Opinion piece submitted to Crain’s Cleveland Business on June 04, 2025
by Hrishue Mahalaha, Executive Director, Aerozone Alliance
We live in a time when political frustration feels like the norm. For those engaged in and following developments at the state and federal levels, I certainly understand and empathize. But from where I sit, that’s not the full picture — at least not locally.
I’ve had the privilege of working closely with public and private sector leaders in Cleveland over the past four years. I want to share a truth that doesn’t get enough airtime: Progress is happening. It’s steady, strategic and real.
Take Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, for example.
Under the leadership of Mayor Justin Bibb and Director Bryant Francis, there’s been a serious, thoughtful push to revitalize not just the airport itself, but the broader economic infrastructure surrounding it. These aren’t just flashy renderings or hopeful aspirations. This is the result of thousands of hours of negotiation, planning, and coordination across city departments and regional leaders.
What we’re seeing goes well beyond infrastructure upgrades. Our region has embraced a cohesive vision for economic development that connects land use, workforce strategy, transportation, and business attraction.
As a result, passenger traffic at Hopkins has increased by more than 20% year-over-year post-pandemic. This is about more than just flights. The airport serves as the front door to a $225 billion regional economy, nearly one-third of Ohio’s total output. If Northeast Ohio’s 14-county region were a state, it would rank as the 30th-largest in the U.S. and the 55th-largest economy in the world.
The airport itself is already home to nearly 9,000 jobs. And more are coming. The Aerozone Alliance, in partnership with the City of Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Works and a host of regional workforce partners, is working diligently to create meaningful pathways for our residents into these well-paying, upwardly mobile jobs. Since last year, this incredibly motivated team has come together help connect over 200 students and adults to employment opportunities in and around the airport. (Quick plug: Our next job fair is on June 11.)
Thanks to the proactive and solutions-oriented economic development team at City Hall, we’ve also been able to support the growth of both a cargo company and a fixed-base aviation operator, helping them expand their footprint and operations right here in Cleveland. The team isn’t sitting back and waiting for opportunities to come to them, they are proactively pursuing and locking down economic deals. Case in point: the major Fortune 100 company opportunity brewing at the I-X Center.
These are not just headlines. That’s boots-on-the-ground progress.
What’s even more exciting is the scale of what’s ahead. The Cleveland airport redevelopment is a $1.6 billion investment, one of the largest public infrastructure efforts in the region’s history. And teams from the city, airport and organizations like ours are working every day to ensure that a significant share of that spend is captured by local small and midsize businesses. This is economic development that works for Cleveland.
What’s remarkable is the spirit of collaboration. I’ve watched the Cuyahoga County leadership (Executive Chris Ronayne and Council President Dale Miller) and mayors from across the region show up with urgency and creativity. Leaders like Rocky River Mayor Pamela Bobst, Middleburg Heights Mayor Matthew Castelli, North Olmsted Mayor Daily Jones, Berea Mayor Cyril Kleem, Brook Park Mayor Edward Orcutt , Strongsville Mayor Thomas Perciak, Fairview Mayor Bill Schneider have built teams that are working together — not in silos. That matters, because stagnancy — not any one bad decision — is what holds regions back.
This isn’t development for development’s sake. We’re building a platform for prosperity. In the next two months at the Aerozone, we’ll complete a full real estate remap and launch a local jobs inventory. Anyone seeking a career in aviation, logistics, space, advanced manufacturing, or the industries that support them will be able to connect directly with real opportunities.
We are not passive observers. We are designing systems that open doors for small businesses, support working families, and ensure that public dollars create real, lasting public value.
Cleveland’s story is changing. The momentum is real. And it’s worth celebrating.
Best regards,
Hrishue Mahalaha
Executive Director
Aerozone Alliance
