Soapbox

Know Theatre was packed with a standing room only crowd last week, all waiting to see a different kind of performer - the entrepreneur -  at the first Ignite Cincinnati.

Ignite Cincinnati is a fast-paced idea presentation event where 14 people have five minutes each to talk about any topic they want. The presentations are backed by 20 slides that auto advanced after 15 seconds.

"We tried to talk about innovative things sometimes fun, sometimes educational," said co- organizer Chris Ostoich Founder and CEO of Blackbook EMG. He organized Ignite along with Blackbook CTO Joe Pantuso.

The speakers were chosen through online voting. The top vote getters got to speak - you can take a look at the speakers from the Jan. 20 event at the Ignite Cincinnati web page where videos and photos are being rolled out this week.

Ignite Cincinnati is just one Ignite event across the country and globe. There are Ignite communities in New Orleans, New York City, Cambridge, Denver, Detroit, and dozens of others.  The concept was created in Seattle by local entrepreneurs.

Ignite offers people from varied backgrounds a place to share and perhaps find support for their ideas.

"The IT Martini's and Public Relation Societies of America are great and I'm glad we have them. But more often than not people are networking inside of their own network. This is a chance for all kinds of different people to come together. We had a 22-year-old college grad who'd just started his own company, and a 78-year-old retiree and his wife. People of every color and every background were there," Ostoich said.

The first Ignite Cincinnati won't be the last; a series is scheduled for the year. The next one is set for March 3, at Know Theatre, 1120 Jackson St., Over-the-Rhine. VIP tickets are $10, include two drink tickets and guarantee your spot at the event. Regular tickets are free but do not guarantee a spot if the event exceeds capacity. 

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Chris Ostoich Founder and CEO of Blackbook EMG

In the business world, "green" is the buzzword all around. But how many of these 'green' companies and retailers promote their brands, events and products on signs and materials that can clog landfills for decades?

A Cincinnati company, Worldwide Graphics and Sign offers a new line of earth friendly signage to help companies take that extra step in going green.

With its WorldGreen line, Worldwide Graphics is expanding its offerings for large and small companies. The line includes foamcore, indoor and outdoor boards, photo paper, flat sheet and roll products and more.

Worldwide Graphics developed WorldGreen along with experienced manufacturers. Some products are biodegradable and breakdown in landfills in three to six years (compared to tens or hundreds for much signage), some are products that are recyclable. Many are both.

"The look the same, they act the same (as traditional signage). The only difference is when it goes to a landfill," company owner Christian Bebee said.

The products are as high quality as traditional signage, and last nearly as long until exposed to a landfill environment. The biodegradable signage leaves behind a harmless biomass after it breaks down. Recyclable materials are made without harsh chemicals, wax or PVC coating.

"Traditionally in our world of graphics and signage, there really have never been green options until recently," Beebe said.

Formerly known as The Cincinnati Sign Company, the growing Over-the-Rhine company specializes in full digital printing onto everything from small outdoor banners to giant interior walls, and everything in between.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Christian Beebe, worldwide graphics owner

Working for yourself means you're the boss, and have no one looking over your shoulder.

It's one of the best things about running your own business. It's also one of the worst. Freelancing, independent contracting or consulting can be very rewarding, but also can be lonely or even boring, especially if you work solo in your home. And while office mates can sometimes cause distractions, those same people can help you get through a grueling day.

That's among the many reasons a group of Cincinnati young professionals recently launched Cincinnati Coworks, a community co-working concept where individual professionals can "get the job done" in a shared space once a week.

Cincinnati Coworks had its official launch Sept. 29, with a small group of workers, said co-founder Gerard Sychay, a Zipscene web developer. He got the idea after visiting Columbus, which has several co-working spaces, where entrepreneurs and techies, writers, attorneys and small business owners meet up.

"The concept is more than just renting an office space, it's a community hub for workers," said Sychay, who developed the idea along with Bill Barnett, the founder of  BudgetSketch.com.

Cincinnati Coworks happens every Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at  Venue222, 222 East 14th St, in Over-The-Rhine. The cost to work there - $10 - covers the use of the work space, snacks and amenities, including WiFi, and a separate room for private phone calls.

