Cleveland is a city of just under 400,000, located on the Cuyahoga River. A statue of city founder Moses Cleveland is located in Public Square, the heart of downtown. Surrounding the square are the city's tallest office buildings, including the Terminal Tower and the Key Center. The city's major streets extend out from Public Square into the downtown districts and on to the suburbs.

Once dominated by heavy manufacturing, Cleveland has reinvented itself. Today's commercial activities include professional services, financial services, biomedicine, biotechnology, and research. Some 100-plus corporations have their headquarters in the region, including several Fortune 500 firms. Metro Cleveland is also a base for some 150 international companies.

Over two million people live in the metro area, the majority of whom share a strong sense of community and are welcoming to newcomers.