Recommendations for Mount Adams plan up for review

Port’s Robb honored for minority enterprise advocacy

Deborah Robb, director of economic inclusion for the Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority, has received the Advocate of the Year award from the South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (SCOMSDC).Selected by the SCOMSDC Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee, Advocate of the Year winners are recognized for their voluntary efforts to advance minority businesses and to support and motivate their colleagues and minority business enterprises to participate in the SCOMSDC. "We selected Deborah as our Advocate of the Year due to her tireless efforts at the Port Authority, where she works diligently to get minority business enterprises significantly involved in all Port projects, as well as non-Port projects, throughout the region," says Jenéa Norris Allen, president of the SCOMSDC.In addition to her work at the Port, Robb chairs the SCOMSDC Cincinnati Local Advisory Committee and serves on the Certification Committee.She also co-chaired the 2008 Construction Summit, led the Corporation Minority Business Enterprise Forum, and served on the SCOMSDC Gala Committee."I am honored to have been selected as the first recipient of SCOMSDC's Advocate of Year award," says Robb.  "I feel privileged to have been given this recognition, and I will continue to collaborate with the SCOMSDC to foster and grow minority business enterprises (MBEs) in Greater Cincinnati."Founded in 1999, SCOMSDC assists in developing mutually beneficial relationships between its over 140 corporate members and 400 certified MBEs from offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton.This is the first year the council has given the award.Writer: Kevin LeMasterSource: Anne Schmidlin, Vehr Communications Photography provided by Vehr Communications

CinciMedia, 3D tech, and the Pride of Cincinnati

What do Lithuania, a local university, and a poorly thrown Frisbee have in common? Find out what Karl Treier had in mind as he took the reins of CinciMedia, and as CEO, relocated its headquarters here.

Cintas receives trailblazer award for supplier diversity

The South Central Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (SCOMSDC) awarded the Cintas Corporation with the 2008 Trailblazer Award. The award is given to companies that have demonstrated substantial change in their Supplier Development program including the mentoring and development of Minority Business Enterprises. Cintas’ economic inclusion efforts include outreach to minority and women-owned firms in the areas of mentorship and training. This includes partnering with the SCOMSDC, which helps provide a direct link between corporations and minority-owned businesses to establish mutually beneficial relationships. To read the complete story click here. Writer: Jeff Syroney Source: Yahoo! Finance

Newport, Kentucky – America’s Comeback City

Louisville, Kentucky's Courier-Journal last week hailed Newport, Kentucky as "America's Comeback City."  The story cites "strong leadership, entrepreneurship, forward-thinking federally funding programs and effective partnerships between non-profit organizations, the higher education and business communities, city government and neighborhood leaders" as the factors contributing to a vibrant urban community filled with new businesses. The Courier-Journal lauds praise onto Newport Mayor Thomas Guidugli, who has provided keen leadership and vision in attracting new jobs, development and tourists to his renewed River City during his 16 year tenure. To read the full article, click here. Writer: Jeff Syroney Source: Courier Journal

United Way announces $38.3 million in programs set to boost Cincinnati’s economic strength in 2009

Christmas may be over, but United Way of Greater Cincinnati (UWGC) is about to give a gift of $38.3 million.This money will fund programs that instill financial wisdom in children and help adults achieve financial stability.“We are pleased that we were able to keep support for vitally needed programs and initiatives that help children and families lead better lives at a high level," says UWGC Board chair, Carrie K. Hayden.This marks the third and final year of UWGC's three-year Agenda for Community Impact, which will contribute a total of $52.1 million to various services and initiatives in 2009, including the $38.3 million in economic related programs, as well as a $5.3 million gift to the American Red Cross, Cincinnati Area Chapter.Even with the present state of the economy, UWGC is going strong.  “We’re very grateful to the generous people and companies in our region," says United Way president, Robert C. Reifsnyder.  "Given the economy, it’s especially important that we are able to invest substantially in services that help families and individuals with issues around financial stability."     In fact, UWGC is actually expanding into Ohio and Dearborn counties in 2009, since the United Fund of these counties merged with UWGC in 2008.Specifically, some of UWGC's 2009 programs will help prepare children for kindergarten, provide academic support for young students, assist families and individuals reach financial stability, offer safety nets for older adults and people with chronic conditions or disabilities, and guide community development.To learn more about UWGC's 2009 agenda, visit here. Writer:  Jonathan DeHartSource:  Toni Lehmkuhl, Carrie K. Hayden, Robert C. Reifsnyder, United Way of Greater Cincinnati

