Page 911 – Soapbox

Cincinnati City Council approves $64M in bonds to fund modern streetcar system

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May 11, 2010

Cincinnati City Council's Budget & Finance Committee voted 6-2 to approve $64 million in bonds for the city's proposed streetcar system. The move is the first bold commitment from City Hall in terms of financing for the project to date, and is seen as a strong signal to the Federal government that there is local support for the project. "This project can help us grow our tax base without growing our tax rate," described Brad Thomas, founder of CincyStreetcar.com. "The approval of these bonds will send a clear message to Washington D.C. that Cincinnati is serious about this project, and will strongly position Cincinnati for the next two rounds of Federal funds." Specifically, the vote approved three separate bonds that were made up of $11 million from the Blue Ash Airport sale proceeds, $28 million from General Capital sources and $25 million from Tax Increment Financing (TIF) sources. The General Capital and TIF bonds were strengthened with proceeds from the sale of the Blue Ash Airport. Beyond the technical proceedings, several young people spoke about the future benefits the project will have on the city and its citizen's quality of life. "I'm really excited about what I'm seeing in this city, and I'm very excited about the prospect of urban living and more transportation options," said Xavier University student Adam Clark. "It's very important that we provide these options, and I'm looking forward to riding the streetcar soon." During Council's deliberations, Council member Jeff Berding asked Cincinnati Budget Director if the Blue Ash Airport sale proceeds could legally be used for cover the City's pension fund or close the City's Operation Budget deficit. The City's Budget Director proceeded to give a direct and clear message of, no, those funds can legally not be used for those purposes. The meeting heard 10 public comments that ranged local entrepreneurs, students and residents in support of the Cincinnati Streetcar project. Tim Mara, lawyer representing Citizens Opposed to Additional Spending & Taxes (COAST) member Mark Miller, was the one public comment in opposition to the project and threatened a lawsuit against Council member Bortz should he vote on the issue. On April 19, 2010, City Council voted to approve $2.6 million in bonds for the project and had 29 public comments made in favor of the Cincinnati Streetcar project with just three in opposition. The meeting was once again defined by the participation of young people in the political process with several of the public comments coming from young professionals and students alike. "This has been one of the single issues that has involved a diverse group of people, and has involved more young people in the decision making process in the future of Cincinnati," Council member Laketa Cole stated. People always ask me where the young people are, and I can say that young people have been up in the front on this issue from day one making their voices heard. That is something I'm excited about." Writer: Randy A. Simes Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy

Growing Ohio Valley Life Sciences Conference comes back to Cincinnati in 2011

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General

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May 11, 2010

Three years after moving around Ohio and Kentucky, the 9th Annual Ohio Valley Affiliates for Life Sciences (or OVALS) Conference will return to Cincinnati in 2011.OVALS launched in 2002 at the University of Cincinnati to connect the region's major research and medical universities. It started with just a few partners and has grown over the years to include the Air Force Research Laboratory, CincyTechUSA and Ohio University.The founding partner universities, in Ohio and Kentucky, attract and expend approximately $650 million per year on basic and applied research, which generates over 240 intellectual property disclosures per year, according to OVALS."We started this as an opportunity to pull together some of the research universities in our region. It’s a way to create a larger, critical mass of activity. On an individual level it's harder for us to compete with the east and west coasts," said Dorothy Air, OVALS chair and associate vice president for entrepreneurial affairs at UC.The conference is the organization's signature event and brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, investors and innovators. It also includes the Universities of Kentucky and Louisville and Bluegrass Business Development Partnership.When the conference returns to the Queen City, even more university partners could be involved, Air said. At least three universities that conduct research but aren't traditionally known as research or medical universities have expressed interest and may join the affiliates by next year, she said.In addition to gathering for the annual event, OVALS These affiliates share resources and equipment that make the Ohio and Kentucky life sciences community stronger, Air added. "We all exist in a small area, and are within two hours of each other. That actually is an important part of how we pull this together. We wanted the kind of partnerships that help us to grow as a bio science and life science community," Air said.Among the projects OVALS has helped bring to the area was the recent national Small Business Innovation Research conference that came to Kentucky."To attract a national conference to a region you have to show you have local support in terms of organizing it, and that 500 or 600 people will come to it. (SBIR) put out a call for proposals. Kentucky led that and OVALS supported it," Air said.Two-state organizations like OVALs are rare, and garner interest outside the region."A lot of people are quite taken with idea that we have two states working together and multiple organizations working with it. It's a little different model than what goes on in some areas. Because this is affiliation and not an official or government entity, it's pretty amazing that we pull together to get things done," Air said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dorothy Air, OVALS Chair

