Innovation News

Building Value’s annual ReUse-apalooza! targets eco conscious designers

As a salvage center, Building Value gives new life to building materials otherwise destined for a landfill.This year the Northside nonprofit is taking that mission into its annual ReUse-apalooza! event, with its first time Designer Challenge where people can turn Building Value materials into a new product. Building Value describes ReUse-apalooza! as an "annual celebration of reusability and resource conservation." The Designer Challenge ties in by asking local creatives to make a functional and usable product out of materials at the organization's retail center. Participating designers will get a $100 credit for shopping at Building Value on Feb. 25, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. To register for a spot in the designer challenge, call 513-386-6823. The outlet has a varied and ever changing supply of materials that come from donations and home deconstructions. Designers will have everything including the kitchen sink to work with. Building Value products range from bathroom fixtures and antique lumber to undermount kitchen sinks and vinyl windows. Everything sells for up to 75 percent off retail."We realize that reuse has a lot of different faces, and our customers are doing different things with it," said Building Value Communications Manager Lisa Doxsee.Designers have several weeks to design and create their product ahead of the April 8 ReUse-apalooza! where the creations will be judged and put up for auction. There will be two winners: the design fetching the most auction money will be awarded "People's Choice," and a three-judge panel will crown the "Judge's Choice" winner.The Designer Challenge co-chairs are Dan Korman, owner of Park + Vine, and Tina Dyehouse, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. ReUse-apalooza! co-chairs are Warren Weber, of PNC Bank, and Rhiannon Hoeweler, of the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden.Funds raised from the auction and ReUse-apalooza! tickets sales will go toward Building Value's parent organization, Easter Seals Work Resource Center, which trains people with disabilities and disadvantages.Tickets are available online in advance before April 6 for $15. Tickets can also be purchased for $20 at the door .Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Building Value Communications Manager Lisa DoxseeYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

ConnXus.com aims to boost supplier diversity through the web

The Glasshand chosen to sculpt new Jesus statue in Monroe Ohio

The (in)famous "Touchdown Jesus" statue in Monroe gained international fame when the 62-foot-high fiberglass and foam structure caught fire during a storm last summer and burned to the ground. It seemed everyone had an opinion on the statue, which was easily visible to motorists traveling along I-75 past the Solid Rock Church in Monroe. The statute, which showed Jesus Christ from the chest up with his arms outstretched, was both affectionately and derisively known as "Touchdown Jesus." It also has a song devoted to it on YouTube called "Big Butter Jesus," which paid homage to its creamy looking sculpted exterior. The statute, which was actually named "King of Kings," burned to ground last June when it was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm. Quickly the sculpture burned down to its steel frame, damaging part of the church. The act of nature ignited an online firestorm as well, with hundreds of local opinions on the appropriateness of the structure, the fire itself and whether it should be rebuilt. Church leaders had always vowed to rebuild the structure and have chosen a Cincinnati area team to design and sculpt a new one. The Glasshand, which takes projects like these from concept to custom painted finish, will be in charge of bringing Jesus back to life. The company, owned by husband and wife Rokeya and Steve Brauch, will work with local independent sculptor Tom Tsuchiya. The Glasshand's work is familiar around Greater Cincinnati. The company crafted the oversized fiberglass squirrels in Glendale, the big pigs downtown, and the iconic Frisch's Big Boy. Tsuchiya's sculptures include the Reds' legends at Great American Ballpark and the D'Artagnan bronze statue at Xavier University. "It was sort of tailor-made for us, there was no way we weren't going to do this," Brauch said. "This is setting the bar for what this company can do." The sculpture will be about the same size as the old one, but it will be full body, so its dimensions will be smaller. There is a Facebook page dedicated to the sculptures progress, including its design. The new sculpture is called Lux Mundi, which is Latin for "Light of the World." Detail work, like the hands and the head, will be done in studio. The large remainder of the statue will be assembled on site, Brauch said. It should be finished this summer. This time, the statue will NOT be flammable. It will mainly be made of steel and have an acrylic finish. "We got rid of all the flammable materials," Brauch said. Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Steve Brauch, co-owner The Glasshand You can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

Growing Life’s Eyes Media video production company hires 2

PB&J PR and design studio, SYN/TAX join to offer pr, web, print and design services