Cincinnati’s 2010 census calls for 1,000 new jobs

Counting people means hiring people.And this is a good thing for Cincinnati, as the US Census Bureau (USCB) has announced 1,000 job openings for carrying out Cincinnati's 2010 census."This is an excellent opportunity for 1,000 Cincinnatians to get a good quality job that will give them valuable future job skills and to be part of improving our community,” says Mayor Mark Mallory.Mayor Mallory has a history of vigorous engagement with the census process.After discovering 22,000 residents who were overlooked and challenging the 2006 census, Mayor Mallory is being proactive in 2009.  In order to ensure a comprehensive, accurate 2010 census, Mallory has launched a 100 member Census Complete Count Committee.  At the national level, Mayor Mallory is chairing the US Conference of Mayors' 2010 Census Task Force.“The US Census Bureau's Cincinnati office is in the midst of an intense recruitment drive to hire office and field staff from across the Cincinnati area,” says George Conner, Cincinnati Census Office Manager.Placement testing is currently underway at the local office on Linn Street in the West End.  More information about these positions can be found here, or by calling 513-766-3040.Writer:  Jonathan DeHartSource:  City of Cincinnati, US Census Bureau Cincinnati Office

Cincinnati swims against economic current adding 2,500 new jobs in 2008

Even in the rough economic waters of 2008, Mayor Mark Mallory says Cincinnati is doing just fine.The official numbers have been tallied, in fact.  Mayor Mallory has just announced that over 2,500 new jobs were created in the City of Cincinnati in 2008.“Despite the difficult national economic climate, Cincinnati had a very strong year of job creation," Mallory says.The City of Cincinnati's Economic Development Division has played a major role by creating incentives for new companies to either relocate to Cincinnati or further expand, if they're already here.Mayor Mallory and Councilmember Cole further contributed  to Cincinnati's burgeoning workforce by helping 200 young people find jobs through the Mayor's Youth Employment Program, which is also figured into the city's 2009-2010 budget.City Hall sees several reasons for Cincinnati's success amidst economic hard times:  an internationally respected corporate roster, affordability, a well educated workforce, access to top-notch training, a plethora of transport options and the city's business friendly environment.Companies that added a significant number of jobs in 2008 include Medspace (1,339), US Bank (435), Humana (200), dunnhumbyUSA (150) and FirstGroup (135), among others."Our city continues to be a very attractive location for business investment," Mallory says.  "Over the last few years, we have implemented a much more targeted and aggressive economic development strategy, and it is paying off.”Writer:  Jonathan DeHartSource:  City of Cincinnati        

UC and P&G collaborate on ground-breaking computer simulation center

Thanks to the University of Cincinnati's Simulation Center (UCSC), engineering for Procter and Gamble (P&G) has gone virtual.And it's win-win.  UC students get experience working with P&G engineers.  P&G solves design problems on more cost and time effective virtual terrain.  And participating students serve as a readymade talent pipeline for P&G.“In the physical world, they’re at UC, but in the virtual world, they’re at P&G,” says Don Bretl, P&G's operations manager of the UCSC.Virtual modeling is a growing trend in various industries, in which the tradition model – physically creating a prototype, testing it and then modifying it in the real world – is increasingly obsolete.Corporations like Toyota, Mercedes and Ford are also catching onto the advantages of digital modeling, in which prototypes are conceived and tested on computers.  Then, if the virtual shoe fits, a physical one can be made. “Our motto is to explore digitally and confirm physically,” says Bretl.UC and P&G based much of the model for the UCSC on Catepillar Inc.'s partnership with the University of Illinois, and the resultant Champagne Simulation Center.The pre-existing Master Alliance Agreement between UC and P&G, and UC's status as a PACE (Partners for the Advancement of Collaborative Engineering Education) university made the decision an easy one.“It’s the best of both worlds,” says Professor Teik C. Lim, head of UC's Mechanical Engineering Department.  “You tap into the creativity of the students — ‘8 to 5’ is gone. The students can come and go as they please. Whatever hours of the day work best for them — they are not constrained by when the P&G office is open."Ultimately, Lim adds, "students graduating with these simulation skills are very attractive to P&G.”Writer:  Jonathan DeHartSource:  University of Cincinnati