Garden Grove Organics shop blossoms in Covington

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General

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May 11, 2010

Garden Grove Organics is a business devoted to a better way to grow plants and produce--sans chemicals. After tinkering with hydroponics, no-soil organic, and traditional gardening since 1997, Casey Fraser and his wife, Heather, opened Garden Grove three years ago. Fraser takes a scientist's pleasure in finding solutions to gardening challenges. Casey Fraser was first inspired by his grandparents' love of growing things. He grew up in Eastern Kentucky and earned a degree in Communications and Electronic Media from Morehead State University. He started out in garden supply retail, and later traveled the country as a sales rep for a wholesale supplier - all the while pursuing gardening as a weekend passion."While shopping locally, I noticed a lack of specific, scientific garden supplies," said Fraser. "I also noticed that my own gardening knowledge often surpassed that of the sales staff." By then he'd met Heather, whose accounting degree from NKU could hold up the paperwork side of a small business. It was time to grow their own enterprise. After falling in love with downtowns on both sides of the river, Fraser found his perfect urban location the old-fashioned way - on foot. East Seventh Street in Covington is near City Hall, the Mad Hatter, and the Madison Theater.The Frasers believe detailed knowledge of hydroponics, grow lights, and organic gardening is their most valuable currency. They're often invited to speak at local gardening classes, and recently began selling organic gardening supplies at the Farmers Market in Covington. Casey, Heather, and one additional employee man the store six days a week. Writer: Elena StevensonSource: Casey Fraser, co-owner, Garden Grove Organics

2010 Cincinnati Innovates offers more $$, entrepreneur training, categories

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Entrepreneurship

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May 11, 2010

Cincinnati Innovates 2010 is offering Greater Cincinnati entrepreneurs, creatives and inventors more chances at start-up prize money this year, with more than $80,000 in awards.Cincinnati Innovates evolved from InOneWeekend, which challenged - and equipped - aspiring entrepreneurs to create a viable start-up business in three days.The second annual competition is open to anyone now or originally from a 15-county area of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. It has a broad reach and can include innovative products, devices, business processes and more. The top prize is $20,000.This year's competition ups the stakes and opportunities for innovators. There are several new prize categories including a $5,000 web development award sponsored by CoStrategix, a $10,000 award in branding and design services from LPK, and a $10,000 commercialization award to a Kentucky-based company sponsored by The Northern Kentucky eZone, Tri-Ed, Vision 2015, and Biologic."There is so much happening in Northern Kentucky," said Cincinnati Innovates founder and organizer Elizabeth Edwards. "But last year we only had 16 entries from Northern Kentucky. This year with the Northern Kentucky Prize we are hoping for a couple hundred."To enter the contest or get more info, go to the contest's website. There you'll enter a short description of your idea and upload pictures, video, or sketches to help explain and showcase it. The earlier you enter the better, because you can enter more than one idea and update and improve on entered ideas after submission, Edwards said.Cincinnati Innovates more than doubled its sponsorships over last year, up to 23. They include representatives from the region's legal, economic development, health, investor and media communities (including Soapbox).Need a little help in fleshing out or presenting your idea? This year Cincinnati Innovates is offering more group workshops throughout the competition, based on feedback from last year's event, Edwards said.Among scheduled workshops are "How to Finance a Startup," and "Cincinnati Innovates Video Workshop.""We'll have 14 cameras there for people to help them craft an elevator pitch, and we'll have some angel investors there to help," Edwards said of the video workshop. "Many of the proposals that won last year had good video explanations. Some were 30 seconds; some were four minutes. They weren't professionally done, just well put together."There are no age restrictions to entering. The contest is open now through Sept. 1. Winners of a total of 10 prizes - including a community choice award picked by online voters - will be announced September 22 at the Cincinnati National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Entries will be judged by investors and other industry experts from a wide variety of backgrounds.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Elizabeth Edwards, founder Cincinnati InnovatesYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

Xavier student starts graphic design company for small businesses and individuals

