Page 784 – Soapbox

Urban Harvest gets support from Xavier

By Soapbox

●

August 30, 2011

Xavier University will offer a wealth of support to Brad Roger’s start-up company Urban Harvest. Rogers won the Xavier Launch-A-Business (X-LAB) Competition, sponsored by the university’s Williams College of Business and Sedler Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Judges announce the complete list of winners 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, in the Grand Atrium of Smith Hall. Winners, such as Rogers, will develop a business plan and receive consulting services, networking opportunities and a meeting with possible investors. The competition included a questionnaire submission, and 30- and 60-minute interviews with panels of experts. In a preview interview with Soapbox, Rogers, a project manager for a home remodeling company, explained that Urban Harvest aims to bring more fresh fish and produce, and employment, to area communities. He says the company plans to use an innovative, cost-effective system called aquaponics, a hybrid of aquafarming (fish raising) and hydroponics (growing plants without soil). In this system, when fish are fed, he says, fish waste provides nutrients that are circulated into the planting beds. The plants, in turn, filter the water for the fish. “It’s like a mini eco-system.” “Ideally, with the system I want to setup, ” he adds, “it will produce 10,000 heads of lettuce and some herbs every week, and produce about 10,000 pounds of fish a year.” Rogers was the local expert behind the development of an aquaponics system at H.J. Benken Florist & Garden Center in Blue Ash. Launched in November, it was treated as a beta test for an aquaponics system planned for a village outside Jos, Nigeria. The local, faith-based company Self-Sustaining Enterprises (SSE) helped install the system there in March. Pete West, a Procter & Gamble engineer, was among the locals who traveled to Nigeria. “The idea was twofold,” he says. “To provide gainful employment for people in the village area, and to provide food that village will eat.” Rogers and SSE hope to expand that idea in the Greater Cincinnati area, employing community members and engaging farmers. “The goal is to have a main campus, where I teach people about aquaponics, but then I want to establish other aquaponic centers in neighborhoods,” he says. “Some communities have to hop on three buses to get to a grocery store.” By Rich Shivener

Cincinnati USA Partnership: play to area strengths

By Soapbox

●

Development News

●

August 30, 2011

A presentation Thursday by the state's top economic development officials gave participants more than just an overview of Ohio Gov. John Kasich's plan to create jobs; it provided both an ideal setting and a fitting big-picture perspective as the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber presented a new strategic plan for its development arm, the Cincinnati USA Partnership. Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber Executive Director Dave Dougherty presented a series of goals that he says the Partnership will work toward: the creation of 200,000 net new jobs in the region by 2020, and securing the city a top-quartile ranking in the regional indicators measured by the Agenda-360 Vision 2015 Regional Indicators Report. Dougherty began the presentation by defining the Partnership as a local extension of JobsOhio's overall plan. And if he had a single theme to his presentation, it could be summed up with the concept of playing to one's strengths. While he noted the chamber will play a role in JobsOhio's efforts to bring more large-company investment to the state, a key part of the chamber's local efforts will focus on job creation within existing Cincinnati companies. Those businesses have historically counted for 80 percent of the region's new jobs. "I believe we should fish where the fish are," he says. Likewise, the chamber will reflect JobsOhio's focus on key 'industry clusters:' industries and related businesses that already have a strong foothold in the state. On the local level, Dougherty said that means the chamber - and through it the state - will be focusing on the industries for which Cincinnati is known, such as branding, consumer products and biomedical. The goal, says JobsOhio Interim CIO and President Mark Kvamme, is to build Ohio's reputation as a hotbed for its strongest industries. "What you have here is an amazing piece of resources," he says. Julie Janson, chair of the Cincinnati USA Partnership and president of Duke Energy of Ohio and Kentucky, calls the plan a step toward defining the city's - and state's - best attributes. "This plan delivers a solid infrastructure to support the high-growth potential of the region," she says via press release Thursday. "We believe this is the right plan at the right time to capture our region's rightful place as one of America's favorite business centers." By Matt Cunningham

