Economic Development

Kennel-free Dogtown offers 24-hour care for local pets

By Newsroom

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May 15, 2012

"There’s a lot of people who, if I turned them away, would not have anywhere to take their dogs, and I would feel terrible turning them away," says Megan Gourlie, who runs Dogtown Cincinnati, a pet daycare and boarding facility in Mount Auburn. "I’m really close to my customers and for the most part know everybody by name." The facility already has plans for expansion, and its employees have cared for as many as 90 dogs at once, with about one handler per every 25 to 35 dogs. This number varies based on how many rooms are in use and the time of day. Because the Dogtown is a 24-hour facility, the business offers both daytime and night-hour staff. Gourlie’s pretty well-connected to her customer base. After all, she was once a frustrated pet owner herself. After rescuing a dog who, it turned out, "couldn’t be left alone with having a total breakdown," Gourlie struggled to find care for him during the day. She didn’t want to leave the Weimaraner puppy in a doggie daycare that used kennels, kept dogs indoors most of the day or would drain her wallet with extra fees for walks or administering medications. Eventually, she sat down and did some research. It turned out that there were plenty of people looking for the same thing: a kennel-free, 24-hour facility where dogs would have plenty of time to roam freely, play and nap. When she opened Dogtown Cincinnati, second-shift workers finally had a place to leave their pets overnight in a "homelike environment," and Gourlie even worked out a way to introduce new dogs slowly to smaller packs so new dogs felt comfortable. These days, pet owners can watch their dogs and cats (there’s a separate area for felines at the facility) online through 15 live webcams, as well as periodic photos posted on Facebook. "We are the place that allows you to have a dog if you couldn’t have a dog before," Gourlie says. "A lot of people are actually getting dogs because we’re here. In college I could never have a dog because I didn’t have the time and resources. We cater to second shift. We love second shift people; we’ll do overnight; and we’re really good for business travelers who don’t want to kennel their dogs." By Robin Donovan

Latest in Economic Development

RSVP today: GOOD ideas in town this week

By Elissa Yancey

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General

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May 15, 2012

RSVP today to attend GOOD Ideas for Cities this Wednesday, May 16, at 6 pm, at the Contemporary Arts Center. Civic-minded designers and their teams present creative solutions to six uniquely Cincinnati challenges that range from education to transportation. Soapbox gives you a sneak peek!

Cincinnati venture powers corporate creativity

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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May 15, 2012

Batterii, a Cincinnati-based open-collaboration innovation software venture, has raised $800,000 in seed-stage funding, hired a seasoned West Coast technology executive as its CEO and added six other key executives to its management team. Read the full story here.

US News ranks Walnut Hills High School top in Ohio

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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May 15, 2012

US News ranks Cincinnati Public Schools' Walnut Hills High School first in Ohio and 90th in the country. See all the stats here.

Eli’s BBQ named best in Midwest

By Newsroom

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Cincy In The News

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May 15, 2012

Food & Wine Magazine knows where to find the best BBQ—Cincinnati's Eli's BBQ. After selling his signature pulled-pork sandwich at local markets, Elias Leisring opened this bare-bones spot. His signature move: using a pizza cutter to chop the pulled pork extra-fine. See the full list here.