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Entrepreneurship

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May 11, 2010

Xavier student Angela Santarpio had always wanted to own her own business. The dream materialized sooner than expected in Santarpio Design.Santarpio Design, which she describes as a "down-to-earth" graphic design company for small businesses and individuals.Having another year to go on her marketing and art studies degree at Xavier was no obstacle. "It wasn't until recently that I saw a way to combine my entrepreneurial dream with art," said Santarpio. Friends and family approached her to help with brochures and other graphic needs, and she realized she loved the process of meeting with people face-to-face and creating an image that made the statement they desired. "The idea of designing for individuals, rather than advertising firms, really appeals to me because it’s so much more personal. You get a little peek into someone else’s life or business as they trust you to help make their ideas come to life," she said.Set to launch June 1, Santarpio has worked to build awareness of her business on Facebook and Twitter. The website has a feminine vibe, but communicates the company’s abilities with clear, strong images and language. Although Santarpio Design specializes in custom, affordable event invitations and stationery, they can provide business cards, brochures, and the like for small businesses. Santarpio provides digital-only products for email distribution, as well as traditional printed designs.Angela and her mother, Lauren Santarpio, are the founding partners of the firm. Lauren's freelance photography experience gives her an eye for what looks good; she also holds a leadership role in a charity that designs and makes quilts for children in need. Kevin Santarpio, Angela's father, is an engineer and entrepreneur who gives practical and tactical advice. Santarpio Design plans to collaborate with Jennifer Nally, a wedding hair specialist, to market wedding invitations at competitive prices."We are still evolving and finding our footing in the overcrowded design market," said Santarpio. Written by: Elena StevensonSource: Angela Santarpio, Partner, Santarpio Design

Local entrepreneur launches web-based accounting program for small businesses

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Entrepreneurship

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May 11, 2010

Local entrepreneur Scott Miller has just launched a new company from the Hamilton County Business Center, and is working to generate some buzz about his new software product, the Bee.B2BeeLLC launched within the last week with its namesake software product The Bee, an invoicing system designed for small business owners."I really wanted to create something that would help small, one-to five-person companies. One day I sat down and had coffee with about 50 of these small business owners, and everyone was having a hard time with accounting and bookkeeping. Most invoicing programs are made for accountants, and these weren't accountants. I wanted to create something that would help them," said Miller, of Blue Ash.This isn't Miller's first foray into entrepreneurship, in 2004 he sold Treadstone Group, an IT consulting and systems integration firm, to Exact Software. "After that I played some golf, taught a class on entrepreneurship at Miami University and did some Angel investing," Miller said.But the creative bug, or bee, got to him again."I've been planning the venture and writing software for the last 10 months. We've had a soft launch and have some clients signed up, but this week we're starting to gear up our marketing efforts and tell the world about it," he said.B2bee is a self-funded company and has three full-time employees, as well as several outside contract workers.The Bee is professional, but simplified version of programs like QuickBooks, Miller said."(Quickbooks) is based on double-entry accounting. You have charts of accounts, debits and credits that are very intimidating. None of that is part of our system, it's very simple to get on and start generating invoices," he said.The software is internet-based, and can be downloaded from the B2Bee website, users pay $14 a month for the service. Users can access the program for free for their first three clients, when a company gets a forth client the $14 a month service fee kicks in. The website also offers a 30-day free trial."It's a web application that you can use from anywhere. You can fire it up from your browser and it's very secure. Every year we will continue to make small changes to software, but there are no upgrade fees," Miller said.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Scott Miller, founder B2BeeYou can follow Feoshia on twitter here.

Cincinnati a “Top Ten City” for Recent Grads

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Cincy In The News

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May 11, 2010

Apartments.com and CareerRookie.com recently released their third annual "Top 10 Best Cities for Recent College Graduates" list. This list provides a reliable source for young adults as they consider where to live based on affordable apartments, good jobs, and cultural events. Cincinnati made number eight on the list with the most affordable average rent for a one-bedroom apartment at $613. Read the full story here

Cincinnati natives in The National plan for big year with new release

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Arts + Culture

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May 11, 2010

The New York Times published an extensive article about a Cincinnati native band gone big in New York City on the eve of their latest release. Lead singer Matt Berninger praises Cincinnati for giving him a narrative edge saying Cincinnati represents the common American experience with social, racial, and political tensions. Read the full story here.

Procter & Gamble comes to the rescue with Dawn

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Cincy In The News

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May 11, 2010

Following the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Procter & Gamble shipped 1,000 bottles of Dawn dishwashing liquid to help clean soiled wildlife with plans to ship 1,000 more. P&G still has ongoing partnerships to provide dawn and raise funds with the International Bird Rescue Research Center and the Marine Mammal Center. For three decades now, wildlife rescue workers have continued to use Dawn. Read the full story here.

UC Law’s Innocence Project frees man wrongfully convicted for 30 years

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Cincy In The News

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May 11, 2010

Three University of Cincinnati law students - part of UC Law's Ohio's Innocence Project - exonerated a wrongly convicted man of rape who planned to serve a lifetime in prison in Cleveland, Ohio. The court issued DNA testing proved the man to be innocent after already serving 29 years in prison. The newly free man optimistically plans to live in Cincinnati and to continue his life's passion of painting. Read the full story here.