True Joy Acoustics mixes ukeleles, philanthropy

By Soapbox

●

Arts + Culture

●

August 30, 2011

Gone are the days when Tiny Tim strummed a ukulele and warbled his signature rendition of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.” The tiny instrument is making a mighty comeback thanks to Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole’s poignant rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and YouTube favorite Jake Shimabukuro’s inventive pop song adaptations on the instrument. Cincinnatian Greg Huntington understands the appeal. His company, True Joy Acoustics, has been selling ukuleles for the past year. Yet this is far more than an online business venture. Since the company’s launch, it has donated one ukulele for every nine sold to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Music Therapy program. And every ukulele kit is packaged by the Clovernook Center for the Blind, which pays visually-impaired workers through its Contract Packaging department. “Unique is sort of an understatement; no one is doing what Greg is doing,” says Brian Schreck, Music Therapy Coordinator in the hospital’s Division of Child Life and Integrative Care. “He’s taking into account the business side of things and the community at large.” So far, True Joy Acoustics has donated seven ukuleles to the hospital, an instrument that Schreck finds very useful in his therapy. “It’s the perfect size for anyone from a toddler to an adult, and it’s easy to play in a hospital bed.” Huntington’s ukuleles, made by a Connecticut manufacturer, also have a flat bottom, so they stand up easily on a night stand. Because these ukuleles are professional-grade, “there is such a difference when someone gets to play a real musical instrument rather than a toy or a lower-quality instrument,” says Schreck. Including the instrument, picks, instruction books and a custom case made locally, ukulele kits called “Music Makers” offer “the basic skills for a lifetime of enjoyment of this instrument,” says Huntington. With increased efforts to accelerate the hospital’s donation program, Huntington hopes to put ukuleles in more people's hands. “It’s all about maximizing your success,” he says. By Becky Johnson

Bad Girl Ventures graduates third class

By Soapbox

●

Development News

●

August 30, 2011

Cincinnati-based micro-lending organization Bad Girl Ventures graduates its third class of entrepreneurs this week. On Aug. 31 at the Cincinnati Art Museum, it will send 10 women into the field with lots of start-up know-how, including business plans, marketing and financing. The classes include one-on-one consultations with accountants, lawyers and business experts and teach student business owners how to craft marking plans and financial projections among other business strategies. To date, 18 women-owned businesses have made use of the organization’s lending efforts, resulting in approximately 45 jobs created in Greater Cincinnati and a 100 percent repayment rate on loans, says BGV founder Candace Klein. “We’re very proud of what we and the women have accomplished,” she says. The graduates of Bad Girl Ventures third cycle of Cincinnati classes’ run the gamut from the food industry and farming to retail and construction. “This class has a good range of businesses that have yet to launch to businesses working for several years,” says Corey Drushal, strategic initiatives coordinator for Bad Girl Ventures. Business skills were not the only thing the classes taught, however, says Brinda Chatterjee, class member and founder of the retail cosmetics website MakeupHaulic.com. “For me it was two-fold, both the actual business skills imparted in the classes as well as the connections to real-world business people who are willing to give their time to help you,” Chatterjee says. “Literally, three months ago I had no idea any of these resources were available.” Chatterjee praises Klein for her work in starting Bad Girl Ventures and its contribution to local entrepreneurs. “Candace has done an amazing job of pulling all these things together to create a launching pad for business and innovation in Cincinnati … and now beyond,” Chatterjee says. Lu Anne Van Kleunen, founder and owner of Premium Sealcoat, an asphalt sealing and maintenance business, says she was drawn to the classes offered by Bad Girl Ventures through a television appearance by Klein. Van Kleunen and her husband decided to start their business in 2009 after both lost their jobs of 30-plus years. “Candace described what her vision was for BGV – helping women business owners with the challenging issues that prevent them or impeded them from being successful,” Van Kleunen says. “Specifically, Candace talked about women who used personal funds or credit cards to fund their business. That is me.” What Van Kleunen has learned through the classes will only strengthen her business, she says, and she plans on using the micro-loans to purchase a truck, tank and other required equipment to support Premium Sealcoat's growth. “Candace and BGV helped make my business acumen stronger, resulting in more opportunities for me and Premium Sealcoat,” Van Kleunen says. The classes helped illustrate to Toni Winston, founder and president of Tiburon Energy/Tiburon Construction – a construction company focusing on energy-efficiency, water usage and sustainability efforts – how important financial practices and marketing was to her company’s efforts. “Since the BGV classroom instruction, I review my projections and financial templates weekly,” Winston says. “I didn’t realize how important a web presence and participation was to growing a business. I now spend time on social media and am working on refining my message and my branding.” Winston also feels that the focus shouldn’t only be on the 10 finalists graduating from Bad Girl Ventures, but on everyone who took part. “I think there should be some recognition for the other 40-plus women-owned businesses that showed up weekly to take advantage of the classes and the mentoring,” she says. “We are all Bad Girls!” By James Sprague

