EAST LIVERPOOL, Ohio – The recently launched Leap Hub aims to help the city rebuild its creative legacy and grow an inclusive, modern creative economy rooted in local talent and community-driven solutions.
Once known as the Pottery Capital of the World, East Liverpool was built by makers, artisans and entrepreneurs whose creativity powered the local economy and shaped the city’s identity. The Leap Hub seeks to honor that heritage while reimagining it for the future – positioning East Liverpool as the Creative Capital of the Midwest, where innovation, small businesses, artists and problem-solvers can thrive, according to a news release.
The Leap Hub is an initiative of the East Liverpool Community Partnership for Revitalization and will serve as a cornerstone of the city’s broader revitalization strategy. Stu Wallace, executive director, and Lisa Painter, deputy director, will lead the Leap Hub and oversee all ELCPR initiatives, ensuring a coordinated approach to entrepreneurship, workforce development, creative placemaking and downtown revitalization.
“East Liverpool was built on creativity,” Wallace said. “Pottery, manufacturing and craftsmanship once fueled our economy. The Leap Hub is about reigniting that same creative spirit – this time through entrepreneurship, innovation and people-centered solutions – so East Liverpool can once again be an economic driver for the region.”
The Leap Hub’s first official program, Liftoff, will launch March 2 and serve as the inaugural step in building East Liverpool’s creative and entrepreneurial ecosystem, the release states. Liftoff is a 10-week entrepreneurial learning experience open to aspiring entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, small business owners, creatives and community members interested in solving local challenges. No prior business experience is required.
The program will be held at Kent State University at East Liverpool, featuring weekly one-hour sessions over 10 weeks, and will culminate in a graduation and business exhibition May 4, where participants will showcase ideas, ventures and community-driven solutions developed throughout the course.
Participants will learn and apply human-centered innovation. Through hands-on activities, they will identify opportunities, ideate, prototype and test solutions while gaining foundational entrepreneurial skills in legal, financial and marketing basics. The skills are applicable to new ventures, existing businesses, nonprofits and neighborhood-based initiatives.
The course will be led by Andrea and Anthony Margida, nationally recognized innovation practitioners with extensive experience in human-centered design, entrepreneurship education and community-based innovation.
By cultivating a strong creative economy, the Leap Hub aims to support small business formation, retain and attract talent, activate downtown spaces and empower residents to shape solutions from within the community.
“The creative economy isn’t just about art – it’s about problem-solving, small businesses and community leadership,” Painter said. “The Leap Hub is designed to help residents turn ideas into action and play an active role in shaping the future of East Liverpool.”
To participate in Liftoff or for more information about the Leap Hub, click HERE.