30.3 Northeast Ohio Role Models

Northeast Ohio has social enterprises that show how business models can be used to address community issues in practical ways.

Rust Belt Riders is a Cleveland-based social enterprise that focuses on reducing food waste. They provide composting services for businesses, schools, and households, collecting food scraps and other organic material. Instead of sending this material to landfills, they process it into compost that supports local gardens and farms. Their work reduces the environmental impact of food waste while contributing to a stronger local food system.

Evergreen Cooperatives is a network of worker-owned businesses that aims to create stable jobs in low-income neighborhoods. Their ventures include a laundry service for hospitals and nursing homes, a solar installation and energy efficiency company, and a large urban greenhouse. By offering living-wage jobs and employee ownership, Evergreen helps residents build wealth while supporting environmentally sustainable practices.

Some Cleveland nonprofits exhibit social entrepreneurship strategies to generate revenue.

EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute provides formerly incarcerated individuals with training in the culinary arts and hospitality industry. They raise a significant portion of their revenue from their fine dining French restaurant originally located in Cleveland and now in Cleveland Heights. The restaurant provides a real-world training environment for its students while generating income from diners. Their goal is to reduce recidivism and support reintegration into society through education and job training.