Queen City Cookies opens in Findlay Market

By Newsroom

●

Development News

●

August 30, 2011

Peggy Shannon doesn’t waste time. Especially not when it comes to building Queen City Cookies into a business that she hopes will change the world – one sweet donation at a time. In just eight days, she took an abandoned building in Over-the-Rhine – a building stripped of every inch of pipe and unused for a year – and created a new Findlay Market shop where more customers than ever can discover her delectable cookie creations. Set to open this Saturday at 8 am, Queen City Cookies sits between Churchill’s Fine Teas and Market Wines. “It’s a mad rush, I will tell you,” says Shannon, who hired a new employee, effectively doubling her staff, to work at the store. She called friends and contractors and told them her opening day was just a week and one day away. “Everyone kept laughing and telling me I was crazy.” But the former marketing director for the Contemporary Arts Center remembers the advice she got while working as a marketing manager for Whole Foods. “You can do anything you set your mind to,” she says. “Make a plan and execute the plan.” Shannon’s plan evolved from baking one gorgeous cookie, Our Lady of Guadeloupe, into a thriving business creating, from scratch, edible works of art from more than 500 intricate molds. Because her cookies are so beautiful, some customers can’t bring themselves to eat them. So in addition to her classic shortbread Queen Iced Delights, Shannon created Pachyderm Packs, bags of smaller, elephant-shaped cookies in four flavors: Chocolate Chipotle, Em’s Blues (a blueberry maple cookie that tastes like a blueberry pancake), Pure Sass (the original) and Rosemary with Sunflower and Sesame Seeds. “My whole reason to go into business to begin with was to share joy with people,” Shannon says. “The cookies are so delightful. When people eat them, they are happy.” In addition to Iced Delights ($4 and up), Shannon offers the Pachyderm Packs ($7 for about 25 cookies) and her own recipe of schnecken, of the “gooey delicious” variety, at her new shop. Shannon wants to use her new space to share more than great sweets and treats, though. She sees product sales as a way she can give back to Cincinnati, the city she has called home since 2006. Her goal? To become a philanthropist along the lines of Louise Nippert and Otto M. Budig. She started early, already partnering her young company with local nonprofits like Women Helping Women, the Civic Garden Center, the American Heart Association and Happen Inc. Shannon, though, thinks bigger. Much bigger. “I want to be able to have enough money to donate $22 million per year,” Shannon says. “I have a long way to go – but you have got to start somewhere.” Queen City Cookies opens its doors at 8 am, Saturday, Sept. 3, 124 W. Elder St. For more information, call 513-591-0022.

Video Northern Kentucky’s thriving office parks and sites

By Newsroom

●

General

●

August 26, 2011

Northern Kentucky enjoys the availability of well-positioned land sites and real estate product both office and industrial. National and local developers as well as the local real estate community have contributed to fast-track development in Northern Kentucky, including road systems, utilities, and overall IT capabilities. Check out a few of the sites and buildings available in the area!

Northern Kentucky chamber honored

By Newsroom

●

General

●

August 26, 2011

The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce received the 2011 "Going International Award" Thursday at the American Chamber of Commerce Executives annual conference in Los Angeles.The award is sponsored by the United Arab Emirates' Dubai Chamber of Commerce. The Northern Kentucky Chamber will receive $5,000 and a trip to Dubai for two of its executives.The award recognizes chambers' work to expand into international markets, partner with businesses abroad, and educate their communities about international trade.Read the full story here.

Revitalization funds growing in NKY

By Newsroom

●

General

●

August 26, 2011

The Catalytic Development Funding Corporation of Northern Kentucky is one step closer to reaching their $10 million goal thanks to a $1 million commitment from First Financial Bank. The CDFC and its investment fund are designed to serve as catalysts for the redevelopment of Northern Kentucky's urban cities. First Financial Bank joins six other local companies in making major investments in the fund, which currently stands at $7.5 million. Once the corporation reaches its goal, it will begin lending to developers. Read the full story here.

CSN to open Hebron center this fall

By Newsroom

●

General

●

August 26, 2011

Online retailing company CSN Stores will open a new distribution hub in Hebron this fall. The distribution center will create up to 105 new jobs in the Northern Kentucky region over the next few years. The 155,370 square-foot facility in Boone County represents a $7.7 million investment and is expected to open this fall.CSN, which is based in Boston, offers more than 3 million items from 5,000 brands at its 250 specialized online stores. Read the full story here.

Florence lands pharmacy company

By Newsroom

●

General

●

August 26, 2011

HealthWarehouse.com Inc., a mail order pharmacy company, is moving to Florence. The transition has already started and will continue over the next several months.The company also on Thursday announced a $1.5 million investment from venture capital firm New Atlantic Ventures, which is based in Northern Virginia and Cambridge, Mass, and which makes seed and early stage investments.HealthWarehouse.com fills more than 3,000 prescriptions a day. It is licensed in all 50 states to sell prescription medication.Read the full story here.