Northern Kentucky Buzz

Cincinnati Innovates competition grows with nearly $90,000 in prizes

By Newsroom

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April 29, 2011

The third annual Cincinnati Innovates competition has just started, growing to offer nearly $90,000 in prizes designed to push forward groundbreaking products and services."The goal of Cincinnati Innovates is to connect aspiring entrepreneurs - people with ideas - to all the great resources our region has to offer: incubators, angel investors, banks, mentors, and experts. The grant awards are just the first step," says Elizabeth Edwards, venture capital investor and founder of Cincinnati Innovates.The competition opened April 15 and continues through July 15. As in the past two years, it's open to anyone now or originally from a 15-county area of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. The contest is looking for a broad range of innovative products, devices, business processes and more to highlight, fund and support. This year 12 awards will be given with a $25,000 top cash prize sponsored by CincyTech. For many winners, Cincinnati Innovates is an early step in their path to development, investment and growth. In total, more than $135,000 has been awarded, with winners attracting more than $3 million in additional financing, said competition founder Elizabeth Edwards."There have been lots of new patents filed, a lot of new funding. There has been some really great progress for these startups and that was exactly wanted we wanted to see happen," said Edwards.To enter the contest or get more info, go to the contest website. There you'll enter a short description of your idea and upload pictures, video, or sketches to help explain and showcase it. You can also take a look at past entries and winners. Last year more than 300 people entered and more than 100 attended supporting innovation workshops offered during the competition timeline.This year those workshops will expand and include: Patents and Trademarks, Startup Financing, Individual Health Insurance, Branding, Concept Development, and Licensing.There are 25 Cincinnati Innovates sponsors (including Soapbox); many are offering cash or in-kind service awards including the $25,000 CincyTech award; $10,000 and $5,000 in-kind Taft Patent Awards applied toward the patent process. There are two $10,000 in-kind branding and marketing awards: the Round Pixel Studio Web Development Award and the LPK Design and Branding Award.

Latest in Northern Kentucky Buzz

Manufacturing jobs are hot in NKY

By Newsroom

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Business + Innovation

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April 29, 2011

Several key manufacturing projects in Northern Kentucky are moving forward, bringing the potential of upwards of 350 jobs to the region.Read more here.

Biotech jobs booming

By Newsroom

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Business + Innovation

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April 29, 2011

A central location, proximity to an international airport and access to talent is driving job growth in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati, where jobs in the biotech sector are booming. Read more here.

Kentucky: Banking on automotive once more

By Newsroom

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General

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March 25, 2011

Kentucky ranks fifth in the nation in foreign direct investment. And with its strong national brand (think bourbon), a highly productive workforce, and central location in the nation, the state is poised for major growth in the automotive industry. In Northern Kentucky, ZF Steering Systems is construction two new buildings and has announced a $92 million capital investment and close to 400 new jobs. Its high-tech manufacturing sector could attract firms interested in the state's capacity for advanced electrical and industrial manufacturing as well as research and development projects.Says Karen Finan, senior vice president with Northern Kentucky Tri-ED: "We have a strong value proposition to accompany those coming in who need that high-tech workforce, especially in the areas of data centers," Finan says. Read the full story here.

Home building rebounds in Northern Kentucky

By Newsroom

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General

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March 25, 2011

This year is looking better than last year for new home in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. One company expects to see as much as 15% growth in the market. And with new home building could bring significant job growth in the region.Read the full story here.

Global trade boosts region

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General

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March 25, 2011

New research from the Cincinnati USA Partnership, the Center for Economic Analysis and Development (CEAD) and Haile/US Bank College of Business at Northern Kentucky University emphasizes the importance of international trade and direct foreign investment to the Cincinnati MSA area economy. Their analysis shows that international business generates an estimated $34.5 billion in direct revenue and supports 8.2 percent of jobs in the region. The study also examined indirect, induced and total economic impact. Read more here.

Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council website offers one-stop shop for international orgs

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General

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March 25, 2011

Like any successful metro area, Greater Cincinnati has a strong and growing international community making a mark on local culture, business and education.Now the Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council has launched a website to link those organizations, and their work. The site, "Global Cincinnati: Gateway to the World" aims to offer a one-stop shop for the region's international and interethnic organizations, as well as to give them wider exposure throughout the community."Globalcincinnati.org is a way for any citizen in Cincinnati to get in touch with global resources and engage in global forums to improve their business, coursework, or career," said GCWAC Executive Director Erika Dockery. "Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council is the center of excellence for international education and citizen diplomacy in the Tri-state."The site includes links to foreign chambers of commerce, businesses and trade associations as well as non-profit and educational organizations. There's also a section listing local experts with knowledge of specific fields, like history or language, along with their contact information. They can be reached for media interviews or speaking engagements.Perhaps the most dynamic portion of the site is the events calendar which will be constantly updated with a wide variety of international educational, cultural and business events across Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.The Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council is a longstanding, non-partisan organization founded in 1923 to build "global understanding and promotes international awareness through education, information and exchange of people and ideas."The site is just part of the council's web outreach. You can also follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Greater Cincinnati World Affairs Council

NKY tourism has best year since 2007

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General

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March 25, 2011

Northern Kentucky's hospitality industry saw hotel occupancy and overall visitor spending rise in 2010 for the first time in three years. Hotel demand grew 8.6 percent last year in Northern Kentucky, outpacing the growth in demand in the U.S., Kentucky, Ohio and Cincinnati, according to a news release issued by the bureau. Hotel occupancy also grew by 4.5 percent in Northern Kentucky despite a 3.9 percent increase in supply resulting from two new hotels opening last year. Northern Kentucky's hotel supply increase was almost twice the national average, according to a report by the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau. Read more here.

NKU to launch doctor of nursing program

By Newsroom

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General

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March 25, 2011

Northern Kentucky University is now accepting applications for its newest academic program, the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The first cohort will begin in the fall.The practice-focused program will prepare masters-level nurses to practice at the highest levels of expertise in a variety of clinical settings. DNP graduates will also be authorities in the design, implementation, management and evaluation of healthcare delivery systems and patient populations.Says Denise Robinson in the press release:"This high level of skill is needed to address the complexity of healthcare needs in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and globally. These nursing experts will be tomorrow's healthcare leaders." Read the full release here.

Local economy grew substantially in February

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General

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March 25, 2011

Business activity in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky last month increased "substantially," according to the February survey of local purchasing managers released by the University of Cincinnati.The Cincinnati Purchasing Manager's Index rose to 67.8 last month. The February number, based on reports and observations from a variety of local companies, was up from 56.8 in January. Any reading over 50 indicates growth in the local economy.Read the full story here.