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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

What is Economic Development? A sustainable increase in living standards. Lab champions have made an impact by improving downtown vibrancy and helping to build new industries in Greater Cleveland.
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SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

What is Social Entrepreneurship? Using entrepreneurial principals to create social change and recognizing a social return Investment. Lab champions have changed local social behavior in education, volunteerism, and alternative fuel consumption.
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Funding Flower Power

Low-tech solar panels offer low-cost energy to developing nations

Around the world 1.6 billion people do not have access to electricity. Cleveland-area native Christopher Clark wants to change that.

The 26-year-old Clark founded Sunflower Solutions after becoming aware of the rampant lack of power in developing areas and the myriad problems that stem from living without electricity.

Clark's company is the latest Civic Innovation Lab champion, awarded $30,000 to expand his business of creating low-cost solar panels to provide electricity to developing countries. Clark hopes that his innovation will help remove the first obstacle to solving a host of other issues, including hunger, access to clean water, and education.

"This is more than just a company to make money," Clark said in a recent Plain Dealer article. "It will change lives."

Lab Director Jennifer Thomas agreed.

"Christopher has created a company with a conscious," she said. "And it's a viable model."

Read more about Clark's recent success here in a profile in the Plain Dealer.

To get more information on Sunflower Solutions:
www.thesunflowersite.org
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Students in Africa are able to have computer and internet access thanks to the low-cost solar power Sunflower Solutions provides.

Jennifer Thomas, Director
jthomas@civicinnovationlab.org

Andradia Scovil, Program Coordinator
ascovil@civicinnovationlab.org