Communities are living, breathing things. They are often complex systems that must balance the broad and sometimes conflicting interests of their citizenry and businesses. But it’s cooperation that leads to mutual success.
Take The Peoples Hospital, for example. This month, columnist Dr. “Tim” Stover leads with an anecdote about its formation some 100 years ago by a group of concerned Akron citizens who collectively raised money for a new hospital. That organization would become Akron General Health System, the hospital Stover heads, which highlights the positive and sustained power of community inertia.
It’s common for businesses to drive philanthropic efforts. Take, for example, the United Way of Summit County, the subject of this month’s Building Stronger Communities. Some 800 volunteers came together this year to support the organization’s mission of advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all individuals and families in Summit County.
Bob Kulinski, the nonprofit’s president and CEO, says United Way has enjoyed a historic legacy of support from the business community because it was the merchants and business people who recognized how social issues were affecting the lives of families in America during the westward expansion. Employers adopted payroll deductions to raise money for local community chests, which developed into United Ways.
While businesses can be powerful creative forces, losing one can be devastating. Mayor Don Plusquellic tells the story of how Akron could have lost The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and Bridgestone Corp., two significant area employers, in his column this month.
“Losing a Fortune 500 company means lost jobs for citizens and lost income tax revenue for the community,” Plusquellic says. “It is devastating to families and can impact the entire morale of a city.”
But business might no longer be as central of a community development force as they had once been. Dr. Luis M. Proenza writes in his column, “Gone are the days when company attraction was the principal focus of a city or a region hoping to improve its economic outlook. Today, there is a much-expanded understanding of the many interacting elements that constitute a successful economic development strategy.”
He highlights the importance of talent, investment and infrastructure as key interacting elements that enable communities to create wealth and advance their standard of living.
Communities, however, aren’t all business. It’s important for people to have fun. That’s why public money is used to develop places for people to play, such as Falls River Square in Cuyahoga Falls, the focus of this month’s Uniquely Akron/Canton.
Some 300,000 people visit the square annually, experiencing the culture of the area and leaving with a broader sense of who lives there. The former parking lot has hosted myriad performers, festivals and events that draw thousands of spectators weekly and throughout the year.
At Smart Business, we’re working to assemble some of the more compelling perspectives of area leaders in our publications to add to the community conversation.
