Why has the unemployment rate in Summit County been lower than the state and national jobless rates this year?

Dan Colantone, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce has an explanation..

" We've had two economic development strategies for greater Akron, one called Advance Greater Akron, and one called Advance Akron, and it's working in a number of different areas, whether it's job creation or training, and all kinds of challenging areas."

Colantone also credits community leadership working on economic development priorities together for a number of years.

Colantone says after the rubber industry exodus the Akron-Summit County area worked hard to develop a diverse economy that has cushioned it from some of the shocks from the recession.

" If you look at a diversified economy, you look at the major employers we have here, the success of Goodyear, Bridgestone-Firestone, Fed-Ex Custom Critical, Sterling and FirstEnergy, you look at small businesses, you look at the universities, University of Akron and Kent State and NEOMED. So you look what's going on in this market there are opportunities to start a business, to be more entrepreneurial , to come back and work for a small company or a large company. It's a vibrant community in which to live and it's a great quality of life as well," says Colantone.

Looking ahead to 2013 Colantone says the emphasis will be on keeping and recruiting new business talent for the Akron-Summit County area, and increasing the skill sets of workers here. He says education will play a vital role.