We believe West Park is the perfect place to be an entrepreneur, which is why we work closely with local businesses to support their success and enable their growth. Our office provides a range of support services to business owners in the neighborhood, whether you are opening your first business or upscaling your existing operation.

The service area of Jefferson-Puritas encompasses the eastern portion of West Park, a vibrant and diverse area with a nostalgic main street feel and boundless potential. West Park proudly hosts a mixture of strong industries and successful local businesses that contribute to the unique history and character of our neighborhood.

From spacious plazas to main street storefronts, our unique retail corridors are full of potential for businesses of all kinds. Historic Lorain Avenue is an accessible and highly visible location for small businesses, offering mixed use opportunities for both apartments and storefronts.

Our neighborhood is full of assets that support our local businesses, including a population of almost 25,000 from which to draw your workforce and consumer base. Our office offers technical assistance and opportunities for growth to both new and existing business owners in the area. Plus, West Park’s proximity three major highways (I-71, I-480, and I-90) makes it easy to turn your business location into a destination.

Our Economic Development Coordinator works closely with local businesses to promote their success and foster their growth. We offer free technical assistance to business owners throughout our service area for logistical processes such as obtaining permits, zoning, and design.

Our office also acts as a liaison between local businesses and the City of Cleveland’s Department of Economic Development. This means that we (1) communicate neighborhood-specific business needs to city officials and (2) help local business owners find gap financing for their projects. Our connection to the city’s department enables us to advocate for business owners and help them understand city processes and requirements.

In addition to the City of Cleveland, we partner with other organizations to connect new and existing West Park businesses to resources and capital. The Small Business Administration (SBA), for example, offers loans to help businesses start or expand. They also provide free educational seminars about the intricacies of owning and running a business. The Storefront Renovation Program (SRP) offers a rebate of up to $50,000 for the renovation of storefront facades, including signage, brick repair, storefront systems, and doors. To date, we have helped 9 stores and restaurants in our service area update their storefronts through this program!

For more information about these programs or other business-related services, please contact Austin Raymond at a.raymond@jeffersonpuritas.org. Plus, join our e-mail list for monthly updates about the resources and opportunities available to local businesses!

Coming soon.

Looking to relocate or upscale your business? We have plenty of available commercial space in the Jefferson-Puritas neighborhood to suit your needs. Please contact Austin Raymond at a.raymond@jeffersonpuritas.org to learn about available property for businesses.