PREVIEW

Slavic Village Entrepreneurship Workshops

Kick-off social at Seven Roses (6301 Fleet Ave.) on Nov. 10; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Slavic Village Development (SVD) envisions Fleet Avenue, the strip of storefronts directly off of I-77, as a future home for makers. With the boost of the recently completed $9 million Fleet Avenue Streetscape, the group hopes to propel the area, including East 55th Street and Broadway Avenue, into a thriving business destination.

"We began developing the idea of a maker district because there are so many people in the neighborhood creating different products, from woodworking to soaps and lotions," says SVD coordinator Joe Linsky. A 2015 study with Cleveland State University found that over 100 makers (most of which do not necessarily own businesses) live in Slavic Village.

But finding the right residents to occupy the vacancies comes with a catch, as it does anywhere. Often would-be brick-and-mortar store owners are expected to know business skills well beyond that of their core trade.

A new program from SVD will put business tools into the hands of local residents by teaming up with the Cleveland branch of the Women's Business Centers of Ohio, a division of the Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI). Together they'll bring six workshops on entrepreneurship that will be free and open to the public. The schedule is being solidified, but all classes will be held in the neighborhood.

Each will focus on topics such as legal processes, finances and accessing capital and networking and marketing. The series kicks off with a mixer at Seven Roses on Nov. 10 at 5:30 p.m.

"We wanted to give an opportunity for business owners that we might not even know about -- homegrown businesses -- to have resources to grow in Slavic Village," says Linsky.

SVD will be offering 10 scholarships to entrepreneurs to access the benefits of the Women's Business Center, which offers one-on-one counseling, a resource library and computer access. It's open to anyone, but SVD notes they will strongly prioritize female business owners and neighborhood residents. The recipients will be announced at the Seven Roses social. Applications are still being accepted online.

"We're excited to be a part of the momentum in Slavic Village around creating a vibrant business community," says the center's director, Jan Conrad. "Our goal is to provide expertise in training, coaching, and access to capital for entrepreneurs in the neighborhood.

With the Village Market moving to a Fleet Street space owned by local real estate company Sonny Day Development earlier this year, a groundswell of small neighborhood ventures that gathered each month shined a light on the area's potential. It helped spur the idea, and the need, for the entrepreneurship classes.

"Take Christy's Custom Cakes, for example," says Linsky, pointing to the small batch bakery operation that vended at the market. "Businesses like this are currently home-based and just need the resources and the know-how to grow into a retail space or production facility."

Strides have already been made along Fleet: Artisan butchers Saucisson will soon open shop, art space the Magalen is hosting reoccurring events and Campbell's Sweet Factory will bring their production facility to the area in 2017.

Linsky reports that SVD is currently working with researchers at Cleveland State University to identify the best place for a food cluster and food production along Fleet Avenue. Food retailers have been showing interest, along with more spaces for artists who have been increasingly inquiring about the area.

On Dec. 1, they'll host the first annual Village HoliDazzle at the Magalen, building off the tree lighting and impromptu celebration from last year. Fleet Ave will also be fashioning its brand new 5' foot LED lit snowflakes lining the commercial district. Many of the Village Market vendors will be present with their own pop-up maker market under the glow. And after the workshops, SVD hopes, they'll be ready for the limelight.

"The beauty of Fleet Avenue is that it's a space for neighbors to see each other," says Linsky. "It adds to both the community and the commercial aspect of what's happening on the street."