Greater Akron Chamber

Stay informed about the latest in the polymer industry with our new "Cluster Update" newsletter! Get the most important news, updates, upcoming events, and insights into the work we're doing with our partners to drive innovation in Greater Akron’s polymer sector. Don't miss out—fill out our "Get in Touch" form to get your name on our distribution list: https://ow.ly/n5Oh50TLN2w Check out our first edition here: https://ow.ly/6nMK50TLN2u

The number one challenge for employers right now is workforce. In City of Green, Ohio, it’s no different. As Mayor Rocco Yeargin talked with employers, residents and community leaders in his city, he realized that there are a host of resources and opportunities that exist to support the City’s businesses that he could help better connect. Steve Millard talks with Mayor Yeargin about Green, some of the challenges for its employers and an event called Engaging Green coming up to connect the dots to support the workforce challenges being felt by all. Listen here: https://ow.ly/1Ql650TLEQU The Mayor has assembled a great set of resources that you are going to want to know more about. Engaging Green is free to attend, though registration is required: https://ow.ly/UH1h50TLEQW

In June 2025, if you are an electricity user in Ohio or a number of adjacent states, your costs are likely to go up–a lot. PJM is the regional transmission organization behind every kilowatt of electricity that runs through 13 states in the northeastern U.S., including Ohio. Recent market action for future pricing saw a staggering 933% increase for the 2025/2026 delivery year that starts next June. The Greater Akron Chamber has partnered with XpenseSolutions and Vistra Corp. to provide our members with resources to analyze their energy usage, seek advice from an expert, and access exclusive pricing on services through Energy Harbor. Learn more: https://ow.ly/TIiQ50TL3r4

If you're not following the Polymer Industry Cluster, now’s the time! Stay updated on the work that's being done in polymer innovation, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration in our region.

Business owners: are you stuck in the day-to-day grind of your business and struggling to focus on your business? Feeling the strain of growing pains or like you’ve hit a ceiling? This isn’t a sales pitch–in this episode, Andy Platt joins Steve Millard to explore the Entrepreneurial Operating System? (EOS), a business management framework designed to help small and mid-sized businesses streamline their operations and boost efficiency. https://ow.ly/UHMS50TJ2Ww Platt, a Professional EOS Implementor, shares insights from his tenure at The J.M. Smucker Co., where he helped the company grow from a million-dollar “jelly and jam” business toa billion-dollar enterprise, and how the company used similar tools and processes to navigate that growth. Discover if EOS is the right fit for your business at https://ow.ly/FM3i50TJ2Wz.

Yesterday, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory, Inc., hosted Junior Leadership Akron students for an engaging, hands-on session on careers in polymer manufacturing as part of their Environmental Day at The Well Community Development Corporation! These high school juniors are gaining valuable leadership skills and insight into Akron’s industries through this nine-month program modeled after Leadership Akron’s Signature Program. ARDL's interactive presentation highlighted the importance of polymers in shaping our future, sparking curiosity about career opportunities in this vital sector. Great to see our local youth exploring careers in polymer innovation! #LeadershipAkron #JuniorLeadershipAkron #PolymerIndustry #ARDL #FutureLeaders #PolymerCareers

The Greater Akron Business Navigator is an online portal with over 200 business resources provided by over 60 Greater Akron organizations. This tool makes it easier than ever for businesses at any stage to access the resources they need to grow! Tell us about your business, business goals, and pain points in a brief questionnaire, and we'll send a list of resources that fit your unique needs. Unsure where to start? Go to https://lnkd.in/g-xTqSpP to access resources that fit your unique business needs.

The Federal Reserve’s 2024 Small Business Credit Survey is now open through Friday, November 1, and the Greater Akron Chamber is a partner on this effort. Each year, the Federal Reserve asks for-profit small business (500 employees or less) owners and financial decision makers to share their successes, challenges, and future outlook in an effort to better understand the experience and challenges being faced by these businesses. All responses are confidential and become a part of the economic data that the Fed and policy makers rely on to make decisions that will affect your business. We encourage you to take the opportunity to share your experiences and challenges with the policy makers that shape economic policy. Fill out the survey: https://lnkd.in/gYvdmVpG

In June 2025, if you are an electricity user in Ohio or a number of adjacent states, your costs are likely to go up–a lot. Recent PJM market action for future pricing saw a staggering 933% increase for the 2025/2026 delivery year that starts next June. Sounds technical–and it is, but XpenseSolutions President and energy industry veteran, John Verdile, stops by in this episode to explain why this is headline news and why businesses should begin preparing for the increase. Listen here: https://ow.ly/UkHq50TFTE9

Thank you to all the wonderful attendees we had at last Friday's first Authentic Leadership: Leading with Strength Session led by Dr. Jennifer Savitski! Attendees gained valuable insights into their unique strengths, learn strategies to maximize their impact, and create a strengths-based action plan for leadership growth, professional development, and overcoming workplace challenges.