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Mayor thanks firms for investing in Akron
By Paula Schleis
Beacon Journal business writer
Published on Saturday, May 30, 2009
Executives with two Israeli firms, introduced at a news conference at the Akron Global Business Accelerator on Friday, suggested their enterprises could add a collective 80 jobs in the next two to three years.
Equally exciting, some say, is the technology the companies are working on.
Because of the city's efforts, ''You're seeing the introduction of tomorrow's technology today, right here in Akron,'' said accelerator chief Michael LeHere.
Innovative Communications Solutions (ICS), which will move in this July, develops remote-monitoring systems with diverse applications.
One product would allow medical professionals to monitor the health of and speak to a home-based patient using a watchlike device.
Another system in development would allow drivers to use their cell phones to report parking in a metered space, with a monthly credit-card charge ending the need to carry quarters.
Eli Ben-Meir, the company's chief technology officer, said the company originally planned for Akron to primarily house a sales and marketing
staff. But after gauging resources in the region, the company will bring a development team here, as well.
''We are very impressed with the support we are getting here,'' Ben-Meir said, complimenting Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic in expediting the move.
The other company joining the incubator is Teraphysics Security Inc. (TSI), a new firm that partners a Cleveland company called Teraphysics Corp. and an Israeli company called Tamar Explosives.
Teraphysics Corp. is trying to develop products around a terahertz radiation power source it has invented, which dramatically amplifies current detection capabilities, executives said.
One application is a scanning device that would pick up trace elements of explosives from a distance, perhaps ending the need for airline procedures such as passenger shoe removal.
The company going into the Akron facility is being spun off from the Cleveland parent to focus on that and other security applications.
Tamar Explosives, which has expertise in explosives detection and regulation in one of the most volatile regions of the world, was a natural partner, Teraphysics Corp. President Gerald Mearini said.
Yuval Amsterdam of Tamar will become Teraphysics Security Inc.'s president, and his team will work to identify and prepare the global market for the technology, which should be ready within a couple of years.
Innovative Communications Solutions plans to create 30 to 35 jobs within three years; Teraphysics Security Inc. expects to bring 45 to 50 new jobs to the area in that same time period.
Plusquellic thanked the companies for ''coming to Akron and investing here,'' and said the success in attracting them can be traced to a conversation he had several years ago with Robert Bowman — who used to work for the Greater Akron Chamber and now serves as Plusquellic's deputy mayor for economic development.
Plusquellic said Bowman was at the chamber when he convinced Plusquellic of the need for Akron to recruit innovative foreign businesses with the potential for growth and job creation.
''I didn't know for sure that we would have the success we've had, but I think it's now 29 European companies that have moved here employing over 2,000 people,'' Plusquellic said.
Contact with ICS and Tamar was made during city trade missions to Israel, he said.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Methron, OH
Posted 08:03 AM, 05/30/2009
Man i love it :]
Akron, Oh
Posted 08:20 AM, 05/30/2009
This is GREAT news!
A trade group (including the Mayor) goes to Israel, and shortly thereafter, jobs come to Akron from Israel. Amazing concept!
That's how business gets done in the modern world.
Akron, oh
Posted 09:58 AM, 05/30/2009
Good choice get the Israelies. They are used to Hammas. The Akron thugs will be minor to what they deal with
Akron, OH
Posted 10:23 AM, 05/30/2009
Hmmm...
The ABJ story says:
==========================
Innovative Communications Solutions plans to create 30 to 35 jobs within three years
Teraphysics Security Inc. expects to bring 45 to 50 new jobs to the area in that same time period.
==========================
Not exactly ABJ.
According to yesterday's press release:
"TSI... is expected to bring 45-50 new jobs to the area WITHIN FIVE YEARS.
Where I come from, and a journalism professor will tell you that "within five years" isn't the "same time frame" as ICS' "within three years".
The ABJ also failed to mention that our "City Hall Hero" has outsourced an Akron City contract to foreigners.
Contained in yesterday's press release is this little gem...
"ICS, through a strategic alliance with AMPCO System Parking, is developing a pilot parking management project for the City of Akron."
Why do we need to bring an Israeli to Akron to develop "a pilot project... for the City of Akron"?
Does that mean that Mayor Don could solve Akron's unemployment woes by putting everyone on the City's payroll?
The devil is in the detail!
I don't think the ABJ has the stomach to report the 'details', otherwise a 'devil' might pop up that could damage their favorite candidate.
Speaking of the muzzling of media, on the May 15th episode of PBS' "NewsNightAkron", Ed Esposito dared to comment that Plusquellic had a "rubber stamp City Council".
Guess what?
He hasn't been seen on the May 22 nor last night's May 29 episodes of "NewsNightAkron".
Coincidence?
Hmm...