Cincinnati Cowork's ultimate goal is to have about 15 regulars, enough to lease a regular space where people could come every day, Sychay said. Future plans also include organizing networking and other events which would add value to an independent worker's business.

Cincinnati Coworks is gauging interest in the concept, possible future location, cost and amenities with an online survey. Click here and weigh in.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Gerard Sychay, co founder Cincinnati Coworks

Leapfrog Interactive, an interactive brand marketing company with offices in Louisville and Boston, has purchased Cincinnati’s Metaphor Studio.

"By infusing metaphor’s expertise and process, we’ll give our clients new ways of looking at their customers in the digital space and show them how to use that knowledge to cut through the clutter and engage directly with the consumer,” said Leapfrog’s CEO Daniel Knapp.

Metaphor has been in Over-The-Rhine since 1997; as Leapfrog it will continue to operate out of its 538 Reading Road office.

“A combination of strategic vision and roll-up-your sleeves doing is what every client wants,” said Suzanne Beane, Metaphor’s SVP/Chief Strategy Officer who will direct Leapfrog’s Cincinnati office. “We feel that this acquisition will increase our capacity to do just that on a daily basis.”

Metaphor Studio specializes in building brand communities through a proprietary process,  Community Experience Development, founded on “technology, brand strategy and inclusion.” The company’s previous clients include Fifth Third Bank, WellPoint, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, the University of Cincinnati and 3CDC.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the LeapFrog team,” said Metaphor founder Ran Mullins. “Both companies have years of experience with interactive. Our intent is for Metaphor’s brand performance background to enhance what LFI already does.”

Mullins will remain with the company.

LeapFrog Interactive was established 1999 in Louisville, and now employs 75. It’s been named one of the country’s fastest growing companies by Inc. Magazine three years in a row

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Leapfrog Interactive

Cincinnati city officials, along with the local African American Chamber and other prominent organizations, have announced more than $200 million in contracts open to small and minority businesses, in part to boost the percentage of minority-owned companies that do work with the city.

The city unveiled more than 700 contract opportunities recently during a meeting hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky African American Chamber and the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati.

"The City has provided a list of immediate, short and long term projects that include a broad range of trades and industries such as professional services, supplies, equipment installation, and construction. These contracts are sized to allow greater participation from smaller companies and can encourage collaborative efforts with other business owners," says Rea Waldon, Senior Vice President of Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship at the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati.

The contract opportunities are part of the Small Business Enterprise program and are open to any small business with a fixed office in Hamilton County. Find out more about those opportunities here.

The city's announcement followed a revamping of the program, with input from the African-American, Hispanic and Regional chamber, minority business owners and others.

"We are making progress toward our goal of having more city contracts accessible for qualified SBE business owners. The City promised a full scope of business opportunities that are sized to minority and small business owners' capacity giving them the best opportunity to compete for City contracts," said African American Chamber President Sean Rugless. 

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: The African-American Chamber of Commerce

Lee Zellars, a local filmmaker who often turns his lens on Cincinnati and its people, will soon debut a gritty, creative crime drama set in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.

Zellars, who also directed The Spot, which airs on cable access and focuses on friends who frequent a local bar, says “O.T.R: Over-the-Rhine” is along the lines of shows like Law and Order. Shot in black and white, O.T.R features a sister and brother on different sides of the law.

“The sister is a serious-minded detective and the brother is on other side of the law as a notorious drug dealer. The sister knows he’s doing illegal activity, but doesn’t know what he’s doing or exactly how he’s doing it. They are as close and brother and sister should be, but she would not let family stand in the way if she could catch him doing what he’s doing,” said Zellars, also a photographer who lives in Avondale. He directed, produced and edited the episodic series.

Zellars worked as a photographer at The Taft Museum, YMCA Black Achievers Program, Executive Studio and The Cincinnati Herald. His photos have been in Jet Magazine, The Final Call and Applause Magazine. This isn’t Zellars first attempt at filmmaking: his movie 'Nattyville' was his first feature film in 2004, followed by 'Justifiable Romance' which won 2nd place for best action drama at The Indie Gathering Film Festival in 2006. His third movie 'Dick' won 2nd place for best crime drama in 2007 at The Indie Gathering.

