Introduction
The City of Akron offers a diverse and business-friendly climate and is strategically located in relation to other major United States markets.
For more in-depth information about the City of Akron, please give us a call at 330.375.2133.
Quick Facts
- One of 5 metropolitan areas in NE Ohio which is the 12th-largest market in the U.S. (~4.2 M, 50 mile/80 km radius)
- Number 2 among mid-size cities in the U.S. for business investment
- Ranked 14th among top U.S. cities for European expansion
Quality of life
- Parks, theaters, resorts, fine dining, world-class entertainment, professional sports (in the heart of downtown)
Major Assets
- More than 20 Fortune 500 companies are invested in Akron
- HQ of second-largest U.S. energy company – FirstEnergy
- Three nationally-recognized hospitals and a medical university
- Top Polymer Science and Engineering College – Univ. of Akron
- World center of tire technologies (Goodyear, Bridgestone)
- One of the most comprehensive business infrastructures in the U.S. (clusters, supply chain)
- Bounce Innovation Hub
Access to markets, logistics
- Within a 500-mile radius of 57% of the U.S. population, 55% of all U.S. manufacturing plants and 60% of the U.S. effective buying power
- Overnight rail and truck service to major metro areas including New York, Chicago, Toronto and Washington, D.C.
- Three Class-1 railroads and two international airports
- Three foreign trade zones
Power of Collaboration
- Effective working relationship between governments (City, County and State), businesses, hospitals and the universities
- Goodyear/Bridgestone Firestone
Cost of Living
- Akron’s cost of living is 95% of the national average.
- New York 146.5
- Los Angeles 132.3
- Chicago 115.3
- Atlanta 97.5
Access to trained and educated labor
- 300,000 educated and trained labor force in Akron/Summit County
- 29 colleges and universities
- 26,000 degrees awarded annually
- 180,000 degree-seeking students
Entrepreneurial network
- Access to funding
- State of Ohio Third Frontier program
- Angel networks
- Northeast Ohio has the highest concentration of health care VCs between the coasts, top 5 in the country!
- The Akron Bioinvestments Fund
Additional Resources
