Focus Areas

Architecture

Cincinnati is not only home to the works of world-renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid (the Contemporary Arts Center) and Daniel Libeskind (the Ascent at Roebling's Bridge), but also to dozens of architectural firms that are designing landmarks around the city and elsewhere. Firms such as FRCH Design Worldwide, GBBN Architects and KZF Design are leaving their marks on corporate headquarters, schools and universities, retail centers and public spaces. read on…

Arts + Culture

Home to world class symphony, opera, and ballet companies, and art museums that blend the historic (Taft, Cincinnati Museum) with contemporary exhibitions at the CAC and our many independent galleries in OTR and Brighton, the Queen City knows its art. For stage buffs, two-time Tony winning Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park in Mt. Adams and Ensemble and Know Theatres in Over-the-Rhine debut contemporary and original pieces of work, while cutting edge theatre (Fringe) and music (Midpoint) festivals round out the arts calendar.read on…

Brand Hub

Cincinnati was named the state's Hub of Innovation and Opportunity in Consumer Marketing as part of a state initiative to reinvigorate Ohio's economy by recognizing regional strengths. And it's no wonder, with brand powerhouse Procter & Gamble headquartered downtown, Cincinnati has long been home to some of the world's best known consumer brands. Don't forget Kroger, Macy's and Luxottica Retail which have corporate HQs in the Queen City. Those and other big consumer brands are supported by a host of creative businesses who specialize in everything from marketing to packaging to consumer feedback, including LPK, Bridge Worldwide, Dunnhumby USA, Ipsos, and Nielsen/Buzzmetrics.read on…

Branding + Design

A wealth of creative talent puts a face on leading consumer brands such as Pampers, Reese's and AT&T. With companies like Brandstorm, a division of Cincinnati's largest advertising agency, Northlich, LPK and Brandimage, Cincinnati provides the creative force behind many well-known consumer products.read on…

City Building

A city transformed, the long awaited Banks Project brings apartment living, restaurants, and commercial spaces right to the river's edge. Downtown's renaissance, kickstarted by a multi-million dollar renovation of Fountain Square, stretches north into Over-the-Rhine thanks to uber developer 3CDC's block by block rehabilitation of the city's historic housing stock. Washington Park is the next million dollar inner-city transformation, making urban living green and convenient. read on…

Diversity

With Procter & Gamble, Macy's, and Toyota annually making top lists for diversity and inclusion, and active African American, Chinese, European, Indian and Gay Chambers' of Commerce, the Greater Cincinnati region might surprise those who don't automatically think of "diversity" when the Midwest or Cincinnati are mentioned. Home to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, the region boasts learning centers like UC's Center for Jewish Culture and Ideas, and a minority business accelerator founded by the Greater Cincinnati Chamber. Old standards like the Panegyri Greek Festival, Northside Pride Festival, and downtown's Cincinnati Equinox show we know how to celebrate our neighbors' diversity as well.read on…

Education + Learning

Cincinnati is a national model for education innovation. The Strive Partnership works with Cincinnati Public and Covington and Newport schools in Northern Kentucky and more than 300 education advocates, community funders and university presidents, while KnowledgeWorks prepares students at every grade level for the high-tech, interconnected economy of the future. Xavier, UC & NKU compete nationally with outstanding design, architecture, music, business, and liberal arts programs. read on…

Entrepreneurship

Starting a new business is easy, but creating stability, growth and long- term success involves planning and support. Greater Cincinnati is home to new and established incubators and accelerators that can help a startup thrive. Through these organizations, entrepreneurs can refine their business plans, seek out investment dollars, or hone services and products. These support organizations include CincyTech, Cincinnati Innovates, Hamilton County Business Center, Northern Kentucky ezone, Bad Girl Ventures and The Brandery.read on…

Health + Wellness

Home to the founder of leading wellness website, Sparkpeople, and health initiatives like Go Vibrant, designed to get downtown workers moving during the work day, Cincinnati takes an innovative approach to getting fit. Add in an extensive urban park system with miles of hiking, biking and blading trails that helped us earn a top ranking in Outside Magazine, and self-help centers like Main Street's Yoga Row and the rise of locally sourced foods and restaurants, and you'll find plenty of ways to stay healthy here.read on…

Life Sciences

University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are two of the nation's leading institutions for research into the life sciences, as their physicians and researchers seek new, promising ways to diagnose and treat cancer, stroke and heart disease, as well as break new ground in the understanding of more exotic diseases. Entrepreneurs are pushing the medical boundaries at BIO/Start, a life sciences startup center that has helped launch 85 companies, producing nearly 200 high-paying jobs.read on…

Move to Cincinnati

Topping nationwide lists for "most affordable," "best rehab market," and "most livable," making the move to Cincinnati is becoming an increasingly popular decision for professionals, families, and businesses. Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's HYPE ambassador program and local groups like Cincinnati Imports make the move a little easier for newcomers.read on…

Parks + Greenspace

From our riverbanks to our hillsides, Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky have been nurturing nature for generations. Both sides of the Ohio have outdoor spots where office workers can linger over lunch under a tree and enjoy a bit of history (say hello to President Garfield or George Rogers Clark). Both sides also have large, multi-featured parks with great views within minutes of downtown (Eden Park, Devou Park), plenty of golf courses, softball fields, hiking trails, picnic spots and related resources for recreation. The Trust for Public Land has rated the City of Cincinnati parks system "excellent." Urban forestry is not a foreign phrase here.read on…

Regional Indicators

World-class cities don't just happen, they're created through vision, planning and execution. And in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky two major initiatives are driving change. Cincinnatians from the business, nonprofit, government and civic sectors have come together to work toward a better future for the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. Agenda 360 is strategic planning effort for Southwest Ohio. Housed at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Agenda 360s Regional Action plan is an effort to attract and retain talent, jobs and economic opportunity to the region through specific benchmarks. Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015 is a shared public plan for Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties driven by a partnership of more than two dozen public, private and nonprofit agencies. It focuses on six core areas to improve by 2015: competitive economy, educational excellence, livable communities, urban renaissance, effective governance, and regional stewardship.read on…

Research + Innovation

University of Cincinnati Medical Center and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center are two of the nation's leading institutions for research into the life sciences, as their physicians and researchers seek new, promising ways to diagnose and treat cancer, stroke and heart disease, as well as break new ground in the understanding of more exotic diseases. Entrepreneurs are pushing the medical boundaries at BIO/Start, a life sciences startup center that has helped launch 85 companies, producing nearly 200 high-paying jobs.read on…

Reuse / Rebuild

Just because a space has been abandoned does not mean it is no longer useful. Entrepreneurs, artists, city officials, activists and neighbors, with the right amount of ambition and innovation, can take vacant spaces and turn them into opportunities. By transforming what we already have into sustainable properties, we revitalize neighborhoods and stimulate local economies.

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Sustainability

From hybrid buses to designing buildings with geothermal heating, sustainable design and construction is a growing practice in Cincinnati, as architecture firms such as McGill Smith and Punshon and developers such as Miller-Valentine promote the concept to reduce the depletion of natural resources, help offset rising energy prices and improve the quality of life in communities and workplaces. read on…

Transportation

By air, land and sea, Cincinnatians are connected to the world through CVG International airport, and new daily flights from Lunken Airport on the east side. METRO and TANK provide the wheeled service that connects the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region together, but it's a long anticipated ground-breaking for a streetcar route that will bridge the Banks development, downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and Uptown that has Cincinnatians really talking public transport. Non-motorized transportation is making waves too, with a bicycle master plan that includes sharrows and cycling racks in neighborhoods. read on…