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The Enterprise Community is a partnership of effort directed toward the center of the City. The EC supports new business startup, business expansion, the efforts of residents to learn new skills linked to jobs, and the development of neighborhoods which are secure, economically healthy, and support family life.

In December, 1994, President Clinton designated Akron as one of 65 urban areas in the country to be an Enterprise Community (EC) and one of only three such areas in Ohio. All ECS in the country were required to specify a high poverty area with no more than 50,000 people. It includes significant business activity as a base for greater economic opportunity. Akron's EC includes the downtown and University of Akron, the near north, west and south sides of the city, and the Arlington Street corridor from East Market south to the City limits.

STRATEGY

The EC program strategies were developed by many community partners, including neighborhood residents, the University of Akron, Akron Public Schools, the Private Industry Council, the Akron Regional Development Board, local banks, businesses and service organizations. To promote economic opportunity and sustainable community development, these strategies:

• improve education and training for EC residents;
• provide incentives for businesses to expand and employ neighborhood residents;
• make the area safer;
• promote healthy lifestyles and illness prevention;
• improve the neighborhoods and housing;
• upgrade the physical appearance of the area;
• expand the relationship between the public schools and community service agencies.

As part of the designation, the City received nearly $3 million for programming. A broad community involvement effort developed a set of program initiatives listed below. The implementation of these programs is monitored by the EC Network, a voluntary group of 26 community and organizational representatives.

• Revolving Loan Program
  Mayor's Office of Economic Development - 375-2133
  Provides access to working capital and loans less than $125,000 for small to mid-size companies.
• Akron Industrial Incubator
  Akron Development Corporation - 375-2173
  Provides low cost industrial space and services for new businesses, and an environment that is conducive to innovation and production.
• Micro Loan Program
  Safe Harbor Incubator, E.A.N.D.C. - 773-2596
  Will provide start up capital to small business, training, and technical assistance.
• Family Loan Program
  Family Services of Summit County - 376-949
  Provides loans to eligible low-income families to assist in maintaining current employment or current enrollment in educational programs.
• Polymer Machining Training
  Polymer Training Center - 374-8625
  Provides machinery for training programs of EC residents or companies exploring polymer processes, technologies, and practices.
• School Service Coordination
  Akron Public Schools - 434-1661, ext. 3267
  Will coordinate services in elementary and middle schools that include parent education, drug prevention, latchkey services, health services, and social services.
• Tech Prep Program
  University of Akron C & T College - 972-6578
  Akron Public Schools - 434-1661
  Provides advanced-skill education and training in technology related careers for students while promoting linkages among business, industry, secondary schools and the Community and Technical College at the University of Akron.
• Polymer Internship Program
  Polymer Training Center - 972-8508
  Provides opportunities for high school students in the Enterprise Community to pursue certification in plastics and rubber processing at the Akron Polymer Training Center.
• Urban Enterprise Education
  University Department of Economic Education - 972-7762
  Uses creative curricula for students K-12, designed to stimulate and improve the student's knowledge and understanding of basic, real world economic concepts and principles.
• Career Preparatory Program
  Akron Public Schools - 434-1661, ext. 3267
  Offers classes to Akron middle school students within the Enterprise Community to experience "hands on" learning of programs in technology, computers, problem solving, analytical reasoning, and career planning.
• Health Promotion & Education
  Akron Health Department - 375-2109
  Promote healthy lifestyles, develop community health care linkages, and evaluate residents' health.
• Community Health
  Akron Community Health Resources - 724-5471
  The City's only federally funded health center provides health care to the medically underserved in Akron.
• Child Care Recruitment, Training and Start Up
  Summit County Department of Human Services - 643-7322
  Recruits, trains and provides start up assistance for Enterprise Community residents to become in home child care providers.
• Public Safety Program
  Akron Police Department - 375-2390.
  Supports efforts to increase neighborhood safety.
• Home Ownership Program
  Akron Department of Planning and Urban Development - 375-2090
  Enables the purchase of good quality homes in specific areas of the EC.
• New Homes Project
  Urban Neighborhood Development Corporation - 375-2640
  Provides incentives to homebuilders and income-qualified new homebuyers to facilitate new housing construction in the Enterprise Community.