareness of local businesses from local residents. Let’s tell the stories about what these businesses make through art, tours and programs designed to encourage people and institutions to buy and procure locally.

Celebrate Local Businesses

Action

Encourage Businesses to Improve Visibility and Design of Street-Facing Signage

Connect businesses with existing grants for storefront rehab and improvements. Aspire to support (e.g. coordination & funding) collaborations between local artists and local businesses to create bold, visible signage in MidTown.

Near-Term Actions

Create/Expand signage rebate program or incentives for manufacturing businesses to put up telltale signage.

Capitalize on existing banner program.

Type of Action

Programming

Looking For

Local Business & Property Owners

18E

Related Actions

Celebrate Local Businesses

Create Campaigns and Events to Raise Awareness & Visibility of Local Businesses

Connect residents to what’s happening at local businesses and add to MidTown’s reputation as a center of innovation. Create ways to help families engage in “invisible” industries and forge stronger connections between the resident and business communities of MidTown. Use local events and block parties as an opportunity to connect job seekers, youth, and visitors to existing neighborhood employers who may do business out of public eye.

18A

Celebrate Local Businesses

Promote “Buy Local” & “Procure Local” Campaigns to Help Boost the Midtown Economy

Promote local manufacturers and b2b services in in MidTown; seek commitment by local institutions to look to the local economy to meet their business needs. Continue marketing campaigns that encourages patronage of local businesses.

18B

Celebrate Local Businesses

Establish and Market Midtown as the Nonprofit District of Cleveland

MidTown is already home to over 60 nonprofits, social service and support institutions. Strengthening ties among the network of local nonprofits and community-focused organizations will reinforce MidTown as the Nonprofit District of Cleveland. Efforts should focus on enabling growth, retention, and drawing new, beneficial partners to the area to meet the local needs.

18C