Cincinnati Chamber Releases 2024 State of the Region Report

What We Do >

Membership >

Talent Hub >

About >

Advocacy >

Events >

< Back

What We Do

Explore our programming, resources, and membership options that drive growth.

See how we celebrate, enliven, stimulate, and cultivate community in the region.

See how we meaningfully connect leaders and celebrate our business community

Explore the work we’re driving to move the region forward

Explore our talent solutions, including leadership programs and HR consulting

See the stories and legacies that lift our communities and inspire action

< Back

Membership

Explore membership and discover growth opportunities for you and your business

Why Chamber Membership

Join the Chamber

Feature your business with a Member Spotlight in our Weekly Connection Newsletter

These events offer members points of connection, timely insights, and solutions

Monthly Member Briefing

Member Benefits 101

< Back

Telent Hub

Explore our full suite of best-in-class leadership development programs

Explore our initiatives focused attracting, retaining, and developing talent

Explore the Workforce Innovation Center’s HR consulting services and resources

< Back

About

Learn more about our mission, vision, and values

Meet the diverse group of leaders passionately supporting our mission

Meet the people serving our region inclusively with passion, Integrity, and fun

Interested in joining our team? Check out our current openings

FAQ

Questions? Here’s a list of things we think you may want to know

Read articles and learn more about the Cincinnati Chamber through our related news articles

2025 Great Living Cincinnatians Announced by Cincinnati Regional Chamber Anderson, Lindsay, Scheper and Warner to receive region’s preeminent honor at February 27 Annual Dinner
Arena Study Findings Confirm Need for New Arena, Identify Highly Viable Sites, and Project Programming Increase in Modern Facility

< Back

Advocacy

Read articles and learn more about the Cincinnati Chamber through our related news articles

2025 Great Living Cincinnatians Announced by Cincinnati Regional Chamber Anderson, Lindsay, Scheper and Warner to receive region’s preeminent honor at February 27 Annual Dinner
Arena Study Findings Confirm Need for New Arena, Identify Highly Viable Sites, and Project Programming Increase in Modern Facility

Minority Business Accelerator Receives Major Grant as Part of National “Build to Scale” Program

he U.S. Economic Development Administration (“EDA”) announced the Minority Business Accelerator as the recipient of a $1.5MM grant as part of its recent investments to support programs that fuel innovation and tech-based economic development. The grants are part of the “Build to Scale” program, which is administered annually by the EDA and aims to accelerate technology entrepreneurship by increasing inclusive access to business support and startup capital.

The Accelerator’s application was selected among more than 235 proposals to advance high-quality job growth, create economic opportunity, and support the next generation of industry-leading companies.

“This is an incredible opportunity, and we are humbled to be selected as one of the fifty recipients,” says Darrin Redus CEO of the Minority Business Accelerator. “Our acceptance into this program will further fuel the work we are doing to grow large-scale minority business enterprises in the Cincinnati region and beyond.”

The Accelerator’s mission is to accelerate the development of sizeable minority-owned businesses and strengthen and expand the minority entrepreneurial community through access to capital and other resources to achieve sustainable growth. Since its inception the Accelerator has created a portfolio of over sixty African American and Latino-owned businesses with average annual revenues of approximately $30 million each. The Accelerator is positioned to scale its efforts through four strategic pillars: GROW firm revenues, BUILD a pipeline of high growth businesses, ATTRACT larger-scale businesses, and CREATE MBEs through acquisition. It motivates and prepares diverse leaders through a collaborative environment that encourages creativity, innovation, communication, and brokers critical connections in the business community. By October 2024, the Accelerator plans to grow the annual revenues of the region’s MBEs by $1 billion and create 2,000 new jobs, while concurrently embedding more inclusive business practices that benefit all entrepreneurs throughout the region’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

“At a time in which COVID-19 has put millions of small businesses in significant economic distress, disrupted supply chains globally, and the disproportionate impact that these events have had on minority-owned businesses, the work of the Accelerator and the broader ecosystem is more critically important than ever,” says Darrin Redus. “We must continue to build upon our momentum to bolster and ensure minority entrepreneurs endure and thrive through this season.”

About the Minority Business Accelerator
The Minority Business Accelerator (“The Accelerator”) is the flagship minority business and economic inclusion initiative of The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. Its mission is to accelerate the development of sizable minority businesses and strengthen and expand the regional minority entrepreneurial community. The Accelerator is committed to increasing regional minority business spending to over $2 Billion and the creation of 7,000 new jobs by year-end 2025. A “4 Pillar” strategy is utilized to accomplish these bold goals which includes growing the existing base of large-scale firms; creating a robust pipeline of emerging businesses; attracting targeted larger scale firms to the region; and creating new firms through the acquisition of existing mainstream businesses with no identified succession plan. For more information, visit www.minoritybusinessaccelerator.com 

Sign up for our Weekly Chamber Newsletter

Stay up to date on the latest news, developments, and events from around the Cincinnati region.

Weekly Newsletter Sign Up