With two big economic development announcements last week, Uptown and downtown Cincinnati ties are growing closer than ever.
The first announcement was the long awaited news that Cincinnati was awarded
$25 million in federal dollars for the first phase of the city's planned streetcar project. The first phase will connect the Banks to Over-the-Rhine, with future plans taking it Uptown into Clifton, the University of Cincinnati and beyond.
Then second announcement was from the state on Friday when Gov. Ted Strickland came to Cincinnati to announce the city would be the state's Hub of Innovation and Opportunity in Consumer Marketing.
The designation brings together the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the University of Cincinnati and brand powerhouses Procter & Gamble, Kroger and Macy's to promote entrepreneurship and commercialization in the consumer products arena. Hub partners will be supported by Cincinnati brand building organizations including LPK, Bridge Worldwide, Dunnhumby USA and Nielsen/Buzzmetrics.
"This will position Cincinnati (nationwide and worldwide) as a place to launch great brands," Strickland said at the announcement. "The consumer marketing industry has had a home in Cincinnati for generations, and that has happened because of the innovation of companies and the visionary leaders of Cincinnati."
Along with that designation came a $250,000 state grant that will fund a hub director and an incubator that will assist startups and create new business and jobs in the consumer marketing industry, local economic development officials said at the announcement at the
LPK brand company HQ in downtown Cincinnati.
Both the streetcar and the innovation hub were goals contained in the Agenda 360 strategic growth and action plan for Greater Cincinnati.
These particular parts of the plan have special meaning for the Uptown and downtown centers and will go a long way to strengthen the urban core and retaining and attracting young talent.
Cincinnati Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls called the announcements transformative.
"This will reinforce the creativity and synergy of both areas. This is an investment in attracting and keeping the very pool of talent the every city in the country is competing for," she said.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Sources: LPK press conference
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