REALM Cincinnati Magazine

1K Standing inside a laboratory in Lebanon, Ohio, MANE’s Senior Vice President for Research and Development Rob Wieland grabs a jar off a shelf in front of him and unscrews the lid. “What do you smell?” he asks. A scent of almond wafts from the jar. He opens another. Butter. And another. Banana.

524 Cincinnati is an economic powerhouse, home to Procter & Gamble, Kroger, GE Aviation, Children’s Hospital, Fifth Third Bank, University of Cincinnati, and other large employers. The region markets itself as a hub of industry and opportunity. And yet daily life here can be complicated. According to the most recent U.S. Census data, about one in four Cincinnati residents lives below the poverty line.

904 The most expensive acquisition in Fifth Third’s history will undoubtedly transform the future of Cincinnati’s biggest bank. But one impact is already apparent: busier workers in Post Offices across Texas. Fifth Third is dropping millions of direct mail flyers to homes and businesses in the communities served by Comerica, the big Dallas-based bank it just acquired. The brand is a relative unknown there, but that’s expected to change quickly.

361 Recently, I spoke at an Alloy Development Co. event and I said to the attendees, “I want you to understand that we cannot take growth for granted. As a matter of fact, we have to defend growth, advocate for growth, and take action to spur growth.” The people in these pages are those who are taking action to spur growth across our region.

401 The Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s recent acquisition of ColdIron Events and Rentals is a win/win/win for the city’s business community: expanding the area’s vibrant special events scene, offering new benefits to Chamber members and area businesses, and solidifying the Chamber’s financial outlook by adding a new revenue stream.

259 While other centennial businesses tout innovation as the secret to long-term success, Zip’s Café has embraced the opposite. For generations, the cozy burger cove on Mt. Lookout Square has offered little variation to its tried-and-true staples: burgers, beer, and a friendly “third space” atmosphere for casual connection. “What we do best is consistency and simplicity,” says Mike Burke, Zip’s sixth owner and a Mt. Lookout native.

375 DO YOU HAVE A GENERAL DIRECTION FOR HOW YOU’RE PLANNING TO USE THESE FUNDS? As a mission-driven Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), Cincinnati Development Fund strengthens underserved neighborhoods and improves lives through innovative financing. Our New Markets Tax Credit work supports neighborhood revitalization, nonprofit facilities, and job creation while driving and leveraging capital where it is most needed.

370 FotoFocus Center is the new physical headquarters for the nonprofit organization that in 2010 launched FotoFocus programming to celebrate photography and lens-based art. Located on the corner of Sycamore and Liberty streets in Over-the-Rhine, the building opens to the public on May 29.

271 HOW IS WORKOHIO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS? WorkOhio is built around a community-centered approach. Over the past year, I’ve traveled to every corner of the state to sit down with local business, education, and community leaders. We learned that Ohio has a lot of momentum, but too many Ohioans simply aren’t aware of the opportunities available or how to take advantage of them. WorkOhio acts as a “front door” for anyone who wants to take the next step in their career journey.

433 Cincinnati’s downtown Convention District has operated without an anchor hotel for years, one of a number of drawbacks that resulted in missed economic investment opportunities in the form of tourism, shows, events, and conventions that similar-sized cities were able to attract more easily. With the renovated First Financial Center now opened and the Elm Street Plaza making its debut, attention moves across Fifth Street to construction of the new Marriott headquarters hotel.