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3/29/2013
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$2.00/APRIL 1 - 7, 2013
Vol. 34, No. 13
NE Ohio opens up to world
SPECIAL REPORT
Business leaders taking fresh approaches to make region more appealing to immigrants By JAY MILLER jmiller@crain.com
JASON MILLER
The $465 million convention center and medical mart project is nearing its completion.
THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL CENTER FOR HEALTH INNOVATION AND CONVENTION CENTER www.crainscleveland.com/medmart
■ Anticipation builds ■ Center as a selling point ■ Local impact ■ Maps and photos ■ Full coverage: PAGES S-1 to S-14
Housing market constructs hope here Area manufacturers benefit from a rebound in home sales, look to hire employees to keep pace By DAN SHINGLER dshingler@crain.com
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The U.S. housing market finally is bouncing back from its economy-busting crash of 2008, and experts credit it with benefits that range from boosting pickup truck sales to ringing the cash registers at countless diners, barber shops and other small businesses that serve construction
workers. But here in Northeast Ohio, where homebuilding is only starting to recover and certainly has not reached its pre-crash levels, manufacturers say they are still getting big gains from what is a national trend. Local companies that produce construction materials, fixtures and home repair products say they are benefiting from increases in both new home con-
struction and the rising sales of existing homes nationwide. “Just yesterday, I was in a client’s office and we were looking at the ABI, the Architectural Billings Index (a gauge of construction activity) Peplin and it was up nicely — there’s some good stuff going on out there,” said Steve Peplin, president of metal stamping company Talan Products in Cleveland. See CONSTRUCTS Page 29
Not waiting for Washington politicians to tell them where federal immigration policy is going on big-picture immigration subjects like border integrity citizenship issues, the business and civic leaders of Northeast Ohio are stepping up their efforts to make the region more attractive to immigrants and other newcomers. Among the initiatives: ■ This Tuesday, April 2, the Greater Cleveland Partnership will host a forum titled “U.S. Immigration Policy and the Midwest Economy.” Carol Caruso, senior vice president for government advocacy at the regional chamber of commerce, said about 80 business leaders are expected to discuss a report that analyzes the role of immigration in growing the Midwest economy, as well as the importance of federal immigration policy reform. See UNITING Page 29
Branches can’t bank on future As many brick-and-mortar locations close, new ways of doing business are a must By MICHELLE PARK mpark@crain.com
The two banks with the most Northeast Ohio deposits are shuttering dozens, even hundreds, of branches this year across their footprints, and some observers predict this is only the beginning for an industry that’s grappling with diminished customer traffic, higher costs due to increased regulation and the ever-present need to turn a profit. PNC Bank announced in early March that it will close about 200 branches this year in 19 states, including See BRANCHES Page 8