funded ideas (2006)

Cleveland City Living
Cleveland City Living promotes residential living in downtown and "greater downtown" Cleveland, particularly targeting recent college graduates via marketing pieces, events, and promotions. Champion, Scott Phillips Jr, is already working closely with downtown property owners and managers, helping them to fill any vacancies they may have. He also will be working with corporations who actively recruit at colleges as well as (i)Cleveland to attract graduates' attention. Scott's passion parallels one of the strategic goals of the Downtown Cleveland Alliance, which is to increase residential and business population in downtown Cleveland, and he will be working closely with them.


Full Circle Fuels

Full Circle Fuels is a new multi-faceted alternative fuels center located at 141 South Main Street in Oberlin, OH. They are dedicated to increasing awareness and use of biofuels in northeast Ohio. Full Circle Fuels is an automotive shop in which converts diesel vehicles to run on straight vegetable oil, offers energy efficiency and fuel economy items, and collects waste vegetable oil from local establishments for use in converted vehicles and biodiesel production. They also perform conventional automotive repair (everything except tires, paint and body work), produce biodiesel fuel in a mobile, off-the-grid community scale processor, and have educational initiatives aimed at increasing local interest in biodiesels.


Hands On Northeast Ohio

Hands On Northeast Ohio (Hands On NEO)an affiliate of the Hands On Network, promotes positive change and builds strong communities through meaningful volunteer action. The organization offers a place for individuals to begin their journey to make a difference and become effective volunteers. Hands On NEO makes it simple for volunteers to choose from a variety of projects that connect community needs with their time and interests. Interested participants are screened and trained to ensure a capable, informed direct service volunteer force. This network of individuals builds the capacity of area nonprofits, schools and municipal agencies. Hands On Northeast Ohio creates, manages, and leads volunteer opportunities that produce reliable, measurable results that meet critical community needs.


Homeless Education Campaign
The Homelessness Education Campaign (relaunched by the Downtown Cleveland Alliance as "Generocity Cleveland")   offers the general public giving alternatives that will better serve the homeless in the form of public art inspired donation receptacles. This initiative  addresses and attempts to eliminate the problem of panhandling, an important issue as downtown Cleveland redevelops and attract new businesses and residents.


Plexus

This mission of Plexus is to connect the LGBT business community and allies through proactive business development. To get connected, Plexus offers a series of programs and events designed for professionals of all levels in small to large organizations. Their target member is someone who values diversity and the creation of an inclusive working environment. Plexus looks to small business professionals and employees of larger firms as their core membership base. Sponsorship comes in many levels and with a variety of different advantages. Sponsors have the unique opportunity to target the LGBT consumer market.

Ray's Indoor Mountainbike Park
Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park, the first in the nation, is over 80,000 square feet of industrial space that holds an array of ramps, turns, tracks, rocks, and stunts designed specifically for riding by mountain bikers. It is not only a place to challenge one's riding abilities, but it is also a place to interact, to have fun, and to learn from and along with other riders.


The Velodrome
The Velodrome will be an indoor 250m Velodrome Arena serving Greater Cleveland, the Midwest, and the Nation. The project will include a Bike Park with a 333m outdoor track, Cyclocross trails, BMX trails, Safety-town. The arena will increase community based educational activities, community health and fitness, community cycling awareness, tourism in the region, and potentially host major events, accenting Cleveland’s branding as a sports destination.