FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LAKEWOODALIVE PRESENTS A COMMUNITY FORUM:
“COUNT YOUR ASSETS”

Forum addresses key issues vital to Lakewood’s economy: financial resources, health and education

LAKEWOOD, OH March 11, 2009 - LakewoodAlive, a nonpartisan economic development corporation, announces its next community forum, “Count Your Assets.” The forum will be held Wednesday, March 31 at 7:00 p.m. at Horace Mann School, 1215 West Clifton Blvd., Lakewood.

The forum, hosted by Mayor Ed Fitzgerald, will highlight three areas of current economic importance to Lakewood:

• City of Lakewood Census: Maintaining Lakewood’s level of government funding will depend on ensuring the population level remains at or above 50,000. Jill Paulsen of the Cleveland Foundation will discuss how everyone in the community can contribute to an accurate census.

• Lakewood Hospital: As the largest employer in the city, Lakewood Hospital provides a service that is integral to Lakewood’s economic stability and growth. Jan Murphy, President of Lakewood Hospital, will share more about how the new business model and management structure will ensure its vitality.

• Lakewood City Schools Levy: Dr. P. Joseph Madak, Lakewood City Schools Superintendent, and Mike Summers, Chairman of the Citizens for Lakewood’s Children levy campaign, will detail how the schools “excellence” rating and new facilities positively impact Lakewood’s economic strength and how the upcoming levy is key to the district delivering on educational needs now and in the future.

“We’re pleased to be able to provide an opportunity for the citizens of Lakewood to learn more about these important and time sensitive issues that directly impact Lakewood’s economic vitality,” says Mary Anne Crampton, Executive Director of LakewoodAlive.

The forum is free and open to the public. No advance registration is required.

LakewoodAlive is a nonpartisan economic development corporation whose mission is to improve the quality of life of residents by creating alliances with community leaders, leveraging community assets and expanding the pool of available resources in order to facilitate economic stabil¬ity and growth in the City of Lakewood. A 501-c (3) nonprofit organization, LakewoodAlive is a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Trust and Heri¬tage Ohio, which is the oversight organization for the Ohio Main Street Program. Visit www.lakewoodalive.com.