CINCINNATI — June 24, 2025 — The Cincinnati Regional Chamber is pleased to announce the return of Storefronts to the Forefront, a unique partnership with Duke Energy and The Huntington National Bank to promote increased visibility of small businesses in our region. This initiative has recognized and promoted small businesses in over 20 local neighborhoods since its inception.
Now in its fourth year, Storefronts to the Forefront will provide seven $5,000 grants to existing storefront businesses in East End, Montgomery, Northgate, St. Bernard and West End in Ohio and Covington and Falmouth in Kentucky. Recipients will be able to use the funds for capital improvements, marketing support, expansion investments, or other growth-related efforts.
Here are the seven grant recipients:
- Wyatt’s Supermarket, Falmouth, KY
- Walker Brothers Ice Cream, Montgomery, OH
- Ollie’s Trolley, West End, OH
- Daylily, East End, OH
- Dots Fine Shoe Repair, Bernard, OH
- Strasse Dog, Covington, KY
- Bike 513, Northgate, OH
The Cincinnati Regional Chamber will lead a robust marketing program to support storytelling in each district. The Cincinnati Chamber, Duke Energy, and Huntington Bank will co-promote one business district each month, highlighting the grant recipient in each neighborhood and entrepreneurship through Cincinnati Chamber publications, social media, email, and other outlets. In addition, one business per month will be featured in a lifestyle segment on our Media Partner FOX 19. The first neighborhood to be featured will be Falmouth, KY.
“Small businesses like those we recognize in our Storefronts to the Forefront initiative serve their communities and create a vibrant, prosperous region where everyone belongs each and every day,” said Brendon Cull, president, & CEO, Cincinnati Regional Chamber. “We’re grateful for partners like Duke Energy and The Huntington National Bank who prioritize the growth and success of small business in our region through this program with their work each day.”
“We are proud to be a founding partner of the Storefronts to the Forefront program. Lifting up the small businesses in local communities that make our region a great place to live, work and play is a critical part of the work we do at Duke Energy,” said Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “We’re thrilled to work with the Chamber and The Huntington National Bank to continue doing just that.”
“At Huntington, one of our core tenet is to help businesses thrive, which results in their growth, better support in their communities and drive economic impact for our region,” said Tony Johnson, Market President for Kentucky, “Storefronts to the Forefronts spotlights the people – the entrepreneurs — who make this sector flourish. We thank them for their contributions and look forward to seeing how they continue to grow and thrive well into the future.”
For more information, visit www.storefrontstotheforefront.com
###
About the Cincinnati Regional Chamber
The Cincinnati Regional Chamber is the premier business and civic organization dedicated to growing the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. To achieve its vision that Cincinnati is a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs, the Chamber seeks to grow our economy, grow our population, and grow our cultural vibrancy — with the foundation of a strong business community — to foster a welcoming environment for all. For more information, visit www.cincinnatichamber.com.
Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky
Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 900,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.
About Huntington
Huntington Bancshares Incorporated (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a $210 billion asset regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, The Huntington National Bank and its affiliates provide consumers, small and middle‐market businesses, corporations, municipalities, and other organizations with a comprehensive suite of banking, payments, wealth management, and risk management products and services. Huntington operates 968 branches in 13 states, with certain businesses operating in extended geographies. Visit Huntington.com for more information.
Contact: Amy Fitzgibbons, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Cincinnati Regional Chamber afitzgibbons@cincinnatichamber.com | 513.579.3106
