About PCOED

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About PCOED

The Portage County Department of Economic Development (PCOED) is under the jurisdiction of the Portage County Commissioners. Its responsibilities include providing assistance to industrial Realtors, builders, local industries and local communities in an effort to maintain and improve the economic base in Portage County.

PCOED also manages Portage County's Ohio Enterprise Zone Program. See the Enterprise Zones Page for more details. The office maintains a database of development information and assists businesses seeking to locate or expand in Portage County. See PCOED Office Flyer for more information.

The PCOED director serves as a trustee of the Northeast Ohio Economic and Trade Consortium (NEOTEC). The Northeast Ohio Trade and Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) is an economic development partnership formed to promote trade, business growth and economic opportunities throughout Northeast Ohio.

JOED Logo NEOTEC was founded in February 1996 as a Joint Office of Economic Development (JOED) in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 307.07 by officials in six counties, which includes the counties of Columbiana, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit and Trumbull. Ashtabula County became a member of JOED and NEOTEC in January 2002.

Additionally, NEOTEC focuses on international trade issues, logistics and other initiatives designed to enhance the competitiveness of Northeast Ohio and its businesses in the global market.

In 2000 NEOTEC incorporated as a 501c3 non-profit corporation. NEOTEC is governed by a 14-member board of trustees which are appointed by elected officials in member counties. Each county may also appoint 1 alternate trustee. The county commissioners appoint NEOTEC trustees for Portage County. Dr. David Creamer, KSU serves as a trustee and Richard Abbott, ACRT Inc. serves as alternate trustee. Commissioner Chuck Keiper represents Portage County on the JOED Board.

The Portage County Department of Economic Development is a member of the Akron/Canton, Ohio Region "Partners for Progress" comprised of the Greater Akron Chamber, First Energy and the counties of Portage, Summit, Medina and Stark. Through this partnership the office promotes the county and region at industry trade shows as well as technology oriented student initiatives when exhibiting in NE Ohio.
Editor's Note: After a decade of cooperation, this group merged into Team NEO in 2005.

Manufacturing Careers Initiative
In 2000, 2001 and 2002, the Partners for Progress sponsored technology field trips for area high school students at the IX Center in Cleveland. Shows visited include the Fabricating Technologies Show (FABTECH) and the Cleveland Advanced Productivity Exposition (APEX). Below: Maplewood students at FABTECH 2002.

In addition to visiting with the exhibitors, the 2001 APEX program included a luncheon, NASA robots and speakers along with a variety of displays featuring technology oriented careers. Students from Maplewood Career Center's Computer Aided Engineering, Welding and the Precision Machining programs have participated.

Many exhibitors, such as Cleveland Punch and Die, Ravenna and Semtorq Inc. Aurora, were eager to help introduce the engineers of the future to the technology of the future. Students could ask about the process of designing and development equipment as well as how it worked. They could also see how academic skills in science, math and computer skills tied into the programming and operation of high tech machinery.

Participants in the FABTECH 2002 Student Summit include several Akron/Canton area schools, they are: RG Drage Career Center (Massillon), Massillon City Schools, Maplewood Career Center (Ravenna), Polaris Career Center (Middleburg Heights), and Medina County Career Center. Students visited the exposition on Thursday, October 31, seeing select "Student Friendly" exhibitors. The students get to see what kinds of career opportunities are available to them, and the companies participating in the FABTECH Student Summit can help create an enthusiastic, well-trained future workforce.