Breaking Ground

Here on our Breaking Ground pages, we'll check in with those brick-and-mortar development stories our readers love as well as what's hot with local entrepreneurs and new programs. You'll also find our regular "Who's Hiring" listings here.

Third annual FutureLAND conference set to inspire innovation and entrepreneurial growth
The third annual FutureLAND Conference, hosted by the City of Cleveland, United Black Fund, and JumpStart, will bring together thought leaders, industry innovators, and content creators to explore ways in which tech shapes the entrepreneur ecosystem and creative economy this Thursday, Oct. 10 to Saturday, Oct. 12 at Playhouse Square.
Making Waves: CSU and AquaMissions launch water safety program for Cleveland youth
Cleveland State University, AquaMissions, and Cleveland Metropolitan School District are diving into a life-saving partnership to teach 2,500 Cleveland fourth graders critical water safety and swim skills. The program aims to prevent drowning deaths among the region's youth.
Engage! Cleveland’s second DEI conference ignites change
Engage! Cleveland hosted its second Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion conference in September for more than 150 participants from 43 local companies. The event included speakers from Equius Group, the Cleveland Guardians, and the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland.
Putting down roots: Tree canopy restoration groups, students, plant mini-forest at Metroparks Zoo
Rooted in Trees, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, and Holden Forests & Gardens worked with Urban Community School students last week to plant the first Miyawaki Forest in a U.S. zoo. The 150 densely-planted native saplings and shrubs will grow rapidly, providing ecological benefits and educational opportunities, while helping restore the region's tree canopy.
WKYC Channel 3 to host Thursday telethon to support NEO Boys & Girls Clubs
This Thursday, WKYC Channel 3 will host a day-long telethon to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio. Sponsored by Oswald Companies, the campaign will raise funds to reopen 17 clubs that were closed late this summer due to federal funding cuts.
Free Books! Lakewood Public Library to host the Banned Wagon next week
The Banned Wagon will roll into Lakewood Public Library next week to give away free books on a tour spearheaded by Penguin Random House to promote awareness of book challenges and censorship during Banned Books Week.
Saving the Forest City: Tree Summit to engage advocates, tree commissions in reforesting solutions
The third annual Cuyahoga Tree Summit, hosted by Dr. Roy Larick and tree experts, will bring together tree advocacy groups, municipal tree commissions, and environmental experts at the Independence Civic Center to address the needs of the county’s declining tree canopy and the critical role of trees in community health and climate resilience.
Law & Order: Euclid Police to host Northeast Ohio Police Crime Prevention Conference
In 2019, Euclid community members expressed interest to Euclid Police Department community policing & crime analysis coordinator Kate McLaughlin in working with police to prevent crime and make the neighborhoods safer, So she held the first Northeast Ohio Police Crime Prevention Mini Conference. The conference returns this Saturday at the Lincoln Electric Welding Technology & Training Center.
Coming home: Lone Sailor Statue will soon watch over Lake Erie
The USS Cleveland Legacy Foundation yesterday announced the October 12 unveiling of the Lone Sailor Statue at its permanent home at Voinovich Bicentennial Park. The statue celebrates the upcoming commissioning of the USS Cleveland and represents those who served in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines. The Foundation has raised more than $4 million to support the ship and crew.
Breaking barriers, building bridges: Engage! Cleveland ignites change at DEI Conference
Engage! Cleveland’s 2024 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Conference is this Thursday at The Aviator, aiming to unite young professionals and leaders in conversations on racial equity and inclusion. The event will offer actionable strategies to advance DEI in the workplace, featuring expert speakers and panel discussions.
Perfect pitch: Balance Cheer Gymnastics wins Cleveland Chain Reaction season seven
The winners of Cleveland Chain Reaction were announced this week on Kickin' It With Kenny, with Balance Cheer and Gymnastics taking first place; Covermecutee in second; and CLE Urban Winery in third among 17 semifinalists.
Barking up the right tree: Taps & Tails offers social time for both dogs and humans
In 2019 Lakewood residents Lisa and Eric Hollender wanted a bar where unleashed dogs could play and exercise while their humans relaxed and socialized. So, in 2021 they opened Taps & Tails in Tremont. The place is so popular, they're thinking about expanding with an east side location.
Honor and support: National VFR Day honors fallen Euclid officer Jacob Derbin at Guardians game
Attendees at last Saturday's Guardians game celebrated National VFR Day, raised money for veterans and first responders, and honored fallen Euclid Police officer Jacob Derbin. Additionally, the VFR Foundation gave service K-9 Jake to the Euclid Police Department in Derbin's name.
Communities in bloom: Groups tout pollinator gardens with native plants
Advocates of pollinator gardens—plots with native plants that nurture bees, butterflies, and birds to preserve the ecosystem—have groups around the region, like Heights Native Pollinator Pathway and Wild Ones Greater Cleveland, sowing seeds and spreading a message.
Hook up: DigitalC, BlueBridge partner in second data center to increase high-speed internet in city
With a mission to deploy a citywide network of affordable high-speed internet, DigitalC announced this week that it has partnered with BlueBridge Networks to host its second data center. The second data center will provide better reliability and allow Digital C to expand its client base throughout the city.
Nativity Catholic Church: an abandoned, demolished symbol of a Slovak neighborhood
Cleveland Masterworks: Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, organized by Cleveland's Slovak immigrant community in 1903, constructed two churches in its 90 years as a thriving congregation. Abandoned in 1992, the decayed symbol of better times was demolished last week.
Neighborhood Connections, Cuyahoga Arts & Culture fund resident-led projects
Neighborhood Connections announced this week that it has approved $382,114 in grants to support 121 projects in Cleveland and East Cleveland. Cuyahoga Arts & Culture will co-fund 27 of the resident-led arts and culture projects. Read about what community groups are doing with the funding to improve our neighborhoods.
Human evolution expert awarded CMNH endowed chair for work in studying early tools
Cleveland Museum of Natural History paleoanthropologist and assistant curator of human origins Dr. Emma Finestone in April was awarded the Robert J. and Linnet E. Fritz Endowed Chair of Human Origins. The position was part of a $3 million gift from Robert and Linnet Fritz toward the museum's Transforming the World Of Discovery campaign. Finestone was part of a group who, in Nyayanga, Kenya, discovered some of the oldest stone tools ever found.
Basement clutter inspires art project at Westinghouse factory ruins
While decluttering her basement, teacher, artist, and retired bass player Juliana Sadock Savino came across some items that inspired her to create some impromptu public art installations on the grounds of the decaying former Westinghouse Electric factory on Ashland Road.
Semifinalists announced: 21 businesses make the cut in Cleveland Chain Reaction season seven
Greater Cleveland Partnership’s (GCP) Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE) announced yesterday, Tuesday, July 9, that 21 businesses will advance to the semifinals in season seven of Cleveland Chain Reaction, a neighborhood economic development project and small business pitch competition. Find out who made the cut!