Just communities need inclusion

By Becky Johnson

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Diversity

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May 15, 2012

“Diversity happens. Inclusion is a choice.” Shawn Jeffers wants a new generation to understand and act on that concept. As coordinator for JUST Community, a program of BRIDGES for a Just Community, his organization is bringing that awareness to a younger generation through a new working model this year. Through education and empowerment, the non-profit organization BRIDGES for a Just Community equips people with awareness, skills and opportunities to develop relationships that will transform this region into a more equitable and just community. JUST Community, a youth program, developed out of the former “Anytown” youth program under the National Conference of Community and Justice (NCCJ), from which BRIDGES evolved. Since NCCJ began its mission in 1927, its goal of opening healthy dialog between religious groups has broadened over years to include racial understanding and supporting the rights of women and other disadvantaged groups through education and awareness- building. BRIDGES has used the JUST Community program for students to teach leadership skills necessary to engage their peers in creating more respectful and inclusive school cultures. In years past, the program was over the summer, with area schools sending a small group of students to participate. Students came back excited and willing to implement their learning, but waiting for school to start dampened their initial enthusiasm. This year’s program is different, based on a successful model already in use through the Great Oaks district. Larger groups of 10-15 students from each school will experience the program in September, during the school year, and two educators from each school will also participate and act as mentors when students return to begin dialog and initiatives. Issues discussed will include race, socio-economic status, gender and sexual orientation. “And we want different students who can do true community building,” says Jeffers, “not just the student officer or honor roll student” but students who have influence without knowing it and are ready to learn how they really can change the world, school by school. Do Good: • Find out: if your neighborhood school is interested in participating in this program. • Investigate: the many programs, events and services BRIDGES offers to further inclusiveness and acceptance among all of the Cincinnati community. By Becky Johnson

Student Designed tech solution garners more university interest

By Newsroom

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Architecture + Design

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May 15, 2012

Student Designed, a web-based program that allows businesses and students to collaborate on real-world design challenges, has taken yet another step forward as a winner in Northern Kentucky University's inaugural UpTech class. UpTech is a new business informatics incubator launched by several Northern Kentucky institutions, including Northern Kentucky University, Tri-Ed, ezone and Vision 2015. It's an intense, six-month accelerator program that includes $100,000 in funding. Companies will also be working with students and faculty at NKU's College of Informatics. This follows Student Designed winning Xavier's Launch-A-Business competition in 2011. "One of my biggest barriers was getting a relationship with schools," says Adam Treister, a University of Cincinnati grad who developed Student Designed in 2010. "Now I'll have a strong tie with NKU and the College of Informatics, and it's great to be involved with the innovative part of the school. I look forward to working with students to test the platform." Student Designed allows design, engineering, architecture and other creative students to showcase their student work in a central place where businesses can check it out. Businesses could contact individual students they believe could help them with a project. University professors could also connect with businesses and use their design projects as teaching tools. "Businesses are always looking for ways to more efficiently complete projects. Many have had the idea before to work with students, but there has been no clear way to do that very easily," Treister says. "Professors like the idea of giving students access to real-world projects, and this is also a way for students to get their foot in the door with companies that could hire them." Student Designed is currently in Beta, and Treister hopes to have a more responsive and functional site designed during his time with UpTech. By Feoshia Henderson Follow Feoshia on Twitter

Fundraisers urge community growth

By Becky Johnson

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Arts + Culture

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May 15, 2012

Even Tim Jeckering finds the changes in Northside amazing. After 13 years on Northside’s Community Council, eight of them as president, Jeckering still experiences a sense of wonder at the near west side neighborhood’s decade of transformation. “If I were to tell you that Northside is close to having 125 new, single-family housing units today, would you believe it?” he asks. Throw in another 110 new units now being offered in the American Can Building, a newly-paved bike trail along the Mill Creek, and vibrant businesses and artistic organizations nestling in along Hamilton Avenue, and Northside has become a community transformed. The Northside Community Fund is certainly one reason for these obvious changes. In eight years, it has raised more than $45,000 for neighborhood projects, “initiatives that came from the people,” says Jeckering. Back in 2004, the Northside Business Association and Northside Community Council realized that an independent fund was the best way to support neighborhood-based initiatives, knowing that City of Cincinnati financing for such projects would continue to be erratic. Pulling together a board of directors and placing the fund under the Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) gave the organization credibility and standing in the city, as well as invaluable help through the GCF’s support services. Since then, the Northside Community Fund has proven its worth. When the community wanted a farmer’s market, the fund supported a general manager’s position. Today, the Northside Farmer’s Market, voted best market by City Beat last year, offers cottage crafts and local farmers’ fresh produce and swells the streets and local stores each market day with visitors from all around Cincinnati. Other neighborhood-based initiatives supported by the fund include food pantry help through the local churches and a Summer Earn and Learn program for youth. Fundraisers like the June 2 “Hot Club of Northside” concert, featuring the Faux Frenchmen and both silent and live auctions, continue to raise money for Northside community initiatives. Those funds, along with “an army of volunteers and great community activism,” acknowledges Jeckering, are remaking Northside into the community its residents want it to be. Do Good: • Attend: The Hot Club of Northside on June 2, from 7-11:30 pm at the Great Room of the Historic American Can Building, 4101 Spring Grove Ave. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Shake It Records, Picnic & Pantry and the Northside Bank and Trust. • Visit: the Northside Farmer’s Market to see what good things community dollars can support. • Like the neighborhood on Facebook. By Becky Johnson

