UNIVERSITY PARK ALLIANCE URBAN INNOVATORS SPEAKER SERIES FEATURES TALENT ATTRACTION EXPERT JOE CORTRIGHT

Akron, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2009 — Joe Cortright, president of Impresa Economics in Portland, Ore. will kick-off the University Park Alliance Urban Innovators Speaker Series on Tuesday, Jan. 12 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Andrew Jackson House, 277 E. Mill St. in University Park, Akron.

           Cortright has written extensively on the migration of talented young workers among metropolitan areas in a series of studies titled, The Young and Restless, and will present “Attracting Talent Through the Development of Vibrant Urban Centers.”  His work is quoted regularly in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Economist, Business Week and USA Today.

            UPA’s Urban Innovators Speaker Series features world-class experts in economics, real estate development and transportation who will discuss key issues in progressive urban design that are central to attracting talent and spurring economic development. The program provides a platform for strategically examining how new thinking and imaginative action around the development of our core city centers and close-in neighborhoods, including the University Park neighborhood, can positively impact Northeast Ohio’s economic growth potential.  “Talent, innovation, urban places and prosperity are integrally linked in the knowledge economy,” says UPA Executive Director Ken Stapleton.  “This series will help Akron and Northeast Ohio better understand and take advantage of these connections.”

            UPA’s Urban Innovators Speaker Series is organized in cooperation with support from the Greater Akron Chamber and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and in conjunction with promotional partners Western Reserve Public Media through its new show “Neotropolis,” Green City Blue Lake Institute, Torchbearers and GAR Foundation.

            Upcoming speakers in the series are Chuck Bohl, director of the graduate program in Real Estate Development and Urbanism (MRED+U) at the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, who will present “Place Making: Developing Town Centers, Main Streets and Urban Villages” on Feb. 9; and, Jason Schrieber, principal with Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates in Boston who will present “Mode Shift: Moving from Driving to Biking and Walking” on March 9. 

            The presentations are free and open to the public. Seating will be limited to 100 per presentation and reservations are required. Call 330-972-8859 or email julie2@uakron.edu.

About University Park Alliance 

The mission of University Park Alliance is to revitalize and transform the diverse University Park neighborhood, a 50-block area immediately surrounding The University of Akron, through engaging the community and leveraging real estate and business investment. UPA was established through a major grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and is comprised of partners including The

University of Akron, City of Akron, Summa Health System, Akron Children's Hospital, Akron General Health System, Akron Beacon Journal, Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority, the Greater Akron Chamber, Akron Public Schools, and the University Park Development Corporation.