Cleveland’s economy in spotlight during Republican convention

Global Business

Cleveland's economy in spotlight during Republican convention

Cleveland, one of the poorest larger cities in the U.S, is hosting the Republican National Convention this week and city leaders are hoping that the global attention on the city will attract both short-term business and longer term investment.

CCTV America’s s Nathan King reports from this city that used to be called the ‘mistake by the lake.’

A multi-million-dollar facelift for downtown is complete as an estimated 50,000 people pour in for the convention.

But on Cleveland’s east side, it’s not attractive.

“A little bit more jobs, definitely and more people coming out investigating and talking to people you know,” Nichelle Green, a community resident said.

And violence is everywhere in this city. Cleveland routinely has more than a hundred murders a year in a city of less than 400,000 people. “There are a lot of deaths, a lot of killings been going on. We lost a family member two days ago – and they didn’t have no clue, nothing about her killing,” said Green.

Cleveland comes second only to Detroit in the US when it comes to poverty with forty percent of people living below that line.

Building on Cleveland’s tradition as a center of art and expression, 78th Street Studios is a center of Cleveland’s thriving arts scene, being a magnet for the growing number of young professionals who are choosing to make Cleveland home, attracted by cheap housing and jobs in healthcare, finance and even technology.

“Real estate, food, there’s a huge organic and locally grown movement in terms of cuisine here. We’ve got some got some of the best restaurants around in this neighborhood and the adjoining neighborhood in the last five years,” said Dan Bush, owner of 78th Street Studios.

But in reality Cleveland is as divided as the politicians are in this election season.


Joe Minarik on Rust Belt Economy

For more what the convention could do for the city, CCTV America’s Rachelle Akuffo interviewed Joe Minarik, senior vice president and director of research from Committee for Economic Development,on the future of Rust Belt Economy.