Press Releases

Akron-Canton, OH –The Akron-Canton Advocacy Alliance (ACAA) is pleased to announce that Dwayne Groll, CEO of Environmental Design Group and ACAA co-chair, was honored with the 2025 Small Business Advocate of the Year Award through the National Small Business Association (NSBA). This prestigious, national award recognizes a U.S. small business leader committed to advocating for…

Bounce Innovation Hub, in partnership with the Polymer Industry Cluster, has announced the selected companies for the inaugural Synthe6 Materials Accelerator cohort, a new 12-month accelerator for polymer and materials science startups. In this first cohort, early-stage companies are accelerated with grant funding, commercialization training, and access to industry leaders through the Polymer Industry Cluster.

Akron, OH – The Polymer Industry Cluster, in partnership with The University of Akron, is excited to announce the selected location for a new facility that will enable researchers, small businesses and established polymer companies to accelerate the production of advanced polymer materials and support go-to-market strategies for these innovators. The facility will be located…

Akron, OH – Today, the Greater Akron Chamber and Polymer Industry Cluster announces Dr. Hans Dorfi as the Executive Director and Chief Innovation Officer of The Polymer Industry Cluster (PIC). Dorfi will assume the role and responsibilities immediately. In this role, Dorfi will be responsible for leading the work of the Polymer Industry Cluster on…

Akron, OH – More than 850 business, community, and civic leaders gathered at the Greater Akron Chamber’s 118th Annual Meeting on March 12, 2025 to reflect on the bold moves, the big bets, and celebrate the strategic collaborations and leaders that have contributed to Greater Akron’s transformational progress over the last several years.  “We have…

The Greater Akron Chamber has announced that Richard Rogers, Executive Director of Curated Storefront, and former owner of Tribute Software and B.W. Rogers Company, has been selected to receive the 2025 H. Peter Burg Economic Development Leadership Award. Rick will be honored at the Chamber’s annual meeting on March 12, 2025, at the John S.…

Akron, OH – The Greater Akron Chamber (GAC) was awarded $3 million through the U.S. Economic Development Administration Good Jobs Challenge program, complete with a $3.4 million local match, to strengthen the polymer industry’s workforce pipeline through in-demand skills training and placement in “Good Jobs” through the Advanced Polymer and Manufacturing Excellence (APEX) initiative. The…

Akron, OH – The Polymer Industry Cluster, powered by the Greater Akron Chamber, has been named Ohio’s third applicant to receive an award from Ohio’s Innovation Hubs Program. The program’s $31.25 million award to fund the Greater Akron Polymer Innovation Hub project, led by the Polymer Industry Cluster, will be matched by $10.4 million from…

Akron, OH – The Women’s Network Leadership Institute (WNLI) is pleased to launch an online directory featuring more than 200 women in Greater Akron who are interested in board and/or committee service. The WNLI Board Leadership Directory is part of the Women’s Board Leadership Initiative, an effort that was launched earlier this year to bridge…