Small science is becoming big business for the Queen City. The University of Cincinnati has joined forces with a local innovate businesses to transfer some of today's most cutting edge science in the nanotechnology field from lab to market.
New policy set out by the Obama administration is placing more of a focus on urban circulator transportation projects that promote livability. The action places Cincinnati's streetcar project among those that could qualify for new funding. Some 80 cities are qualified for the new urban circulator money, but of those 80 about a dozen are "very close" to actually implementing such a system. One of those "very close" cities is Cincinnati as it works to develop its own modern streetcar system that will initially run between Downtown, Over-the-Rhine and Uptown. Read full article here.
In an attempt to get more foot traffic for their cupcakery business, Abby Girl Sweets' owners, Nathan and Andrea Thompson, decided to relocate from Oakley to the heart of downtown Cincinnati directly across the street from Macy's and just a half-block away from Fountain Square. So far the move has been a success according to Nathan who says that the cupcakery often sells out of its freshly made products by the end of each day. Named after the Thompson's daughter, Abby Girl Sweets follows much of the same methodology that the growing world of cupcakeries follow. Their cupcakes are made from scratch with fresh ingredients and baked fresh every day. Each day customers can find a selection of 12 different cupcake flavors, and one special flavor of the week cupcake. Cupcakes cost $2.75 each, or they can be purchased in half-dozen quantities for $15. Cupcakes can be ordered in advance for large or specialty orders by calling (513) 335-0898 or emailing cupcakes@abbygirlsweets.com. Abby Girl Sweets (map) is open Monday through Friday from 11am to 6pm. You can also stay connected with special offers, weekly flavors, and other happenings by following @AbbyGirlSweets on Twitter. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
Marty's Hops & Vines is the latest business to open in College Hill's historic business district. The new proprietor of upscale wine and beer joins Shhhhh Restaurant which opened up in the business district this past May. Located at 6110 Hamilton Avenue (map), Marty's Hops & Vines occupies a 2,100 square-foot building previously occupied by the Jr. Order of Mechanics. After a six month renovation project the building has been transformed into one of the district's assets - something that makes owner and neighborhood booster Marty Weldishofer very proud. "My love of College Hill, and my belief that people want to shop locally and with people who they know and trust to give them good advice, is what drove the partnership to renovate this historic building and open Marty's Hops & Vines," said Weldishofer. The shop includes some 200 varieties of wines from all over the world and more than 150 kinds of beer. There is also a small selection of food items and a bar and seating area to accommodate guests who might be taking advantage of one of Marty's Hops & Vines' wine tastings, food or wine demonstrations which are all still in the planning stages. Weldishofer states that a calendar will be made public soon with all information surrounding these events and more. "Our selection is unique and we think we've created an environment where friends can gather and talk about wine, beer and whatever else," exclaimed Weldishofer. Prior to opening of Marty's Hops & Vines, Weldishofer was most well-known for his dedicated work for College Hill where he fought for action against abandoned buildings, absentee landlords, and helped secure and administer more than $500,000 in facade improvement money for the College Hill business district. Working with Marty is his wife Kate and a staff of three others. Marty's Hops & Vines is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11am to 10pm; Friday and Saturday from 11am to 11pm; and is closed on Sunday and Monday. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
The Fine Arts Fund and Artworks have both settled in to one of the last remaining spots along Central Parkway in the historic Hale Justis Building. The location is one that leaders of two of Cincinnati's most prominent arts organizations feel is a dynamic and growing arts district. "It feels like we've completed the area there along Central Parkway with all the arts organizations and businesses," said Margy Waller, Vice President of the Arts & Culture Partnership. "A lot of people have already told us they're very happy that we filled this space." The Fine Arts Fund (FAF) is moving their 28 employees to the 10,000 square-foot second-floor space in Over-the-Rhine from their previous Hyde Park office where they had been for 35 years. "The world has changed around us, and it has become evident to pretty much everyone that a move to the downtown area in this emerging arts district made a lot of sense," said Margy Waller, Vice President of the Arts & Culture Partnership who also said that the central location made it quite desirable. Artworks will be moving 8 full-time employees into their roughly 8,000 square-foot first-floor space. One of the big differences, though, for both the FAF and Artworks is the contiguous and flexible space within the Hale Justis Building. "We're now all on one floor and have separate project space for individual and group artist projects," said Artworks Director Tamara Harkavy. "The new space creates a much more dynamic and engaging process." "It's more necessary than ever to have this cross-functional activity taking place due to our expanding role in the community," said Waller who touted the new "huddle spaces" and "doodle room" complete with white wall for drawing and writing out ideas. The move also meant the elimination of a lot of office materials and furniture that the FAF no longer needs with the new flexible space. As a result the FAF has donated the unneeded office materials and furniture to roughly 13 different local non-profit groups. Harkavy concluded that, "In the end, the sum total of both of our organizations moving here represents a huge investment to Over-the-Rhine and the urban core." Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
