The city and its Economic Development Committee have honored three busineses for their contributions to the community.
Receiving innovation awards at the Business Newtorking Breakfast Sept. 21 were:
* Parkview Homes, a company started in Strongsville more than 45 years ago by Richard Puzzitiello and still operated by his family.
Parkview has developed a number of subdivisions in Strongsville, including Hunting Meadows, Meadows West, High Point, Hampton Chase, Deerfield Woods, Waterford Crossing, Westwood Farms, Ashley Oaks and Siedel's Landing.
* Union Home Mortgage, which provides first mortgages to homeowners in 37 states and is headquartered on Dow Circle in a building the company bought and renovated. CEO Bill Cosgrove said the company considered other options when it decided to expand, but opted to remain here. "Strongsville was corporate home for use and needed to remain so," he said. "We're here to stay." The company, which employs 241 people here, closed more than 12,000 loans last year averaging $155,000.
Receiving a Distinguished Redevelopment Award was Westwood Commons and the Cameron Allie Group, which took on most of the redevelopment of Strongsville's Town Center, including building the new Westwood Commons and renovating the existing shopping center just north. Nick Catanzarite, representing the firm, said it was "a complicated project" and thanked city officials for working with the developers to make it a reality. Westwood Commons is now 100 percent leased, Catanzarite said.