99 REASONS WE LOVE GREATER AKRON
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Because we want to keep artists here. Akron Soul Train is a new residential village for creative souls and their keepers, groupies and fanatics. The village consists of refurbished passenger rail cars and shipping containers, transforming them into gallery/studio spaces for artists. Akron Soul Train provides housing, along with gallery and studio space to qualifying artists. Artists can apply for fellowships, which are awarded for one, three, and six-month stints.
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Because we love Akronist.com to stay informed and help us spread the word. The Akronist is a multi-media community news and entertainment website about Greater Akron. Residents can create stories, videos and photos. The news organization opened the Akron Digital Media Center in 2017 at the Akron-Summit County Public Library main branch in downtown Akron to enhance coverage of community news and information.
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Because of the 20-minute rule. No, it’s not guaranteed, but you can go just about anywhere in Greater Akron in 20 minutes or less. Akron to Kent? Wadsworth to downtown Akron? Yep, 20 minutes.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF AKRON
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Because more than 30 institutions of higher education are within a 50-mile radius of Greater Akron. The University of Akron and Kent State University have combined enrollments of close to 53,000 on their two main campuses and tens of thousands more on their satellite campuses.
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Because we have the best long-term investment of any Northeast Ohio public university—The University of Akron. Payscale.com released its ranking of Best Value Colleges in 2016. The ranking looks at the cost of attendance and earning potential and then determines which universities and colleges offer the best return.
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COURTESY OF NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Because we’re helping to address the shortage of primary care physicians well beyond Greater Akron. Northeast Ohio Medical University’s Education for Service scholarship program provides funds for students to finance their education in exchange for a commitment to serve the community and create a more diverse healthcare workforce that cares for underserved populations. Each year, NEOMED graduates more than 200 healthcare professionals with the majority returning to Northeast Ohio.
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Because we’re a model of outstanding and innovative, team-based, patient-centered care. NEOMED has long recognized the importance of interprofessional education in healthcare. They develop their medicine and pharmacy students to work with other health professionals and to provide the best team-based care to patients. It truly takes a village to treat the whole patient and not just focus on their current symptoms.
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Because Stark State is expanding into Summit County. The new building in Akron will provide affordable, quality associate degrees and certificates that lead to jobs in high-growth, high-demand fields.
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Because we love The Blue Line. In September 2017, the FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay celebrated its 15th year with over 15,000 participants, 3,000 volunteers, 120,000 spectators and lots of community support.
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Because we entice the world’s greatest golfers here each August with the chance to play the formidable course at Firestone Country Club in south Akron. The World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational is a PGA Toursanctioned event that welcomes a field of about 60 male golfers from around the world and dozens of corporations who host the event.
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Because Thomas Edison, the king of electricity, married Akronite Mina Miller in February 1886 in the home of her father, inventor Lewis Miller. The house, called Oak Place, still stands and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
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