Even in the digital age, location is critical to a branding business. Resource Interactive, a leading Columbus-based digital marketing firm, recently opened a Cincinnati office on Pete Rose Way. Chief Operating Officer Nancy Koors named recruiting and Procter and Gamble business as top motivators for Resource Interactive's local expansion. "I live in Northern Kentucky, and there's a lot of talent in that market." A third office is slated to open by the end of February in Palo Alto, California.Koors explained that the Cincinnati office currently houses ten, but has room for thirty. "We're hiring more personnel across the board - everything from account strategy, to creative, to insights planning."CEO Nancy Kramer founded Resource Interactive in 1981, just five years after graduating from Ohio State. The agency's clients include Apple, HP, Victoria's Secret, Coke, and LLBean. Two leading marketing books, The Ten Demandments: Rules to Live By in the Age of the Demanding Consumer and The Open Brand: When Push Comes to Pull in a Web-Made World, were written by Kelly Mooney, Resource's Chief Experience Officer. Resource Interactive specializes in unique ecommerce solutions like mobile marketing and augmented reality 3D video models. "We're looking at new devices, such as Apple's Tablet and Amazon's Kindle. How can brands utilize these technologies?" said Koors. A Resource innovation called Off the Wall allows companies to build a fan base on Facebook, then offer special deals and purchasing on the company's Facebook wall.Business First, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, and the Wall Street Journal have recognized Resource Interactive as a "Best Place to Work." This reputation gives Resource a powerful recruiting reach, and bodes well for the future of creative advertising in Cincinnati. Koors had worked for leading regional ad agency March First before it went out of business, and relishes being on the leading edge again with Resource. "For me, personally, it's fun to offer a presence in this market."Writer: Elena StevensonSource: Nancy Koors, Chief Operating Officer, Resource Interactive
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The Cincinnati-Hamilton County NSP2 Consortium (CHCHC) has landed more than $24 million for neighborhood stabilization efforts in seven different communities throughout Hamilton County. The awarded money is a result of a successful grant proposal put together by the consortium this past summer and is part of the second round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding. Made up of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County and The Model Group; the consortium works together with the purpose of redeveloping specific neighborhoods and communities within Hamilton County. Within city of Cincinnati Avondale, East Price Hill, Evanston and the Northside neighborhoods will receive funding while Golf Manor, Lincoln Heights, and Mt. Healthy receive funding elsewhere throughout Hamilton County. Some see the use of these funds as a threat to historic properties that make Cincinnati unique, and that it could cost the region down the road. As part of the application, CHCHC has committed to not exceeding a 10 percent threshold for demolition activities, but has proposed demolition of blighted structures in all seven of the targeted areas. According to the CHCHC, the targeted communities have lower economic indicators that result in higher numbers of homes that end up vacant. This in combination with overwhelmed local code enforcement agencies has led to homes becoming blighted that work as a destabilization factor in the neighborhoods. Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper sees the $24 million from the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a great opportunity for communities throughout Hamilton County that have been hit hard during the housing crisis saying that, "this competitive grant will allow us to clean up vacant, blighted and abandoned properties in some of our hardest hit communities." "Those funds are going to help us have a big impact on Cincinnati neighborhoods," Mayor Mark Mallory said. "We will be taking properties that are dragging down our communities and turn them into new housing opportunities that will strengthen our city."Writer: Randy A. SimesStay connected by following Randy on Twitter @UrbanCincy
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Cincinnati's Freestore Foodbank not only provides food for the needy, but it also provides culinary arts training for at-risk, low-income people. The organization's Cincinnati Cooks program is in its 9th year and has graduated 650 people. Of those 650 graduates some 500 have been successfully placed into food-related jobs and hopes to grow as they move into a new building in downtown Cincinnati. The plan is to increase food production and increase the number of participants in the Cincinnati Cooks program. Read full article here.
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