With all the recent developments, I missed mentioning a major new award for civic entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. Here's the press release that Case issued.

E4S Founder, Holly Harlan, Receives First SBC/REI Civic Entrepreneurship Award

The Center for Regional Economic Issues (REI) at Case Western Reserve University awarded the SBC Civic Entrepreneur Award to Holly Harlan, founder of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability (E4S), today during its regional meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Cleveland.

Ms. Harlan is the first recipient of the award which recognizes exemplary civic entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio. Its unique terms obligate her to select the next recipient thereby "passing the award forward". She received a sculpture and a citation noting that her work with E4S represents the best example of the changes now transforming Northeast Ohio’s regional economy and raises awareness of the vital role sustainability will play in defining the region’s future prosperity.

"Holly’s understanding of civic entrepreneurship -- what it takes to be a good civic entrepreneur -- creates the model for others to follow. Civic entrepreneurs like Holly are helping show us the way to a new economy here in Northeast Ohio,� the citation stated. "In the past, we have lost some of our best civic entrepreneurs to other places, as they have moved away. We have waited too long to recognize their contribution to our communities and Northeast Ohio. We hope that this award communicates to Holly how much we value her work and her leadership."

The citation to Harlan defines her duties in setting the award’s tradition by passing it forward to a civic entrepreneur that, in her judgment, represents the best qualities of civic entrepreneurship in Northeast Ohio. She has six months to select the next recipient then she may make the presentation in her own way, however she must charge the next recipient with the same obligation to “pass it on' in six months� time.

REI@Weatherhead is an institute in the domain of Business as an Agent of World Benefit. It produces transformational ideas and outstanding leaders for regional economic development.

REI commissioned the creation of the sculpture awarded to Harlan from Matthew Hollern, Dean of Craft Environment, Cleveland Institute of Art. Hollern used the dynamic creativity of the Peter B. Lewis Building as inspiration for his sculpture. He is designing pins for all future award recipients. The award is named after the SBC Foundation which has provided financial support to REI.