Move to Cincinnati

DCI launches 2011 Downtown Perception Survey

By
●
Architecture + Design
●
July 26, 2011

Downtown Cincinnati Inc. (DCI) announced the launch of the 2011 Perceptions Survey July 18 as a way to track community opinions about downtown. The current survey, with research, design and analysis by local marketing research firm La Verdad, runs through Aug. 1, 2011.The survey, initiated in 2004, is a web-based tool to track perceptions about downtown safety, cleanliness and convenience, among other factors. It also gauges awareness and use of DCI programs and initiatives such as the Downtown Ambassadors and Virtual Block Watch. Strengthening positive feelings about downtown is the ultimate goal. DCI has taken the following actions over the years because of past survey results:1. They have increased evening staffing of uniformed Downtown Ambassadors.2. They have funded a "Social Service Outreach Coordinator" who works to connect panhandlers and the homeless with appropriate services to move them off the streets.3. They have paid for marketing efforts to increase the number of people dining, shopping and enjoying downtown, day and night. Recent campaigns promoted downtown restaurant offerings for Mother's Day and Father's Day.The Perceptions Survey takes about 12 minutes to answer. Respondents who provide contact information can enter a drawing to win a $100 downtown gift card. To take the survey, go to www.downtowncincinnati.com by Aug. 1.

Latest in Move to Cincinnati
James Crump: Mercantile Library
By
●
Arts + Culture
●
July 19, 2011

James Crump, chief curator, and, since 2008, the curator of photography at the Cincinnati Art Museum, shares his passion for photography in words and deeds.

UC College-Conservatory of Music pilots audition app
By
●
Arts + Culture
●
July 19, 2011

The University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music is one of the first universities to use locally developed web-based software to streamline and manage video applications for creative and sports programs.Acceptd, co-founded by Don Hunter of Oakley and Derek Brown of Columbus, manages digital applications, making them easier to upload, edit and share. It can be used by potential students and college programs as a central place to communicate. "With Acceptd, students upload their digital audition, which saves them time and money in travel; and faculty can view and discuss candidates online, which saves them time and resources that could be spent with the most qualified applicants," Hunter says.CCM, along with The Ohio State University's Department of Dance and Otterbein University's Department of Theatre and Dance, will be part of a pilot that uses Acceptd for their admissions processes this fall.The founders believe the program is game changer for both potential students and faculty. "It saves the colleges time because universities can be more selective in whom they ask for a live audition," Brown says. "Generally, colleges spend hundreds of hours watching live auditions to select a handful of students. It saves students money, because they will only need to travel to schools where they are a likely candidate for admission."The program contains a dashboard where applicants can upload their videos and send them to multiple colleges or universities. Students can add their social media pages, bios and more. The social media component also lets students connect through Facebook and see where their friends are applying. Acceptd will notify students by email or text when their video has been received, viewed and commented on.Acceptd has caught the eye of the state's investor community. The company received a $50,000 TechGenesis grant from TechColumbus, a catalyst for economic growth in Central Ohio, as well as $20,000 from the 10-xelerator, a new venture accelerator designed to attract and retain young entrepreneurs in the state of Ohio. By Feoshia HendersonYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

Tatiana Berman: Alms Park (pictured at Spencer Overlook)
By
●
Arts + Culture
●
July 19, 2011

Violinist Tatiana Berman came to Cincinnati via Moscow and a string of European concert halls. Now she's planning her own creative festival, mixing venues and genres of music for full sensory enjoyment, starting this fall.

