On May 17, the VP of Government Advocacy of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (formerly Greater Cleveland Growth Association), Nick Gattozzi, addressed the Club in the Independence Room of Squire Sanders law firm on 19th Street. Gattozzi used an informative Power Point presentation highlighting a variety of Cleveland organizations, maps, and projects. Some of the groups he reported on were MAGNET, NorTech, BioEnterprise and others working with the Greater Cleveland Partnership.

Gattozzi reported that more and more young professionals have been choosing to live downtown and that as a result more buildings are being built or renovated to accommodate them. In addition, he said that much new work was taking place along East 4th Street, including a comedy club and restaurants, namely Lola (by Iron Chef and Clevelander Michael Symon) and The House of Blues, which includes a Foundation Room. He said that the new casino downtown in the Higbee Building had a very popular opening. He also had reports on redevelopment in the Flats.

Although Gattozzi could not be sanguine about high-speed rail connecting Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, he did say that NorTech has been working with LEEDCo in working to develop wind turbines in Lake Erie (so far off shore as to be barely noticeable).

Gattozzi also showed aerial photographs of the progress of the Medical Mart and Convention Center project along with the vistas to and from the lake that the project would provide. The work is meant to be ready next year.

Gattozzi hosted scores of questions and seemed to have an encyclopedic knowledge of Cleveland environs and lore. Members were energized by his visit and suggested a follow-up next year.

Gattozzi left literature about activities in Cleveland as well as bumper stickers.