The City of Lakewood and LakewoodAlive efforts to attract Wholesome Burger Headquarters to Downtown Lakewood have been recognized with a 2009 Team NEO Economic Impact Award for minority business development.

The award is one of ten Northeast Ohio economic development initiatives honored by Team NEO for having a positive impact on the regional economy. The award ceremony held on June 2, 2009 featured the best local economic development efforts that helped to retain companies, create jobs, develop new attractions and bring foreign investment to the region in 2008. Wholesome Burger’s relocation to Lakewood reflects an investment of $2.4 million and a minimum of 10 new jobs in the city.

“The Detroit Avenue streetscape plan as presented by LakewoodAlive’s Downtown Lakewood program was an important tool in recruiting Wholesome Burger. The plan reflects the community’s commitment to revitalizing our primary commercial district. Wholesome Burger was attracted to the opportunity to get in on the ground floor of that vision,” says Nathan Kelly, Director of Planning & Development for the City of Lakewood.

Mary Anne Crampton, Executive Director of LakewoodAlive, acknowledged the value of the collaboration saying, “The City Planning Department coordinated all the necessary elements including a forgivable loan to present a strong and attractive proposal to Wholesome Burger.”

Attending the ceremony with Director Kelly and Ms. Crampton were LakewoodAlive Board President Mikelann Rensel, Treasurer, Mary Sue McGorray and Marketing & Development Director Shannon Strachan. Emma Barcelona, City of Lakewood Grants Administrator, and community volunteers Melissa Page and Shawn Juris also participated in the evening’s activities.

The Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan was a $75,000 study funded by a grant award from NOACA to the City of Lakewood and Main Street Lakewood in 2007. The year-long community-based project was chaired by Paul Beegan and facilitated by City Architecture. Dozens of residents contributed hundreds of volunteer hours to the process. The plan, as detailed in a 140-page document, was approved by Lakewood City Council in late 2008. The City of Lakewood and LakewoodAlive are actively seeking the means to implement the project including the submission of proposals to state and federal officials requesting stimulus funding. The Detroit Avenue Streetscape Plan can be found on both the www.DowntownLakewood.org and www.OneLakewood.com websites.

A list of all the Team NEO Economic Impact Award winners selected can be found here.