Akron beat out nine other cities to host a statewide economic development conference this fall.

The Ohio Economic Development Association’s annual summit will be held at the John S. Knight Center Oct. 15-17. The summit draws about 500 economic development professionals; it’s historically been held in Central Ohio, but last year, for the first time, it moved outside that region to Toledo.

This year, 10 cities pitched proposals to host the conference. Akron’s proposal won due to its “vibrant economic ecosystem,” a statement announcing the selection said, as well as its central location in Northeast Ohio and its support from partners across the region. In the statement, OEDA President and CEO David Zak called the city “the perfect choice” for the conference this year.

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In the statement, Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro said hosting the event will allow Akron to showcase its vibrant economic landscape, while Mayor Shammas Malik said it will help connect people across the state with opportunities in Akron.

And Steve Millard, the president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber, said the region continues to find ways to reinvent itself following “shifts in industry, population and other headwinds against our goals of investment and job creation.”

Economics of Akron Reporter (she/her)
Arielle is a Northeast Ohio native with more than 20 years of reporting experience in Cleveland, Atlanta and Detroit. She joined Signal Akron as its founding education reporter, where she covered Akron Public Schools and the University of Akron.

As the economics of Akron reporter, Arielle will cover topics including housing, economic development and job availability. Through her reporting, she aims to help Akron residents understand the economic issues that are affecting their ability to live full lives in the city, and highlight information that can help residents make decisions. Arielle values diverse voices in her reporting and seeks to write about under-covered issues and groups.