Gyms build muscle in downtown locations
By
●
Development News
●
July 19, 2011

Several gyms have opened or relocated in downtown Cincinnati in the past few months, all with one goal – to pump up young working professionals.Snap Fitness 24-7, which opened in mid-April at 15 E. Seventh Street next to the former Blackfinn Saloon, is one of the gyms bypassing the suburbs and focusing fitness efforts on Cincinnati's urbanites.The 24-hour gym, accessible by key card, is within walking distance of many residential complexes, says Beth Roe, its manager."We have people coming in here at all times," Roe says. "We have people coming in here at 3 a.m. to work out. We have cops coming in at 4 a.m. after their shifts. We just believe a 24-hour gym works here in downtown."It's that type of clientele – the young professional living downtown – that encouraged another downtown gym, Sweat Training, to move from Pleasant Ridge to downtown.The gym, which offers indoor boot camp and personal training, moved into its location at 18 W. Seventh St. in October 2010, says owner Danielle Korb.It's a gym that focuses on catering to the demands of professionals who want to come in, work out hard, improve their bodies and then go play hard, she says."We're really for those people that are moving and shaking," Korb says.Korb, who is also a trainer at the gym, scouted out 20 locations throughout Greater Cincinnati before settling downtown.The open warehouse loft atmosphere of the location was a unique selling point in the gym's relocation, she adds."The gym is a big part of the atmosphere while working out," Korb says. "It's a loft with open windows and graffiti on the walls."The move downtown also spurred growth, she says."It's the perfect pairing up of brand, location and clientele," Korb says. "I just felt like my brand was the perfect match for downtown."By James Sprague

CincyTech closes Fund II round, will invest $4.4 million in 10-12 startups
By
●
Entrepreneurship
●
July 12, 2011

CincyTech has just closed a $4.4 million investment round for a seed fund that will invest in 10-12 Southwest Ohio high-tech startups.CincyTech Fund II follows Fund I, which launched in 2007 with $6 million from the Ohio Third Frontier program and $4.4 million from local corporations, foundations and institutions. Fund I has been fully committed or reserved. The initial CincyTech Fund led to investments in 24 local companies.As with the first fund, Fund II is comprised of a mix of public and private dollars. CincyTech matched $2 million announced earlier this year from Ohio Third Frontier with $2.4 million raised from Southwest Ohio partners. That $2 million state award is part of the $25 million invested statewide through Ohio Third Frontier's Pre-Seed Fund Capitalization Program and Entrepreneurial Signature Program Continuity Initiative. Third Frontier is a target economic develop and job creation program approved by voters. The 10-year, $1.6 billion state initiative aims to grow Ohio's economy by investing in advanced and alternative energy, biomedical, advanced materials, instruments, controls, electronics and advanced propulsion. The effort launched in 2002. In May 2010 voters overwhelmingly approved a $700 million bond issue renewal.There are plans to announce new CincyTech investments in the next few weeks."The timing of the Fund II's closing is crucial because we have such an active pipeline of potential investments," says CincyTech president Bob Coy.Like CincyTech Fund I LLC, Fund II will invest in companies focused on information technology, bioscience and advanced manufacturing and that are based in or willing to move to Southwest Ohio. In addition to financial investments, CincyTech also offers business support services like management assistance, business plan development and Imaging Grants which help cover the costs of fleshing out an idea and making it a potential business. Grants can cover technology validation studies, market analysis and other work.By Feoshia HendersonYou can follow Feoshia on Twitter @feoshiawrites

St. Rita’s apraxia program adds dimensions to learning
By
●
Diversity
●
July 12, 2011

St. Rita's School isn't just for the deaf. A one-year-old non-profit within the school, St. Rita Comprehensive Communication Resources, focuses on the school's ongoing work with children who are deaf and children who have speech impairments. Both groups face similar challenges in classroom settings.Apraxia, a motor speech disorder that can be diagnosed when children are as young as 2 years old, makes it frustrating if not impossible for hearing children to learn in traditional classrooms. At St. Rita's, an innovative practice known as Sign 'n Say teaches apraxic children sign language so that they have a less-stressful way to communicate and a back-up when words literally fail them. Sign n' Say includes Montessori curriculum for a mix of preschool deaf, apraxic and typically learning students. Teachers and aides, some of whom are deaf, provide extra support and encouragement for apraxic students, who tend to have other physical or neurological challenges with which to contend. Speech therapy adds yet another layer of support, as do regular support group meetings for parents.Parents who send their children to Sign 'n Say report that their children are happier, speak more and communicate more clearly as they learn sign language and become immersed in the nurturing environment of St. Rita's, where they are always challenged and always supported. When one family moved to Indiana, they decided to have their son live with his grandparents through the weekdays just so that he could continue to make the progress he has in Sign n' Say. Do Good:• Shop Till You Drop. The school's annual fundraiser takes place Saturday, Aug. 27, from 4-8 p.m. A $5 donation will get you wine, appetizers and the first pick of choice items.• Take a tour. Whether you want to learn sign language or find out more about innovative apraxia education, St. Rita's welcomes your visit.• Be a monster. That's right -- you can volunteer to be a monster at St. Rita's famous, or infamous, haunted house this fall.By Elissa YanceyPhoto courtesy of St. Rita's School for the Deaf

Senate ranks in top 10 hot-dog survey
By
●
Cincy In The News
●
July 12, 2011

Hip City Guide Complex.com rates top dogs from around the country. While usual suspects rank at the very top -- Chicago, Brooklyn, Boston, San Francisco -- OTR's Senate makes a mouth-watering entry at number six. Read the full story here.

