Akron, Ohio, the former Rubber Capital of the World, is utilizing its anchor institutions to revitalize its core. By uniting the University of Akron, three major hospitals, and Akron Public Schools, Akron is powering a new downtown through collaboration. The University Park Alliance, led by Executive Director Eric Johnson, has big ideas for reshaping downtown Akron into a mixed-use, vibrant community that will provide great places between the anchor institutions. In addition to building affordable real estate and emphasizing placemaking, Akron is creating the Austen BioInnovation Institute to promote healthcare innovation and bring further investment into Akron. With major funders from around the country and a real estate development partnership with KUD International, Akron is remaking its core by creating a multi-sector team of leaders. For more examples of ways to leverage anchor institutions to achieve urban success, read How to Behave Like an Anchor Institution, a piece of research by CEOs for Cities and Living Cities.
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