eNewsletter

KEY NEWS & INSIGHTS

Important News: In addition to the two pieces of bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tim Kaine (D – VA) and Katie Britt (R – AL) introduced to tackle child care, the Cincinnati Chamber’s Government Affairs Executive Committee voted to support the Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act, which is another bipartisan piece of legislation from Representatives Mike Carey (R-OH) and Jimmy Gomez (D-CA). All three bills will have a substantial impact on growth in our region.

Local Stories to Know: The city council approved a hotel conversion in the heart of downtown and a new affordable housing development. The City of Cincinnati updated its lobbying registration and reporting process. Hamilton is one of five Ohio counties selected for a new Child Care Stipend Pilot Project aimed at making child care more accessible.

KEY NEWS & INSIGHTS

Big News: Senators Tim Kaine (D- VA) and Katie Britt (R- AL) introduced bipartisan legislation to tackle child care.

Important News Stateside: Governor DeWine hosted a press conference on July 31st addressing the proposed Citizens Not Politicians ballot amendment aimed at changing how political districts within Ohio are drawn. Additionally, marijuana sales have begun in Ohio and sales are high.

One of our core functions at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber is to advocate for our members and our region’s business community at-large. Our Government Affairs and Advocacy team – led by my colleague Liz Keating – works hard to ensure that your voices are heard at all levels of government, shaping policies that foster growth, innovation, and a thriving economic environment.

In our ever-evolving political landscape, staying informed about policy developments and advocacy efforts is more important than ever. That’s why I am excited to introduce you to The Pulse – our Policy Updates and Legislative Strategies E-newsletter. The Pulse will provide you with timely updates, analysis, and insights on the legislative and regulatory issues that impact our region. The Pulse is designed to be your go-to resource for understanding the nuances of government actions and their implications for your business. Through this newsletter, we aim to keep you connected and informed about the issues that matter most.

KEY NEWS & INSIGHTS

Big News: The State Capital Budget and OTSCIF has been passed by both Ohio House and Senate and signed into law by Governor DeWine.

Big Wins for the Cincinnati Region: Hamilton County Convention Center ($46M), Cincinnati Open Tennis Tournament ($27.5M), University of Cincinnati – Main Campus ($42.9M), UC Health ($16.75M), Riverbend 2.0 ($8M), XU College of Osteopathic Medicine ($9.75M), Cincinnati State Technical and Community College ($6.05M), 605 Plum Convention Center Garage Renovation ($945,771), Urban League Renovation & Addition ($145,000), Blue Line Foundation HQ and Regional Training Center ($1M), Mercantile Library Improvements ($125,000), Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati ($1.4M), Cincinnati Art Museum Improvements ($1.65M), CROWN Ohio River Trail Safety Improvements ($140,000), Hamilton YWCA Domestic Violence Project ($400,000), Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Youth Mental Health Facility ($250,000), Cincinnati Music Hall Upgrades ($1M)

In the past seven months, we’ve undertaken a comprehensive effort to look at our entire organization and the work we do. We’ve updated our State of the Region report, showing the key indicators of our community, and how we stack up to peers. We’ve done qualitative and quantitative surveys to inform our process. We’ve met with hundreds of stakeholders and engaged in a public effort to lay the groundwork for this new framework.

Yesterday, we officially launched our new strategy – a clear and future-focused framework that will guide us for the next five years. This framework makes a clear statement about what we know must happen in this region. Simply and boldly, we must grow.

Last week, I encouraged you all to go vote. This week, I’m saying thank you.

Whether you voted early or showed up Tuesday to make sure you got your sticker, thank you for being civically engaged and invested in our region. Every act of civic engagement – participating in local elections, volunteering for community initiatives, serving on boards and committees, and more – contributes to the collective well-being of our region. At the Chamber, we’re especially enthusiastic about the passage of Cincinnati Issue 22, which we endorsed and supported throughout the campaign. This will allow the City to create infrastructure jobs and close the deferred maintenance gaps without raising taxes on individuals or businesses.

Do you remember your first internship? The answer usually is: “How could I forget?!” Internships are windows into the future for students, helping them understand the ways and rhythms of work, the possibilities in a career, and the way their education connects to a job.

It’s called the Dirty Nati. It’s a breakfast sandwich. You can get one at Austin and Tony Ferrari’s small business “Mom ‘n Em” in Camp Washington and Madisonville.

As I sit here today – my third day as President & CEO of the Cincinnati Chamber – I want you to know what an honor and privilege it is to lead an organization that represents our region’s business and civic leaders.

As I take stock of my 7.5 years serving as CEO at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, the overwhelming feeling I have is gratitude. I’m thankful for the opportunity, the people, the partnerships, the big ideas, and everything else that has contributed to the ongoing realization of our Future City vision.

Did you make it down to Court Street Plaza for Asian Food Fest last weekend? It was great to kick off our festival season with an amazing event that brings people together from across the region for a celebration of Asian cuisine and culture.