Jeff Jones, Summit County’s economic development director, is a fan of homegrown businesses. He said they help create stable jobs over time, and the businesses that emerge tend to better reflect and serve the community.
So, when he has a chance to help people in Summit County start their own businesses, he takes it.
Jones recently launched the county’s third cohort of the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program. Over the span of 16 weeks, he teaches program participants how to evaluate an idea for a business, put the idea into action, build a brand and manage funds.