Wrapping Up ... Looking Forward
As we close the books on 2009 and make a final tally, I'm glad to report that the Economic Development Division (EDD) of the City of Cincinnati was able to meet the challenges of an unprecedented economic downturn with positive action.
 
Lots of challenge, lots of change.  In April, our Director, Holly Childs, accepted a position in Pittsburgh with the Green Buildings Alliance.  During her tenure, Holly assembled a team of professionals; and for the first time since our creation in 2003, EDD was fully staffed and funded.  Her enthusiasm, her creative approach and her distinct leadership style was refreshing and productive. We wish her continued success in her economic development career.
 
Moving forward in 2009, the EDD team was able to assist many Cincinnati companies with expansion, job retention and most importantly - job creation.  Firms like dunnhumby USA, First Group America, KZF Design, and Burke, Inc. moved into, or started work on, newly renovated office space. 
 
New construction activity was led by the Great American Tower at Queen City Square, which will be the tallest building in our Central Business District when it is completed in 2011.  Graeter's Manufacturing Company commenced building a new ice cream production plant in Bond Hill.  Keystone Parke in Evanston continues to grow with the addition of a new home for the American Red Cross.
 
We continue to match sites with development prospects. Children's Hospital Medical Center partnered with Al. Neyer, Inc. to renovate the former Vernon Manor Hotel into office space.  Work on that project will start in 2010. Site work at the former Mill Creek Psychiatric Center is nearly complete, with the assistance of an Ohio Jobs Ready Sites grant.  We will be aggressively marketing the 20 acre site in 2010 for development of a large research and development facility.
 
Medpace will break ground in January for the first building at the former Nutone site in Madisonville.  Within three years, Medpace will employ more than 1300 people at this international headquarters.
 
Procter and Gamble will be moving more than 600 employees into Downtown Cincinnati from suburban locations. To accommodate that move, EDD worked with the Parking Facilities Division to expand the City's parking garage at 7th and Broadway.
 
EDD is working with 3CDC to renovate the Metropole Apartments into the grandeur of the 21c Hotel on Walnut Street.  We are also working with 3CDC to develop the surface parking lot at Fifth and Race to a higher and better use.
 
2010 will continue to test our skills, and we must use creative tools and new approaches to meet the demands of the market place. As a result of the City's tight budget, EDD staff must work harder and smarter, but we are dedicated to staying competitive and maintaining Cincinnati as the premier business location in this region. 
 
EDD will improve our business retention and expansion endeavors through an improved website, e-mail updates and marketing materials. We will refine our incentive programs to target job creation opportunities. We will continue to make customer service and satisfaction one of our highest priorities. Our task is to implement the economic development policies - like GO Cincinnati -- set forth by the Mayor and City Council, and under the direction of the City Manager. To succeed, we need your input. Let us know how we might serve you company and the Cincinnati business community. Together we can achieve greatness in 2010.
 

Patrick Ewing
Interim Economic Development Director

Patrick Ewing
EDD Interim Director
Phone: (513) 352-1933
Fax: (513) 352-1566
E-mail Patrick Ewing

Jeff McElravy
Senior Development Officer
Phone: (513) 352-1561
Fax: (513) 352-1566
E-mail Jeff McElravy

Bob Bertsch
Senior Development Officer
Phone: (513) 352-3773
Fax: (513) 352-1566
E-mail Bob Bertsch