Core Clay shapes business in Walnut Hills

By Evan Wallis

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Architecture + Design

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May 15, 2012

Laura Davis may run the only business in town that can claim it sells dust. Core Clay opened on Gilbert Avenue in Walnut Hills in June 2005 to provide a live-work space for Davis and her boyfriend, Justin Poole. Since then, it has continued to grow into a successful business. The original idea was to sell pottery supplies and products and have a space to teach classes. Since she worked in such a large space, friends started asking Davis if they could rent studio space, which eventually led into the transformation of the basement into a collective studio. Today, it normally houses 25 artists who rent space on a month-to-month basis. In addition, Core Clay has employed an artist-in-residence since 2009 and offers both beginner and advanced level classes. Core Clay also creates clay on-site. In a further effort to expand, Davis enrolled in ArtWork's SpringBoard class. While the business has been growing, Davis says she enrolled to get more business know-how. Current plans are to improve signage, expand marketing and build a bigger in-store product line. "You can sit and ask a lawyer questions for two hours," Davis says. "That alone is worth the cost of the class." Davis and Poole settled on Walnut Hills after searching in Florence, Camp Washington and beyond, and have since seen the neighborhood change around them. "Our building was a source of crime in the neighborhood," Davis says. "We have made changes and taken the grates off the windows. We want the neighborhood to know we are friendly in here." After cleaning up the Core Clay building, Davis found that another vacant building next door had become a source of trouble in the neighborhood and decided to purchase the building out of foreclosure. In 2010, the building was opened as a intentional community of live-work spaces for artists. Some parts of the building are still being renovated, but once finished, it will house nine units. By Evan Wallis (Follow him on Twitter)

Metro creates greener bus fleet

By Evan Wallis

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Environment + Sustainability

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May 15, 2012

This week, Metro introduces five new buses to its fleet. These buses employ a new technology named "mini-hybrid." The buses aren't smaller, nor are they hybrid, but they do get almost the same MPG as hybrids, as well as cost $240,000 less than a hybrid bus. The technology was developed by Engineered Machined Products and uses an electrically powered cooling fan, which would normally be powered hydraulically and take horsepower from the engine. The mini-hybrid buses still run on diesel fuel, but get gas mileage closely comparable to that of a hybrid. "It's basically like running the air-conditioner in your car without using the power it takes from the engine," says Daron Brown, quality assurance manager for Metro. Metro is one of the first transit agencies in the country to obtain a Clean Fuels Grant, which is normally given for the purchase of hybrid buses, for the mini-hybrid technology. Brown put together a report suggesting that the new technology will give a six to seven percent increase on fuel economy compared to traditional diesel buses, while hybrid buses get about 10 percent better MPG. The Federal Transit Authority requires that buses must have at least a 12-year life before being replaced and Metro now has 70 at the 12-year mark. With a total fleet of 345 buses, Metro looks to replace 30 buses per year and has 40 more mini-hybrid buses joining the fleet in coming months. The money saved by purchasing mini-hybrid buses will allow Metro to replace more old buses and create a greener fleet. "From now on, all of the buses we purchase will have this technology," Brown says. "We try to get 30 to 35 new buses each year. If we get funding that says we must purchase a hybrid bus, obviously we will, but the mini-hybrid buses give us a cheaper option to replace buses with a more environmentally friendly option." By Evan Wallis (Follow him on Twitter)