Downtown Cincinnati is the place to live, work, and play populated by restaurants, cafes, bars, arts and culture venues around every corner, plus a long-awaited and busy Kroger's that anchors recently-renovated Court Street Plaza. The downtown urban core is alive with programming, including music during the summer and ice skating in the winter, and features the largest living room 'television' in the region overlooking The Genius of Water at Fountain Square. Downtown has experienced dramatic expansion and population growth with residential developments, including condos and apartments in all price ranges, many of which boast scenic views of the hillsides and the river and offer unparalleled access to nightlife and recreation.
Biomedical innovation in the Cincinnati area has gotten a boost with a $2 million grant from Ohio Third Frontier that will go toward creating startup companies based on technology developed […]
A new CincyTech seed fund that will go toward the nonprofit's mission of financing Greater Cincinnati tech-based startups has received a $2 million match from the Ohio Third Frontier fund.CincyTech Fund II comes just as the first fund - started in 2007 with a mix of private and public dollars - is nearly fully committed or reserved. CincyTech Fund I was launched in 2007 with a $6 million from Third Frontier and $4.4 million from local corporations, foundations and institutions."This newest investment in CincyTech from Ohio Third Frontier is a strong endorsement of the success we have had to date and will allow us to continue to invest in high-growth-potential local companies," CincyTech President Bob Coy said in a release announcing the award.The $2 million award is part of the $25 million invested across the state 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 key competitive economic sectors: 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.CincyTech raised $2.3 million for CincyTech II; the state match maxed out at $2 million. A number of local organizations have committed to investing: the Castellini Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Fort Washington Capital Partners, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile Jr. /U.S. Bank Foundation, and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, as well as several private investors.The initial CincyTech Fund led to investments in 18 local companies; the organization plans to invest in five more this spring. These investments have created 250 jobs and attracted $60 million in additional investor dollars, CincyTech says.Among the companies CincyTech has invested in are AssureRx, formed to license and commercialize personalized medicine technology research from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic, ThinkVine, a high-tech consumer marketing firm, and Brighton Technologies, whose highly specialized Surface Energy Probe assesses a surface's readiness for bonding, coating, or printing.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: CincyTech, Ohio Third FrontierYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites
Duke Energy has partnered with Chatfield College, a Catholic liberal arts college based in Over-the-Rhine, to offer a free course for students and community members in environmental sustainability. This course will allow students to learn about environmental issues and solutions, how to apply and develop this information in everyday living, and prepare for professions in the field of sustainability. Chatfield College developed the curriculum, presented it to Duke Energy, and they jumped on board. Because the Duke Energy Foundation Community Sustainability Grant Program funded this course, students and community members now have access to important information that can affect their future. Duke Energy offers grants for those participants that are going to help the community to understand and to be energy efficient. "By offering this course for free, thanks to the Duke Energy Foundation, we are opening doors to an environmental education that some students and community members may have never had the opportunity to receive. This course will help not only our Chatfield students, but the community as a whole," said Chatfield academic dean, Dr. Roger Courts.The class will be offered at Chatfield's St. Martin campus due to the great interest in urban farming expressed by their students. Britney Grimmelsman, a social media and special events coordinator at Chatfield College, explained the hopes and goals of this sustainability course."We are hoping it takes off and the students that are exposed to it take it and expand it. St. Martin's is a tight community therefore they can take what they learn and use it for their businesses or in their own personal house." Grimmelsman said.The course will provide information to students about prolonging the life of energy sources and reducing the amount of pollution created. Students will not only learn about issues and methods about environment sustainability, but they will also have hands on experience by researching potential projects to reduce energy consumption at the St. Martin campus.Eric Davenport, the instructor of the course, expressed his excitement and importance of the course."It is a wonderful opportunity to be able to inform and assist those who want to know more to improve their own lives and directly/indirectly improve the health of the environment at the same time," Davenport said.Writer: Lisa EnsmingerPhotography by Scott Beseler.
Hundreds of millions of people use social networking sites to connect in the online world. Facebook is about friends. LinkedIn is for business. YouTube is all about videos, and Flickr is a place to share photos. So who is making the most of Twitter in Greater Cincinnati?
Femme Den is an underground collective of international women that includes design researchers, industrial designers, and engineers who are paving the way for a deeper understanding around design and gender.
Forbes ranked Cincinnati number five out of the fifty most affordable U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The data looked at a combination of affordable real estate and a healthy ratio of income to living costs. The Midwestern metro dominated the bargain city list, being the most highly attractive for those seeking an affordable lifestyle. Read the full story here.
