Educational Services

With the decline of manufacturing and slowing economic growth within other sectors, increasingly education and healthcare have become important economic drivers in Northeast Ohio. Together, education and health care added about 43,700 jobs to Greater Cleveland since 1998.

Educational services represent a developing market for Independence. The Educational Services sector grew by 197 percent since 1998 in Independence, while the Cleveland MSA grew by 61 percent in the same period. Independence’s share of regional employment in education has also increased substantially during this period.

Independence has proven to be a competitive location for universities, private colleges, and vocational institutions. Six educational institutions offer post-secondary credit courses in the City, including a Kent State University Regional Campus. Independence is also home to the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, which provides services and trainings for local school districts. All of these educational institutions benefit from Independence’s central, accessible location and high-quality municipal services.

Due to these competitive advantages, Independence is focused on recruiting an educational institution, training center, or branch university to locate within the City. There are opportunities for an anchor educational institution to be part of a broader, mixed-use redevelopment project in the Rockside Road or Downtown Business Districts.

For more information about how your company can explore opportunities in Independence, contact the Economic Development Department at 216-524-4131.