Deemer most recently advised former Gov. Ted Strickland and his staff on economic-development policy and legal matters. Under Deemer, the Downtown Cleveland Alliance is trying to create a one-stop shop for businesses interested in the center city.
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An ad promoting downtown Cleveland as a business destination features Thommen Medical. The Downtown Cleveland Alliance has hired a former adviser to Gov. Ted Strickland to run a brick-and-mortar business center to complement its ad campaign.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Downtown Cleveland Alliance has selected Michael Deemer, a former economic-development adviser from the governor's office, to run a business center focused on the center city.
Deemer will be the director of business development and legal services for the nonprofit alliance, which represents property owners.
He most recently advised former Gov. Ted Strickland, senior staff and cabinet directors on policy and legal matters. Deemer helped to implement the state development department's strategic plan and its $1.8 billion biennial budget.
Before that, Deemer worked under scandal-plagued Attorney General Marc Dann.
The alliance envisions its business center as a one-stop shop for companies considering a downtown address. Housed in the alliance's space at the old Arcade on Superior Avenue, at least temporarily, the business center is meant to promote downtown, provide market research, connect companies to real estate brokers and attorneys and help companies navigate site selection, government approvals and incentives.
"Michael is exactly what downtown needs for this role," Joe Marinucci, the alliance's president and chief executive officer, said in a news release. "He brings years of experience in development and comes to us from the governor's office, where he was integral to helping drive the state's economic policy."
Deemer's job is part of the alliance's larger business-attraction and marketing effort. In its first year, the program involves spending $1.2 million to open the business center, highlight growing companies downtown, reach out to businesses across northern Ohio and showcase a new image of the city.
A trio of marketing agencies has placed ads promoting downtown as a business destination in the regional editions of national magazines, in local publications and on YouTube. The alliance is working on designs for banners that will hang on downtown buildings.
"We are very excited to have Michael on board," Bill West, chairman of the Downtown Cleveland Improvement Corporation, the alliance's board, said in a news release. "His energy and experience are exactly what we need in leading our efforts to fill the empty office and retail space that is downtown. He is a sharp guy who understands exactly what companies are looking for when it comes to relocating their businesses."