OTR features local actors, including three who starred in The Spot. The 30-minute show could be reformatted to a more typical one-hour drama, Zellars said. Writers Kole Black and Brent Bridges developed the script. So far, eight 30-minute episodes have been shot.  Zellars is working to get a local broadcast of the show, possibly on My64 WSTR-TV.

The series was shot in different parts of the city, including Over-the-Rhine , Avondale and Corryville. Catch the first three episodes Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at The Showcase Cinema in Springdale. For more information, including upcoming info on ordering tickets to RozMary Basement TV.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Lee Zellars director, producer, editor of O.T.R.

Have you ever sat around with friends, or caught a story on the news, and come up with a great idea to solve a local problem?

If you can explain how your idea would work and how it could energize the city’s young professionals, you could get some dollars and some support to make that idea a reality.

A new initiative, Ignite Cincinnati, gives thinkers an outlet for their ideas. Ignite is a spinoff of Give Back Cincinnati, a service-oriented volunteer group that has dedicated more than 40,000 hours of community service to the Cincinnati community.

Ignite Cincinnati will award $500 to $5,000 to community organizations, coalitions, individuals and non-profits. There are some broad parameters to the initiative, but the idea should be in its initial concept stage, have an impact on young professionals (aged 18-40) and be previously unsupported. The organization isn’t looking to fund for-profit or business ideas, and the concepts should be geared toward community building, education, diversity or the environment.

“We don’t want an event that’s been happening for a decade, and we want it to either be run by young professionals or for young professionals,” said Jay W. Hummel, former Board President of Give Back Cincinnati and part of the Ignite Cincinnati team.

Ignite Cincinnati will take applications year round, and each month will review submitted ideas. Have one? You can fill out an application here. According to Hummel, the idea doesn’t have to be intricately detailed but should give a solid explanation of what it is, and how it benefits the YP community. If an idea seems doable, applicants will have a face-to-face meeting with the Ignite team before a final determination is made on funding it.

Along with the financing, Ignite Cincinnati will offer a mentor who’ll help get the projects off the ground and running. Ignite Cincinnati is a way for any person to tap into the connections and experience that Give Back Cincinnati offers.

“We have a young professional board that has great experience in running successful events, and we can help other people run successful events,” Hummel said.

Ignite Cincinnati is co-sponsored by Give Back Cincinnati, Haile/US Bank Foundation, and Mayerson Foundation.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Jay W. Hummel, Former Board President of Give Back Cincinnati

A three-person team of UC classmates took the top prize at the 2009 Natural Talent Design Competition sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council  with a redesign of the city’s Drop Inn Center homeless shelter.

The trio received a $1,000 cash prize, and will compete with other designers in a national contest at USGBC’s Annual Green Building Conference and Expo in Phoenix Nov. 11-13.

Nearly a dozen teams of young professionals and students competed in the Cincinnati contest, which required them to design in accordance with the LEED Green Building Rating System. It was one of more than two-dozen contests that took place across the country from New York City to Los Angeles.

The Cincinnati team of Stephanie McBride, Donald Mouch and Corey DiRutigliano won with their creative design which incorporated solar panels and skylights, green space, rain water collection system, radiant floor heating, roof and hanging gardens and more. The design also incorporated the practical elements of the Over-the-Rhine shelter with separate woman’s and men’s dorm facilities, residential recovery units, employee offices and dining area.

There are no plans for the winning design to be used at the Center, but potentially it could serve as a starting point if the Drop Inn center is redeveloped.

“(The) Drop Inn Center's redesign is structured around assisting the growth of the homeless into employed, self-sufficient adults. The Drop Inn Center should not be constricted to simply being a homeless shelter, but rather should aspire to connect its users with the community and the environment in which they live,” the trio explained in its project submission.

The design took about two months to complete, McBride said. The team spent most of that time talking about what the design should include and what statement it should make.

“The social aspect of the design was important. We didn’t want to build a bigger center, we wanted to confront the problem (of homelessness) and provide a quality of life for the inhabitants,” said McBride, and Artechture grad working on her MBA at UC.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Sources:  Stephanie McBride, UC Grad, Dan O'Keeffe, O'Keeffe Communications Inc.

Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation, or 3CDC, has unveiled a new Web site that visually illustrates the more than $170 million that the private, non-profit developer has invested in downtown and Over-the-Rhine projects.

3CDC began in 2003. Its investments focus on four primary efforts: creating civic spaces, creating high-density, mixed-used development, preserving historic structures and improving streetscapes and building local, diverse businesses.

The web site allows users to follow specific residential, community and business projects like the recently finished Duveneck Flats in Over-the-Rhine’s Gateway Quarter. The 15 loft-style condos on Vine Street were named after Frank Duveneck, a renowned artist and former Art Academy of Cincinnati chairman. Other projects 3CDC have invested in include the Belmain loft project, which is seeking LEED certification, the Fountain Square renovations and the planned Washington Park project.

“What we wanted the new site to catch most of all was the vision of Cincinnati that 3CDC embodies, not just the vision of what Cincinnati could be tomorrow, but what it is today, a city with a thriving and vibrant urban heart,” said Cynthia Stanard, design partner at Stanard Design. Stanard Design Partners and Atlas Design & Technology revamped the site.

It also includes 3CDC’s monthly reports, and information on commercial leasing and living downtown.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Davis Stanard, design partner Stanard Design

Students and young professionals will vie for top design honors during the 2009 Natural Talent Design Competition sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.

Designers will submit a plan for redeveloping the Drop Inn Center homeless shelter, at the corner of 12th and Elm Streets in Over-the-Rhine, in accordance with the LEED Green Building Rating System.

“We’ve grown rapidly over the last year, getting emerging green builders. This (contest) has helped. People are attracted to design competitions, and we can draw from Cincinnati State, the University of Cincinnati and  Miami University, and we’re starting to getting them interested in being in our group,” said Heather Wehby, the Cincinnati chapter’s board of directors secretary.

There are no plans for the winning design to be used at the Center, but potentially it could serve as a starting point if the Drop Inn center is redeveloped, said Wehby.

The project must include:

• Outdoor Courtyard/ Athletic Space: for gathering and recreation; must be connected to dorm space and easily accessible 
• Men’s Dorm Facility (24 hour emergency shelter): 300 beds 
• Women’s Dorm Facility (24 hour emergency shelter): 100 beds 
• Group Restrooms (Men’s and Women’s): connected to Dorm space 
• Residential Recovery Unit w/ 20 private rooms w/ individuals restrooms: Adjacent to dorm facility (recovering residents act as role model for dorm residents.) 
• Parking
  

“The existing facility is not large enough for the center’s needs. Capacity for men’s and women’s dorm space must be expanded. An exterior courtyard is urgently needed. … The project will utilize LEED for New Construction strategies to create a unique and integrated urban design aesthetic and strive for a LEED Platinum rating,” the contest rules state.

Contestants work in teams of up to five people and must be in college or a college grad who has been in the workforce five years or less. The Cincinnati contest will be just one of more than two dozen taking place across the country from New York City to Los Angeles. There are currently 11 Cincinnati teams in the contest.

“One emphasis is on social sustainability, as well as environmental sustainability. That’s one of the reasons we host the program, to present sustainability in a broad context and the impact it has on people. It’s really resonating,” Wehby said.

The deadline for submissions is July 13, and contests can register online at
www.usgbc.org\egb. Complete contest rules are here.

Winners will receive cash prizes of $1,000 for 1st Place, $500 for 2nd place and $250 for 3rd place. Fourth and Fifth places will receive honorable mentions.

Judging will be held at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College’s main campus on July 23 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The award ceremony will follow. The finalists will compete with other designers in a national contest at USGBC’s Annual Green Building Conference and Expo in Phoenix.

The local chapter is also seeking sponsors for the contest. Funds donated will go directly to student awards.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Sources: Jill Isaacs, O'Keeffe Communications, Inc., Heather Wehby, the Cincinnati chapter’s board of directors secretary

Park + Vine, the little green store that could, is celebrating its two year anniversary as the region's premiere location for all things friendly to the planet.

The Over-the-Rhine, ecological general store is the brainchild of the enigmatic and indefatigable, Dan Korman. "As far as the store is concerned, I feel like a proud papa," says the charismatic proprietor as he takes a break from rearranging the layout of his Vine Street shop with a coconut-based smoothie. "There's a pretty good love-fest happening within these four walls."

