About Us

Team NEO is a business and economic development organization focused on accelerating economic growth and job creation throughout the 18 counties of Northeast Ohio.

We do this by building partnerships among local organizations, businesses and government and marketing the region as a whole. Drawing on the combined strength of our 18 counties, we represent:

• A $200+ billion economy
• A regional workforce of 2 million
• More than 25 higher education institutions

Our work is driven by robust data analysis that helps create a clear picture of what is and is not working across our regional economy. We use these insights to inform local conversations, influence solutions and impact regional growth. We track the performance of the regional supply chain and business incentives to ensure Northeast Ohio’s employers have the tools they need to grow, attract talent and thrive.

Our highly experienced staff is guided by a board of business, economic development and civic leaders who share our passion. It is this combination of skills, results-oriented culture and passion that drives us to develop solutions that create jobs and expand businesses across Northeast Ohio.

Team NEO’s History

Regionalism and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do as the regional Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Youngstown economic development organization.  These values have been deeply engrained in Team NEO from the start.

2003: Founding

We were created, in 2003, out of a unique act of regional collaboration among our founding partners – FirstEnergy Corporation, the Greater Akron Chamber, the Stark Economic Development Board, the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

2007: Focus on Business Attraction

In 2007, Team NEO began to focus exclusively on business attraction, believing that a concentrated emphasis on marketing Northeast Ohio’s tremendous assets and communities would exponentially increase business opportunities.

2011: JobsOhio Network Partner

In July of 2011, Team NEO became the Northeast Ohio Network Partner for JobsOhio. JobsOhio is a private, nonprofit corporation designed to drive job creation and new capital investment in Ohio through business attraction, retention and expansion efforts. As one of six regional partners, known collectively as the JobsOhio Network, we provide local economic development organizations and their clients with information on and access to state and JobsOhio support as well as resources across the region.

2013: Regional Marketing Initiative

In 2013, the Cleveland Plus® campaign for region of Cleveland, Akron, Canton and Youngstown – Northeast Ohio’s first and only regional marketing initiative – officially became part of the Team NEO family.

2015: Industry Knowledge & Innovation

In 2015, Team NEO joined forces with NorTech, a technology-based economic development nonprofit, to drive a new regional economic competitiveness strategy. The new organization combines NorTech’s industry knowledge and focus on innovation with Team NEO’s experience in regional marketing, business attraction and regional business development.

Across all of our initiatives, we remain true to our founding heritage of regionalism and collaboration.  We exist to support the work of economic development organizations and others across Northeast Ohio by providing solutions and helping to create deals that benefit the region through increased business investments and new or retained jobs.