Sam Adams Brewing the American Dream microloan program expands out of New England into Ohio with BGV

Cincinnati Fashion week is back, new Fashion Fund to launch

The Brandery joins new White House sponsored TechStars Network

The Brandery, the region's first consumer marketing startup accelerator, has joined TechStars Network, a new White House sponsored alliance of independently owned startup accelerators. The Brandery launched this past summer to offer funding, mentoring and partnerships around local consumer marketing businesses. The Brandery's founders are David Knox, Bryan Radtke, J.B. Kropp and Rob McDonald.The Brandery works with tech-based, consumer businesses including Internet, media and entertainment companies. The first class started late last fall, and between five and seven companies will be selected for the next class which starts in August.Each applicant selected for the 12-week program will receive a $20,000 grant in exchange for equity in the company. Each company also will receive brand identity guidance from leading agencies including LPK, Resource Interactive, Barefoot Proximity, Empower MediaMarketing and Ample. The TechStars Network is part of President Obama's new Startup America initiative that aims to boost high-growth entrepreneurship and job creation. TechStars is supporting that mission by linking 5,000 experienced business leaders and investors with 6,000 promising young entrepreneurs in mentor programs. The aim is to create 25,000 new economy jobs by 2015 through connecting entrepreneurs with experienced business leaders. "The TechStars Network signals and formalizes our support for credible mentorship-driven programs like The Brandery. We believe the proliferation of the mentorship-driven accelerator model is healthy for entrepreneurs. Through this network of independent organizations, we can help increase their impact dramatically and make entrepreneurial communities the real winners," said David Cohen, founder and CEO of TechStars in a release announcing The Brandery's entrance into the network.Members of the alliance can join through invitation only, Knox said. The invitation validates The Brandery's early work, he added."This gives us tremendous validation. This was our first year of seeing if we could create a high-quality program," Knox said. "This also gives us a national reach. It will increase the caliber of companies that will come to us, and the type of help that comes with (being part of TechStars)." More than 70 companies from 15 states applied for the The Brandery's first class. Three of the six companies accepted moved to Cincinnati from outside the region. More than 30 mentors worked with the startups."This network will offer visibility that will help us continue to provide Cincinnati with a net gain of entrepreneurs," Knox said. Applications for The Brandery's next class will be accepted starting April 1. Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dave Knox, co-founder of The BranderyYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites

Local SCORE and Ohio Small Business Development Centers partner to help small businesses

SCORE Cincinnati has partnered with Ohio Small Business Development Centers to offer a wide range of low cost and free services to small business owner and entrepreneurs.Nonprofit Score Cincinnati is one of more than 370 SCORE chapters that offer free business counseling and low-cost workshops aimed at creating successful businesses. Comprised of volunteers from the business world, SCORE services include one-on-one counseling, business seminars and written briefs on everything from managing cash flow to creating a marketing strategy."The combined business objective of our partnership is to help strengthen our clients' opportunities for successful growth and profitability," said Mary Jane Good, director of SCORE's Southern Ohio District.Meanwhile. Ohio Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) are partnerships of U.S. Small Business Administration and the Ohio Department of Development. There are 39 of these centers, including three in the Cincinnati area, devoted to assisting pre-venture, start-up, and existing businesses. The SBDC program links small business to state, federal and public/private business resources."Our focus is to educate and guide businesses about the opportunities and resources available, putting the right tools in their hands and allowing company owners to benefit and strengthen their bottom line," said Karen Shauri, state director of SBDC of Ohio. "This partnership increases our network reach and maximizes both organizations' strengths and talents."Both Ohio's SBDC and SCORE's Southern Ohio District will provide counseling and mentoring to individuals and groups, and will host informational seminars and workshops, coaching and educating business owners about available services and resources to maximize business potential.Since October 1, 2010, the SCORE Southern Ohio District worked with 2,695 entrepreneurs through inperson and and online counseling and seminars. SCORE has offices downtown, with satelitte offices in West Chester, Lebanon, Fairfield and Lawrenceburn, Ind.For more information about go to www.scoreworks.org or call the SCORE at (513) 684-2812. Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Mary Jane Good, director of SCORE's Southern Ohio DistrictYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites