"We have been in discussions for some time with the Hattie Larlham and Cornucopia, Inc. to create a new kind of grocery store in Akron," said the Mayor. "It would become a ‘social enterprise,’ that would provide the neighborhood with what it needs while at the same time creating jobs for adults with disabilities."

Cornucopia’s Retail Committee Chairman Paul R. Johnson, in a letter to Plusquellic, says the organization - which operates the "Nature’s Bin" store in Lakewood - will study the feasibility of attracting, promoting, developing and operating a grocery store and café in Highland Square.

Hattie Larlham CEO Dennis Allen, in a letter to the Mayor, says that the Organization will coordinate with the City and Cornucopia to conduct the study that will allow the three parties to decide if the independently owned and operated grocery store will be viable for the neighborhood and for Larlham workers.

The first step will be to commission a feasibility study to measure whether a store based on the Nature’s Bin model could succeed in Highland Square. If the study brings back a positive recommendation to go forward, both Hattie Larlham and Cornucopia will decide whether adding this new store to their existing facilities will aid them in their primary mission of providing vocational services. If both parties agree to move forward, the City of Akron will assist the organizations in estimating costs for construction and will assist in developing a method of financing the project.

When the feasibility study is complete, the ownership and lease structure of the grocery store will be addressed, taking into account the present ownership rights of Albrecht, Inc., with whom the city has existing arrangements to construct a grocery store of about 10,000 square feet at West Market Street and North Portage Path.

"We have interviewed many grocery operators over the last several years," said Plusquellic. "This has been a difficult project because of the relatively small size of the site, which has been made even more challenging because of the downturn in the national economy."\

In his State of the City message in February, Plusquellic said, "I would like to tell you that 2009 will be the year that Highland Square will get a grocery store, but I can't guarantee that. I want everyone to know that not a week goes by that we are not actively searching for the right design and an operator to keep our commitment to the neighborhood."

Hattie Larlham has a long history of providing services to the developmentally disabled since 1961. The organization started with residential services and now includes health services and vocational services. Vocational services are provided by pairing clients with job coaches and working in a variety of settings, including the Hattie’s cafés, Hattie’s Doggie Day care and Boarding and Creative Arts. They serve about 1500 people throughout Ohio.

Cornucopia, Inc was established in 1975 as a small store in Lakewood where people with disabilities could learn how to hold a job. Cornucopia serves people with a wide range of disabilities including mental retardation, developmental disabilities, mental illness, autism, visual and hearing impairment, and injuries resulting from accident or illness.

About 200 trainees per year spend 8 to 12 weeks working in the Natures Bin grocery store, the Eliza Jennings Senior Care community and the Target Store in University Heights. The current store is about 10,000 square feet.

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Contact:
Adele Dorfner Roth, Economic Development Manager
330.375.2133