The city of Medina, Ohio The city of Medina, Ohio
City Departments: Tuesday, January 06, 2009
 
 
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Office of Economic Development

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CITY OF MEDINA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT 


The City of Medina is home to a progressive, business-friendly local government, which has expanded municipal services to match growth and provide for the future. It has a non-partisan Mayor and City Council form of government. Community leadership also takes guidance from the Medina Area Chamber of Commerce and the Community Design Committee.

Medina’s location provides our businesses with access to 55% of the US manufacturing facilities in more than 40 major cities within a 500-mile radius. This area encompasses 57% of the US population that control 60% of our nation’s purchases.

A large industrial district of 800 acres was established in the early 1950s with all utilities installed and access to rail. Since then, more than 124 new industries have located facilities there. These have been highly diversified and range in size from plants with more than 250 employees to smaller operations with a workforce of 50 or fewer. The industrial district is part of both an Enterprise Zone and a Community Reinvestment Area.

Commercial expansion has mirrored the population growth of the city and blends the charm of the shops in the historic district with those featuring a more contemporary look. In recent years, major retailers and a variety of nationally known restaurants have located here to provide additional services for local residents and the thousands of visitors that annually make Medina their destination. 

Sandy Davis, Economic Development
132 North Elmwood Avenue
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.722.0397
sdavis@medinaoh.org 

Tom Krueger, Economic Development Director
132 North Elmwood Avenue
Medina, Ohio 44256
330.764.3319
tkrueger@medinaoh.org

Transportation

Transportation by truck is expedient with close and easy access to Interstates 71, 77 and 76. Both Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Akron-Canton Regional Airport are less than 30 minutes driving time via the Interstate System. Rail service is active and available industrial sector. The City of Medina’s own Municipal Airport is only 4.5 miles from downtown. The Port of Cleveland , which offers water shipping routes through the Great Lakes , is also easily accessible. Local transportation is provided by the Medina County Transit provides public and door to door local transportation service within Medina County .

Utilities

Medina has a plentiful supply of fresh, clean water, reliable energy resources including electrical power and natural gas and superior quality communication systems. Our storm and sanitary sewer systems are modern and efficient. Providers of these services are listed below. 
   

 

Cable Armstrong Cable 330.723.0901 www.armstrongonewire.com
Electricity First Energy 800.633.4766 www.firstenergycorp.com
Natural Gas Columbia Gas 800.344.4077 www.columbiagasohio.com
Sanitary Sewer Medina County 330.722.9585 www.sanitaryengineer.co.medina.oh.us
Storm Sewer Medina City 330.722.9084 www.medinaoh.org
Telephone Verizon / GTE 800.483.4000 www.Verizon.com
Trash Medina City 330.722.9026 www.medinaoh.org
Water Medina City 330.722.9081 www.medinaoh.org

Workforce Development

The Medina community recognizes and supports the need for a well-trained, highly skilled and experienced workforce. Our community supports a network of educational institutions whose strong foundations are embedded in our local Medina City Schools System (www.mcsoh.org).   This foundation in primary and secondary training is supplemented by the following quality organizations:

Medina Works -The Medina County Workforce Development Center has designed its services around meeting the employment and training needs of Medina County employers.  Our business programs and services are designed to meet the needs of businesses and the workforce, by integrating and linking services to build a strong Medina County Workforce Development system. (www.medinacountyworks.com)

Medina County Career Center Recognized for high quality, innovative educational programming that provides students with the knowledge necessary to assure success in the high-skilled world of work and in post-secondary education. (www.mcjvs.org).

Medina County Business Technology Park (under construction)-The Medina County University Technology Park is the 21st Century premier business location designed to retain and provide employment for our technologically trained workforce.

Medina County University Center (under construction)-The Medina County University Center is the training component for 21st Century workforce development. As a part of the University of Akron system, this facility has plans to provide programs for both 2 and 4-year degrees in areas of study that support the needs of our growing business community. 

Technology

City government has recognized that in addition to attracting technology based companied to our community, all companies require that a modern communications network must be in place to serve them. We have therefore worked closely with a local provider, Armstrong, which has engineered, built, and continues to expand a state of the art hybrid fiber-coax network in the city of Medina and surrounding areas. This network provides commercial services including, but not limited to, high speed internet connection and point to point data networks utilizing 160 miles of fiber and 463 miles of coaxial cable used in distribution of services. Armstrong takes pride in their ability to work with commercial customers and provide reliable connections that enable businesses to be constantly connected, globally. Armstrong (www.armstrongonewire.com) is committed to delivering the right solution to match the ever changing needs of businesses. 

