When the Technology Summit ended last September 16^th, I made a promise that there would be follow-up.  One year later, I offer this report so you can judge for yourself the areas in which we have made progress, and the areas in which we must work harder.

At least three visible outcomes of the Summit have emerged: An increased emphasis on Information Technology, an increased emphasis on regionalism, and an increased emphasis on globalism.

The Northern Ohio IT Alliance was created, accepted into the statewide network of regional IT Alliances and has now become one of only five such regional groups that provide a regular offering of programming and services to its membership which now spans a 13 county area.  Further information about the group can be found at its website, http://www.noita.org

Leaders of Ashland and Richland Counties have made a conscious effort to affiliate more with the rest of Northeast Ohio.  Both counties are now active with JumpStart, the region’s pre-venture capital facilitator, both work with NorTech and BioEnterprise to further technology-based economic development, Richland County is a member of NEOTEC, the Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium, and both counties are full members of the Fund for Our Economic Future, which is emerging as one of the major funding sources for technology-based economic development in Northeast Ohio.  Further information about the fund is available at http://www.futurefundneo.org

The International Trade Assistance Center has now become a full-service program offering trade assistance to area firms that want to achieve their full potential in the Global Marketplace.  Now serving a nineteen county area, further information is available at http://www.braintreepartners.org/itac

Now one year later, three different events take the place of and, I think, eliminate the need for another Summit.  On August 31^st the Northern Ohio IT Alliance will host the Northcoast Super Tech Thursday on the BGSU Firelands Campus in Huron.  After three successful Tech Thursday events in Mansfield and Ashland, NOITA travels to the farthest north edge of its territory to co-sponsor an event that will draw technology-oriented entrepreneurs, educators, and economic development professionals from all over Northern Ohio.  Complementary table displays will make it even easier for Mansfield and Ashland area firms and agencies to promote themselves to the rest of Northern Ohio.  Like the other Tech Thursdays, this one costs just $5, which can be paid on-line or at the door.  I have enclosed the promotional flyer, and if you are not already one of the 80 to 100 expected attendees, please join us.  This event takes place in the state-of-the-art Cedar Point Conference Center, and is cosponsored by the Ohio IT Alliance, NorTech, JumpStart, and the Regional Growth Partnership of the Toledo area.

On September 16^th, the entire sixteen county region of Northeast Ohio will have its own Summit, as the Regional Town Meeting convenes on the campus of the University of Akron.  Over 1,500 people are expected to participate in what has been billed as the largest citizen engagement in history.  The discussion will last all day and will be the most wide-ranging effort to identify and deal with the challenges facing the region.  It is imperative that our area be represented in this endeavor.  Organizers are expecting a minimum of nineteen participants from Ashland County and 46 from Richland County.  This is a great chance for our voices to be heard and there is no cost to participate.  For those who don’t wish to drive to Akron, there will be buses leaving early that morning from Ashland Economic Development and Braintree.  Registration information is available at http://www.voiceschoices.org.  For those unable to make the trip, you still have the opportunity to participate by completing the on-line choice book exercise also found at that website.

And finally on October 10^th, JumpStart will bring its popular “exchange event” to Richland and Ashland Counties with an exciting evening get-together at the Mansfield Art Center.  The JumpStart Exchange has a proven history of bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, community leaders, and economic development professionals, all with the goal in mind of promoting technology-based entrepreneurship.  We hope you will mark your calendar.  In addition to the “business-after-hours” format with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, there will be brief presentations by some of the area’s leading innovative entrepreneurs, including Dr. Jim Copeland, who was recognized at the Summit for his technology commercialization.

So as you can see, much has happened, and much is happening as we speak.  I hope you will make note of these three events and join us as we continue our journey into our technology future.