1. Civic
Innovation Lab

2. Jennifer Thomas
Founding Director,
Civic Innovation Lab
Andradia Scovil
Program Coordinator,
Civic Innovation Lab

3. The Civic Innovation Lab
Jennifer Thomas, Director
Andradia Scovil, Program Coordinator
www.civicinnovationlab.org
Putting the soul in economic development

4. Old Industry

5. Innovative Industry
Ray’s Indoor
Mountain Bike Park
Over 100,000
sq. ft. of riding
heaven

6. Innovative Industry
Alternative
energy solutions
for small business

7. Traditional Entrepreneur
Global business
Industry driven

8. Community Entrepreneurs
Sam Merrett,
Full Circle Fuels
Jennifer Coleman,
CityProwl

9. Community Entrepreneurs
Barbara Oney & TL Champion
Brother Charles Got*City GAME!
McElroy, College Terry Travis
Interns for Energy Cleveland365.com
Efficiency

10. Old Investors
n
illio
$2 b ales?
in s
v

11. New Investors
Phil Alexander Kathy Barrie
Thomas Mulready Collette Appolito
Jon Adams
Alton Tinker Tim Mueller
Earl Pike

12. The Vision
to implement community innovation
o with a small amount of seed funding
o large dose of civic engagement

13. How We Implement
The Lab fuels innovation by providing
funding of up to $30,000
mentoring by seasoned entrepreneurs
for civic, social and business ideas that can grow
the Greater Cleveland economy.

14. Civic Innovation Lab Results
2003 - 2009
Initiatives funded: 52
Grants disbursed: $1.5MM
Mentor Volunteer hours: 2,500+
Jobs created: 128
Economic Impact: $9.4MM
Follow on investments: $6.2 MM

15. See for yourself
http://www.fromthebluebag.com
http://www.raysmtb.com
http://www.coolcleveland.com
http://www.handsonneo.org

16. Lab Services
o Provide workshops to focus new ideas
into business models
o Coach top candidates on presentation
skills
o Provide funding to launch early stage
ideas
o Mentor the next generation of
entrepreneurs “champions” with resident
expertise

17. Why Does it Matter?
o Support innovation and company
creation at the earliest stages
o Develop globally competitive
entrepreneurs
o Encourage business leaders to take
responsibility for the city’s future
o Apply innovation at the community
level

18. Why Does it Matter?
Business Education Environment

19. Community Impact
Full Circle Fuels - Ohio’s first full service alternative fuels
station. Sam Merrett patented a biodiesel blending pump and
services 100+ customers weekly.
Ray’s MTB – The nation’s only indoor mountain bike park.
Rider ship increased 40% in in one year from 7,000 to
10,000. Ray’s fills over 800 hotel nights/ season.
E Prep School - sixth grade literacy score go from 7% to
72% in just six months.
MedCityNews – online news service covering the business of
healthcare has over 70,000 unique visitors per month,
growing at 40% rate per month.

20. Success and Failure
Thriving organizations where
Success 24% constituents see value and pay for > 2 yrs.
service
Newer initiatives that have
Promising 43% community support but not yet < 3 yrs.
thriving
Initiatives have lost community
Struggling 10% support but champion still trying 2 - 4 yrs.
Failure 23% No longer active 3 - 4 yrs.

21. Future of the Lab
Share the Model
A flexible, scalable, low cost program that
encourages and supports innovation by
providing start-up funding and momentum
through active civic engagement by local
leaders.

22. How to Get Started
Define the Focus for Innovation
Economic Development
Downtown vibrancy
Attracting and retaining talent
Supporting entrepreneurship
Building new industries

23. Demand for innovation
Community entrepreneurs - no difference
between work and play
Nurture with mentorship:
ideas, innovation, failure lead to
ideas, innovation, success
Understand continuum of entrepreneurship:
need both global business entrepreneurs
AND community entrepreneurs

24. Cost / Benefit
6 Year investment of $2.75 million
$9.4 million economic impact = 3.5x
return
6 year grant total of $1.5 million
$9.4 million economic impact = 5.6x
return

25. Benefit
Community impact - entrepreneurs
who think globally, act locally
New leadership engagement –
mentors who use expertise
Culture of innovation
Attract talent
Impact – low cost, high value

26. Can you do this in your community?
o Find cool happenings every week
o Volunteer with your friends when it’s convenient
o Mountain bike indoors
o Help a stay-at-home mom get back to work
o Get free entrepreneur biz assistance
o Upcycle unwanted products
o Buy a gift that diverts glass landfill
o Set up alternative energy resource at your biz
o Help an musician create a personal portfolio
o Buy fresh food from a local farm

27. It’s possible!
o coolcleveland.com
o handsonneo.org
o raysmtb.com
o beyondmotherhood.com
o beedance.com
o fromthebluebag.com
o expediterenewableenergy.com
o citizengroove.com
o freshforkmarket.com
…and many more!

28. Thank you
Questions?
Civic Innovation Lab
216-925-4826
JThomas@civicinnovationlab.org
AScovil@civicinnovationlab.org

29. Please complete the survey being
distributed by the volunteers.
Survey may be returned to the
volunteers or at the Registration
Desk in Ballroom A.

30. Thank you to our sponsors