Medina County also has plans to soon build an 88 mile aerial fiber optic ring. This system, which would be operated by the Medina County Port Authority, would consist of a 96 fiber cable and provide redundant connections through Akron and Cleveland gateways. The new system would provide common carrier access to multiple providers. This project is currently in the funding development stages.

Local Media 


Medina
is fortunate to have a number of newspapers that are available throughout the week to provide prompt local, state and national coverage of events of interest to our residents and business community members. These include: 
 

The Gazette (daily except Sunday) 330.725.4166 www.medina-gazette.com
Sun Newspapers (weekly) 330.725.1147 www.sunnews.com
Cleveland Plain Dealer (daily) 330.722.0000 www.cleveland.com/plaindealer
Akron Beacon Journal (daily) 330.996.3315 www.ohio.com
Post (Sunday) 330.722.6322  

Arts, Sports and Entertainment

The Medina County Arts Council (www.medinacountyartscouncil.org) provides Medina County with an enhanced and broadened cultural life. The Council encourages and stimulates the practice and appreciation of the Fine and Performing Arts in Medina County and provides the people of Medina County with opportunities in their own communities to participate in, experience and enjoy the Fine and Performing Arts.  

Medina is blessed with one of the finest recreation centers in the country. The Medina Community Recreation Center (MCRC) is considered to be a treasure by our residents and businesses. Located on the east side of the City on State Route 3, MCRC has state of the art exercise equipment, specialized fitness classes, an indoor running track, swimming and wading pools and free-weights. For more information, please visit the MCRC at 330-721-6900 (http://medinaoh.org/mcrc).  

Sports enthusiasts have ready access to a number of professional teams, all within easy driving distance of Medina . The Cleveland Cavaliers (www.nba.com/cavaliers), featuring superstar LeBron James, play basketball at the Quicken Arena. For baseball, the American League Cleveland Indians (http://cleveland.indians.mbl.com) and the Akron Aeros (www.akronaeros.com) minor league team are a short half hour distance away. The Cleveland Browns (www.clevelandbrowns.com) NFL team is also just 30 minutes away. The Professional Football Hall of Fame (www.profootballhof.com) is located in Canton just off I-77. For professional soccer, the Columbus Crew (http://columbus.crew.misnet.com) recently opened a new, modern stadium just north of Columbus , which is less than two hours drive to the South on I-71. For NHL hockey, we are just a short drive away from the Columbus Blue Jackets (www.bluejackets.com). Racing fans can see thoroughbreds run at Thistledown Racetrack (www.thistledown.com) or watch the trotters at Northfield Park (www.northfield-park.com).

Parks and Recreation

In addition to the beautiful park in our downtown Square, Medina has 10 parks located throughout the City that provide places to play or just relax (visit the Parks Department page of this website for more information). We also have a municipal swimming pool which is located at 421 East Homestead. For more information contact:

Medina City Parks  330.721.6950

Medina Community Recreation Center 330.721.6900

There are 23 Golf Courses, both public and private country clubs, within 15 miles of Medina. 

Medical Services

Medina General Hospital  (www.medinahospital.org)  is located at E. Washington Street in Medina, Ohio . This 118-bed, not-for-profit health care facility is dedicated to serving Medina County and the surrounding area. The facility offers a full range of services and specialties include diagnostic, medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric and therapeutic services as well as a 24-hour emergency department.

Education

Medina City Schools (www.mcsoh.org) emphasize a strong, integrated curriculum founded in the basics. Its gifted education program and its special education programs attract visiting teachers from throughout the state. Staff training and the use of technology are among the district priorities. The school district offers a wide range of classroom enrichment and co-curricular opportunities so that every student can develop his or her talents and be successful in school. The high school music and journalism programs regularly win national awards. Academic and co-curricular participants annually reach the state level and beyond.

The Medina County Career Center , with a mission to provide workforce development skills, provides career enhancement, career development and special interest classes to Medina area citizens. More than 100 part time classes, 6 full time programs and 5 GED programs are offered. The Consultative Staff, through the Medina Business Institute (MBI), provides on-site customized training to Medina County area business and industry. For more information view the website at www.mcjvs.org or call 330-725-8461.

There are also 10 institutions of higher learning and education within a 35 mile radius of Medina City . These include:

The University of Akron
(Akron) 20 miles with sessions at 238 S. Elmwood Avenue, Medina and plans for development of a University Center campus in Medina. 

Walsh University with classes at 2783 Medina Road, Medina

Kent State University (Kent) 32 miles

Cleveland State University (Cleveland) 30 miles

Ashland University (Ashland) 31 miles with classes offered at 2498 Medina Road

Baldwin-Wallace (Berea) 25 miles

Case Western Reserve (Cleveland) 25 miles

Wayne College with classes at Medina County Career Center

The College of Wooster (Wooster) 22 miles

Oberlin College (Oberlin) 29 miles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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