And one can see why only a few minutes after entering the celebrated Gateway Quarter anchor. Filled with every eco-friendly product imaginable, as well as some you may have never considered (where else are you going to find your Lullwater Soap Nuts), the shop boasts an impressive client base with over 5,000 registered visitors over the past year alone.

That steady growth has resulted in an overall increase of jobs to OTR including a bookkeeper, two part-time employees and the company's first full-time employee who came online just last week.

The store is a magnet to both the hard-core patchouli wearers as well as the eco-curious.

"We have a healthy balance between those that are already sold on the idea of cloth diapers – which can be a pretty big commitment, to those that are just beginning to swear off plastic bottles," says Korman. "There's a full spectrum of those that are going green in little chunks and those that are living the lifestyle."

And that's why the success of this green patch of curiosity suddenly becomes so understandable. No matter where you are on that green spectrum, Park + Vine feels like a natural (no pun intended) fit. Even the coldest global warmer can find something useful, new or intriguing at P+V.

The store got its start thanks to a generous supply of sweat and personal equity from Korman as well as the help of the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce and their Business First Grant.

The store, through the efforts of Korman, has done a remarkable job of connecting to the surrounding community.  Success doesn't occur in a vacuum and Korman understands this concept better than most.
 
"We have a love fest with our neighbors – from the other retailers to the residents to the theatres, we all depend on one another," says Korman. "It's especially great when Ensemble Theatre has a show. We get really busy when they have a show and we love it. It brings in newer faces."

A special anniversary party is planned for Park + Vine's supporters and fans the last weekend in May and will feature live music by Brandon Dawson, Fanatics and Traitors, and Ethan Philbrick and Isaac Hand.

Do yourself, and the planet, a favor and check out this one-of-a-kind Cincinnati success story.

Writer: Jeff Syroney
Source: Dan Korman, Park + Vine

This year’s Findlay Market Spring Forum will focus on the market’s environmental initiatives, including the recent installation of a solar electric system on the roof of the Market House.

The Friends of Findlay Market, a market advocacy organization, will host the forum May 20, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Memorial Hall, 1225 Elm Street, in Over-The-Rhine. Refreshments from Findlay Market will be served that evening. It’s open to the public.

Among those scheduled to speak are Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney and Holly Christmann, Hamilton County Solid Waste District Program Manager. John Fanselow, project developer of Third Sun Solar and Wind Power, will talk about his experience as the director of the Market House solar roof project.

Mike Morgan, Executive Director of  Over-the-Rhine Foundation, will talk about the recently finished OTR Green Historic Study which examined ways that historic buildings in OTR can be renovated in an environmentally conscious way that respects the structure’s character.

Sarah Saheb, a representative of the Service Employees International Union, will outline the upcoming Cultivating a Healthy Environment for Farmers, or CHEF, project. This project was spurred by a recently awarded grant to Findlay Market from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help farmers in the city grow food to sell at the market. CHEF will work with up to 5 participants and offer comprehensive training on the benefits, logistics and challenges of urban farming.

Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: Corporation for Findlay Market

The digital revolution has forever altered the way in which we communicate. For thousands of years we relied on our culture's story-tellers to pass down the important lessons and narratives that make us who we are. For much of our history, these stories have taken the form of theatre, music, dance, opera, cinema and the visual arts. Today, our artists continue to pass down the details and nuances of our collective culture, but, as we all must adapt, so too do Cincinnati's venerated arts organizations.
Critics and hand-wringers worry that our fine arts are dying as entertainment and information blur lines and become more and more immediate. Others look to our ever-diminishing support of the arts and humanities in our early education and secondary school systems and worry we are propagating an entire generation of youth with zero exposure to art forms that carry little weight on achievement tests.

The Cincinnati arts community, however, is keeping pace with many of our small, medium, and large arts organizations readily embracing new technology as a way to expand and develop audiences. Social networking is regularly employed to spread the news on upcoming events as well as connecting arts patrons to each other. Viral videos on YouTube have already been adopted by Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera and Know Theatre of Cincinnati as a way to provide insight and information for their patrons even before they set foot inside their spaces.