Bad Girl Ventures, Cincinnati's women-focused micro-lender, has narrowed down the finalists for its upcoming business class.BGV, a nonprofit created by local attorney Candace Klein, is based on the micro-financing model of international organizations like Kiva where small loans from individuals are bundled together. Ten women-owned startups will undergo a six-week entrepreneur curriculum where they will learn the building blocks to starting a business and be responsible for submitting a business plan, WBE application, etc. Classes are open to anyone who needs training; you can find the class schedule here.The organization's first class finished up last fall and the model has proven attractive to small and large investors alike. Originally Klein had planned on offering one $25,000 loan to one entrepreneur through a competitive process. This time around, BGV has 150K in loans to award businesses that meet loan criteria. Major investors include 5/3 Bank and the Columbus-based Economic and Community Development Institute. Klein is also talking to US Bank and a couple of other lenders that are also looking at investing."We accept much lower credit scores than a traditional lender. We believe that a lot of women have struggled with the economy and divorce, which has affected their scores temporarily. The lenders like us because we can bring the women in, train them and help them raise their credit scores, making them more likely to be a successful candidate for loans in the future," Klein said.This class encompasses a wide variety of entrepreneurs, from a towing company to a couture bridal and evening wear designer. Take a peek at the new class: Allison Kulage, Bare Knuckles Marketing, online marketing Jessica Goldberg, Roomations, connects freelance interior designers with homeowners Lyn Bucalo, Serket Jewelry, high fashion, custom jewelry Andrea Brady, Empowering Innovations, web and mobile application designed to help children overcome fears Lindsey Lusignolo, Lindsey Lusignolo, couture evening and bridal wear Robin Gentry McGee, Just Great Foods, natural, healing foods producer Temeca Jones, Funducate, fun and educational merchandise for children Amanda Kelly, Amanda Kelly Salon, salon for the young professional in downtown Cincinnati Rebecca A. Huber, The Rutile, fine jewelry concierge service Dinita "Dee-Dee" Smith, TriState Towing, family owned towing companyYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites
Nine Greater Cincinnati YMCA's are joining others across the country offering ActivTrax, a virtual trainer that offers users specific fitness and nutrition advice based on their personal goals."It's a free benefit to members that really is designed to help them achieve their health and wellness goals. It's a web-based personal trainer. Based on your goals and needs, it builds a customized workout for you each and every time you come to the YMCA. It helps you progress and meet your goals over time," said Dave Martorano, YMCA Vice President of Operations.Users can sign up at an ActivTrax kiosk at the Y. Since the program is web-based, members can use it and update their progress on a personal computer or mobile device. "Once you are enrolled, you can look up your information anywhere. You can log your food and workouts for the day and track your progress electronically," Martorano.For lower tech users, exercises and nutrition recommendation can be printed out at the kiosks.The system currently is used at 1,500 YMCAs, health clubs and wellness centers across the country. The Cincinnati Y's installed them late last month, just in time for those New Year's resolutions. ActivTrax gives users a calorie intake goal for the day, and has a database of more than 70,000 foods to help them keep track of those calories.More than 1,000 Cincinnati Y members have signed up, Martorano said.The system offers members guidance and a simple and individualized way to keep track of the systems recommendations. "We are already seeing users being more consistent, and making a lot of progress in meeting wellness goals," Martorano said.You can find a list of participating Y's here.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dave Martorano, Cincinnati YMCA Vice President of OperationsYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites Nine Greater Cincinnati YMCA's are joining others across the country offering ActivTrax, a virtual trainer that offers users specific fitness and nutrition advice based on their personal goals."It's a free benefit to members that really is designed to help them achieve their health and wellness goals. It's a web-based personal trainer. Based on your goals and needs, it builds a customized workout for you each and every time you come to the YMCA. It helps you progress and meet your goals over time," said Dave Martorano, YMCA Vice President of Operations.Users can sign up at an ActivTrax kiosk at the Y. Since the program is web-based, members can use it and update their progress on a personal computer or mobile device. "Once you are enrolled, you can look up your information anywhere. You can log your food and workouts for the day and track your progress electronically," Martorano.For lower tech users, exercises and nutrition recommendation can be printed out at the kiosks.The system currently is used at 1,500 YMCAs, health clubs and wellness centers across the country. The Cincinnati Y's installed them late last month, just in time for those New Year's resolutions. ActivTrax gives users a calorie intake goal for the day, and has a database of more than 70,000 foods to help them keep track of those calories.More than 1,000 Cincinnati Y members have signed up, Martorano said.The system offers members guidance and a simple and individualized way to keep track of the systems recommendations. "We are already seeing users being more consistent, and making a lot of progress in meeting wellness goals," Martorano said.You can find a list of participating Y's here.Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: Dave Martorano, Cincinnati YMCA Vice President of OperationsYou can follow Feoshia on twitter @feoshiawrites
Go Vibrant is a is a private-civic partnership of over 40 organizations - from Fortune 500 companies to small non-profits - energized by the mission to make healthy living easier and Cincinnati a top 10 healthy city.
The world got its first Groupon marriage proposal, or "Grouposal," as the popular deal-making site is calling it. A Cincinnati man by the name of Greg offered to marry his girlfriend, Dana, for the low price of $1. This is just the latest in a string of high-tech marriage proposals. People have proposed via Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Foursquare, Google Street View and iPhone apps.Read the full story here.
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