Barberton, oh
Posted 10:59 AM, 05/30/2009
I like the parking meter idea, maybe then Summit County employees won't have to leave their offices every hour to pay the meters and have a smoke.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:20 AM, 05/30/2009
Good news? Oh no, that's awful! Activate Operation Spin!
Regards,
Overtaxed Voter, Warner, Beta, SANEO (aka akronwatch), etc
Akron, OH
Posted 11:27 AM, 05/30/2009
Tom Joad,
But the mayor incurred travel expenses on that trip. That is unaccetable and we citizens won't stand for it. But if, in the end, the citizens do stand for it, we'll just demand a do-over like spoiled kids who can't stand not getting their way.
Akron, OH
Posted 11:53 AM, 05/30/2009
I'll get excited when this actually comes to pass.
How many other Mayor Don 'fireworks' projects that were supposed to generate business and jobs within 5 years have 'fizzled' before doing anything other than costing taxpayers even more money? PLENTY OF THEM!
Akron, OH
Posted 11:59 AM, 05/30/2009
@Jason...
Do you find the timing of this announcement to be at all 'convenient' considering the upcoming recall election date?
Talking up (possible) jobs 3-5 years from now ranks right up their with the Photo-Op groundbreaking last week of a 3 story tall, KeyBank building (which will result in two more vacant Akron downtown properties) that won't be completed for 18 months.
Akron, Oh
Posted 12:55 PM, 05/30/2009
Voter: This is good news.
Go outside. Its nice out.
Akron, Oh
Posted 01:24 PM, 05/30/2009
All of you Mendenbots complained when the Mayor took the trip and nothing was accomplished. Now, something has grown out of that trip, albeit small. However, Henry Ford did not start out as coonglomerate, and the same can be said for many businesses and cities. Rather than complain about the 75-85 jobs that will becoming to Akron, be thankful, some jobs are coming to the city. In that time frame, the Goodyear and Firestone operations will be proceeding as well & hopefully Don, or whoever else can help us retain and obtaion more jobs. Let's all be thankful that we do not live in the Detroit/Flint areeas of Michigan.
Orrville, Oh
Posted 02:05 PM, 05/30/2009
Mayor support for Akron incubator founded on property tax abatement, tax incentive, tax credit, tax refund, tax exemption, and nonunion parasites willing to work for fewer wages than they can afford life is defiant of demands of Natural Law (what Mother Nature, God, or Whatever Power decreed to be the reality of the real world), God, democracy, capitalism, the US Constitution, and free, fair, and affordable commerce.
Demanding every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church markets the cost in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of every workers, consumers, and taxpayers living (including pension and health care). Enabling parents to love, nurse, nurture, discipline, protect, and provide, for every child (job) they conceive and fund schools, infrastructure, national security, government services, and etc.; with money derived from wages or independent business profit.
This Makes free, fair, and affordable commerce IMPOSSIBLE; Makes funding schools IMPOSSIBLE; Makes balancing every budget IMPOSSIBLE; Makes union workers, consumers, taxpayers, and America’s grandchildren’s children LIFE UNAFFORDABLE; and created the $40 trillion social security and the $9.3 trillion national debt. America’s grandchildren’s children are responsible to pay interest with until they are 18 years old. Then pay the debt with the $6.85 per hour labor wage.
There is no reason to believe America’s grandchildren’s children that go to bed hungry can afford life and pay this debt with money derived from wages or independent business profit in a hundred million years!
Akron, OH
Posted 03:46 PM, 05/30/2009
=======================
@Cruisemaster who said:
Rather than complain about the 75-85 jobs that WILL becoming to Akron
=======================
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Even the ABJ stayed away from a firm commitment. The story reads:
"Executives... suggested their enterprises COULD add a collective 80 jobs in the next two to three years."
(BTW, the ABJ got the timeframe wrong. TSI gave 5 years as the timeframe their job projections.)
Just like the Goodyear deal, Plusquellic never seems to manage to get any company to make a firm commitment or guarantee about the number of jobs that will come from his investment of the taxpayer's dollars.
Akron, OH
Posted 08:57 PM, 05/30/2009
For what Plusquellic has spent on travel, the amount of jobs brought in has been nothing less than a joke.
Remember when voting in June, ... RECALL MAYOR PLUSQUELLIC
Akron, OH
Posted 08:26 AM, 05/31/2009
Hmmm, talk about spin. These companyies, welcome to Akron, have nuthin' to do with the city hall hero's trips to Israel. Unless of course, one wants to include the half million dollars given to Israel.
I found it a weak spin of an article to make the city hall hero look like he actually did sumthin, whereas, iff'n one read the article, he didn't do a thing but show up for a photo op.
In the photo, it quotes 257 jobs, but the article's quotes come no where near that number.
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 11:34 AM, 05/31/2009
Not to be believed - recall the Mayor.