"It used to be about money, but now I think it's about time," says Jason Bruffy, Artistic Director of Know Theatre of Cincinnati talking about barriers to going to the theatre as he prepares for the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. "It takes a lot to convince someone to leave what's familiar – to turn off the TV or the computer -  and take a chance on something new. You can either complain how the digital revolution is stealing your audience, or you can use it to steal it back."

Audience development will be the topic taking center stage on May 6, as the Graduate Program in Arts Administration at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and the Arts & Culture Partnership of the Fine Arts Fund (FAF) will host a community conversation with Diane Ragsdale of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Ragsdale will share her thoughts about building strong community through the arts by "surviving culture change," followed by a panel discussion of area experts on the arts and technology.

"Audience development is about brokering a relationship between people and art, and between people and people," she says. "And in order to do that job well, arts organizations need to be open to the ways that art and artists are changing, and the ways that society is changing, and be willing to change accordingly."

While many people assume that the goal for an arts organization's survival is ticket sales, Ragsdale notes that's not the whole picture.

Complementing Ragsdale's talk, two local leaders will provide additional perspectives on the topic and engage in a dialogue with the audience. Panelists are Evans Mirageas, artistic director of Cincinnati Opera, and Pete Blackshaw, local digital entrepreneur and executive vice president of Nielsen Online, with Waller moderating the discussion.

Admission is free and open to the public, though seating is limited and reservations are necessary. Please click here to make your reservation.


Writer: Jeff Syroney
Source: University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music

The Cincinnati-based Know Theatre has swept the nation with a production called Calculus: The Musical! that has managed to make math fun for more than 10,000 students.

The tour has gone so well that Know Theatre is already booking performances for their 2009 – 2010 tour.

"In just one season, Calculus: The Musical! has become a flagship for Know Theatre," says managing director Eric Vosmeier. 

The special ingredient making this play so unique is its recipe for making math and science entertaining.

"Math and science based programming is a rarity to start with," Vosmeier says.  "But it’s not often that you hear the kinds of amazing stories we get to hear nearly every time we perform this show. This show helps teachers to teach and students to learn all while making them laugh. It’s amazing."

By the time the tour ends next month, the tour will have visited almost 60 cities and 19 states, from Dallas, Texas to Bedford, Massachusetts.

Calculus: The Musical! is the creation of Sadie Bowman, Know Theatre's Education Coordinator, and high school math teacher, Marc Gutman.  Under the company name, Matheatre, Bowman and Gutman wrote and performed the play at Fringe Festivals, schools and conferences around the country between 2006 and 2008. 

With such a successful showing so far, Know Theatre has planned multiple national tours over the next several years. 

"It is a unique and moving experience to see the show evolve to this next phase, especially after working on the show for several years," Bowman says.  "I’m pleased to know that the tour is going strong and that so many students are benefiting from the culmination of educational based and theatrical programming."

Educational sponsors for Calculus: The Musical! include the Louis and Melba Schott Foundation, Andrew Jergens Foundation, Toyota Foundation, Duke Energy Foundation, Summerfair Foundation and the Ohio Arts Council.

Writer:  Jonathan DeHart
Source:  Megan Venzin, Know Theatre of Cincinnati

Eleven projects in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood were awarded historic preservation tax credits by the state of Ohio, encouraging redevelopment in that community.  The projects were among 48 statewide and 14 in Cincinnati that received historic tax credit awards totaling more than $77 million. The Over-the-Rhine projects are all in the 1400 blocks of Race and Vine streets and represent a total investment of $12.9 million.
 

Also receiving tax credit awards in Cincinnati were a $20.5 million project to renovate the Glencoe-Auburn Row Houses in Mount Auburn, a $20.3 million project to renovate the former American Can building in Northside and a $30.4 million project to renovate the former Cincinnati Enquirer building downtown.
 

Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory says the award program is "a strategic investment by the state that will fuel redevelopment in Ohio’s major cities. Cincinnati is fortunate to have a large number of historic buildings, and those buildings provide a tremendous opportunity for urban renewal and job creation."

Writer: David Holthaus
Source: Eileen Turner, Ohio Department of Development