American Can Lofts open for apartment tours
By
●
Architecture + Design
●
July 12, 2011

Northside kicked off the long-awaited grand opening of the newly renovated American Can Lofts, located near the neighborhood's Hamilton Avenue business district, with presentations and informational sessions during the Northside 4th of July parade and Rock and Roll Carnival.Developed by Bloomfield/Schon + Partners, the American Can development took seven years to complete. Economic shifts delayed construction and changed the project from a focus on condominiums to apartments. Developer Steve Bloomfield says that Northside has been an enthusiastic home for the project throughout the process."The Northside community has been incredibly supportive," he says. "A lot of people are investing in Northside, when for years this building has been an eyesore in the community and has held back some new developments. But with this new renovation, we will certainly help in the investment of Northside."Northside Community Council president Martha Dourson shares that enthusiasm."I think it will be a great boom for Northside," she says. "For one thing, the building looks so much better than ever before, and I believe this new development will attract more people the neighborhood. It's an eclectic neighborhood, the business district is vibrant and growing, and the people that live here give a sense of community. Northside is a great community with involved people. They always have a sense of improving, which always makes a difference."Bloomfield says the project followed the developer's policy of incorporating environmentally sensitive aspects into the project. Developers recycled construction materials, installed energy-efficient heating and cooling systems to reduce energy bills, and included other green amenities such as low-VOC paint, low-flow plumbing fixtures, efficient fluorescent and LED lighting and recycled carpet material. Bloomfield expects the general target market audience to be young to middle-aged professionals. Leasing agents have begun offering tours of the site for potential tenants, and offer more information at the development's website.By Lisa Ensminger

Power in proximity at The Brandery’s new OTR space
By
●
Architecture + Design
●
July 12, 2011

Cincinnati-based business accelerator The Brandery began moving in late June into a three-story office space in the 1400 block of Vine Street. The rehabilitated building features high ceilings, an open floor plan and skylights that let in light to all floors - all desirable features in rapidly-revitalizing Over-the-Rhine.But The Brandery founders J.B. Kropp and Dave Knox say the features that go beyond the architecture are what will attract creative energy -- and a new generation of startup businesses -- from across the country."We looked at a couple of spots," says Kropp, who adds that the revitalization underway in Over-the-Rhine has turned what was once a no-go part of the city into a powerful introduction to Cincinnati for startups from out of town. "If we're going to pull in 15 to 20 people for their first experience of Cincinnati, this is going to be great for it."Knox added that, although the team considered other sites in Over-the-Rhine, Vine street's placement between Main Street and Washington Park made it ideal."It's more the heat of what's happening," he says of the glass-fronted office.Along with being a fitting introduction to the Queen City, Kropp and Knox say the 4,500-square-foot office is designed to cultivate idea sharing and connectivity among like-minded entrepreneurs. To that end, they say The Brandery office will be open for local startups and startup-related businesses to gather and work. "We envision seeing more people in Cincinnati coming in," Kropp says. "They might be saying, 'I'm not ready for funding yet, but can I just hang out?'"Knox adds that The Brandery hopes to serve as a meeting place for area tech and startup meetups, establishing the office space as a central gathering place for people to generate and cultivate new ideas."It's a good experience from all sides," Kropp says.The Brandery's newest class of startups will begin the business development program August 1. Knox says he's excited to begin the program in the new space, a location that he noted is much as he and Kropp envisioned when they launched The Brandery with Bryan Radtke and Rob McDonald in 2010. "We've been looking for a permanent home ever since we started," he says. "This place has power in its proximity."By Matt Cunningham

Our Partners

Taft Museum of Art
Warsaw Federal

Don't miss out!

Everything Cincinnati, in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.