Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry Wins Team NEO Economic Development Impact Award, Third Honor

On Tuesday, June 2, 2009, Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry was honored as a co-recipient of two honors at the 2009 Team Northeast Ohio (NEO) Economic Development Impact Award Ceremony. The event was held at the Embassy Suites Hotel, located on Rockside Woods Boulevard in Independence, Ohio.

Team NEO, a private sector-led regional economic development organization, annually hosts the award ceremony as a way to recognize organizations and companies who have made outstanding contributions in attracting, retaining and expanding businesses in northeast Ohio.

Throughout the ceremony, awards were distributed in the following categories: Asset Creation, Business Attraction, Business Expansion, Business Retention, Foreign Investment, Fostering Entrepreneurship, Marketing Cleveland Plus, Minority Business Development, Public-Private Partnership and Workforce Development.

The County of Summit was named co-recipients of the Asset Creation Award and the Business Retention Award.

The Asset Creation Award was given to all of the public and private partners associated with the BioInnovation Institute, a world-class incubator for life-enhancing biomedical discoveries. Project partners include: Akron Children's Hospital, Akron General Health System, BioEnterprise, City of Akron, The Knight Foundation, Northeastern Ohio Universities Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy (NEOUCOM), Summa Health System, the County of Summit and The University of Akron.

The Business Creation Award was given to those who joined together to retain the Bridgestone Firestone North America Tire Technical Center in the City of Akron. In addition to the County of Summit, the City of Akron, Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce and the Summit County Port Authority were also honored with the award.

"We are extremely proud to receive such distinguished honors," graciously stated Summit County Executive Russell M. Pry. "I strongly believe both projects will have a positive impact on the northeast Ohio community."

To date, Team NEO has honored Pry's administration with three Economic Development Impact Awards. In 2008, Pry was among the recipients of the Deal of the Year Award, for the leadership his office played in retaining the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in the City of Akron.

"Economic development has, and always will be, a top priority in my administration," added Pry.

For more information on the Team NEO Economic Development Impact Awards, click on www.teamneo.org , or dial 1-216-363-5400.