As 2013's NorthCoast 99 program clearly indicated, building great workplaces in Northeast Ohio is closely tied to building great communities. Among the NorthCoast winners, community service or other volunteerism opportunities was nearly universal, but even among the general population of employers in the region, there is a strong commitment to service in the surrounding community.

When building better workplaces, employers typically focus on making internal improvements that can range from renovating the physical office space housing the organization to developing employees to build the talent pool. However, if the 2013 NorthCoast 99 Winners Report is any indication, employers would do well to look beyond their four walls and reach-out to build their surrounding community.