ANEO Partners:

We are soliciting nominations for membership in an Ag-Bio Cluster Leadership Council under the auspices of the Fund for Our Economic Future (FFEF) in partnership with Advance Northeast Ohio.  FFEF has provided a grant to OARDC to assess current resources and opportunities for economic and business development in the agricultural and bioscience industries in Northeast Ohio.  The purpose of this Council is assist OARDC in that process.  The specific outcomes we expect during the initial one-year grant period include the following:

• Charter the Leadership Council
• Conduct research to assess resources throughout agricultural and bioscience production-to-consumption value chains
• Build a business case "investment portfolio" based opportunities identified through the resource assessment
• Implement an ongoing communication strategy that utilizes social networking processes and tools to engage stakeholders and focus their attention on high-potential opportunity spaces where growth and expansion are anticipated 

The Leadership Council is co-chaired by Stuart Cordell from the Ashtabula County Growth Partnership and Rod Crider from the Wayne Economic Development Council.  We intend to include representatives from throughout NE Ohio; the total number of members of the Council will be no more than twenty.  Council members will serve a term length to be defined in the charter (likely 1-2 years).  Obviously, one of the first tasks for the Council is to write and approve its charter in order to clarify purpose, principles, and goals, define term lengths and conditions of Council membership, and provide clear and concise accountability metrics by which to indicate progress on goals and set priorities for subsequent action.

We are looking for members who represent a wide range of expertise with all facets of agricultural and biosciences businesses in the region.  Furthermore, we want them to share our commitment to building strong and sustainable local economies that protect the natural resources and agricultural lands of NE Ohio while providing the quality of life expected by its citizens.

Please submit your nomination for Council membership to Stuart Cordell at scordell@warrenyoung.com or Rod Crider rcrider@waynecountyedc.com by Wednesday, 15 July.  Along with the nominee's name and contact information, please include a brief summary of their qualifications.

Review of nominees and selection of the Council members will be done by 29 July.  Membership confirmation will be complete by 19 August.  The kick-off meeting for the Council will convene on Wednesday, 2 September.

Thanks in advance for your thoughtful consideration as we move forward to shape a strong future for NE Ohio based on the potential of its agricultural and biosciences industry!

Best regards,

Stuart Cordell
Rod Crider
Co-chairs