Transforming lives and Northeast Ohio’s economy
For decades, industrial, commercial and residential development has migrated outward, but there has been no net increase in jobs or population to substantiate the regional spread. The result: Jobs are farther and farther away from where people live, which creates a disconnect between people and the economy. This disconnect has real costs.
People spend more time and money commuting, if they can get to a job at all; businesses struggle to fill open positions; municipalities spend on infrastructure to support new development while having to maintain the underutilized assets left behind; and our environment suffers as air quality declines due to long, car-based commutes. Ultimately, our regional economy loses its competitive edge.
Launched in June 2019, The Paradox Prize aims to inspire sustainable solutions that can eradicate the ‘no car, no job; no job, no car’ paradox in Northeast Ohio. Through three rounds of open competition, we have awarded nearly all of the $1 million in prize money to support a number of pilots that are testing ideas that have the potential to improve the mobility of hundreds of Northeast Ohioans and help businesses access the talent they need. Learn more about the winners below, and stay tuned for more details on future opportunities.