REDI Cincinnati's Five Year Strategic Plan

The future looks bright in the Cincinnati region.

REDI is leading the charge in transforming Cincinnati into a thriving economic powerhouse. Discover our strategic vision for the region and learn how we're turning it into reality.

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Riverfront Covington

How The Strategy Was Shaped

What was the process?

  • The strategy was shaped through the utilization of a three-phase planning process with Avalanche Consulting and included an evaluation of the region’s economy, the development of REDI Cincinnati’s strategic pillars and goals, and the formulation of an action plan, all guided by broad stakeholder input along the way.
  • Throughout the process, Avalanche and REDI Cincinnati engaged nearly 850 stakeholders through interviews; focus groups; a community survey; and workshops with a 40-member Steering Committee, 25-member Practitioners Advisory Group, and the REDI Cincinnati Board of Directors.
  • With REDI Cincinnati serving as the regional economic development leader, the final strategy aims to align the work of multiple organizations that together can elevate economic growth and prosperity in the Cincinnati region to its highest-ever level.
The Cincinnati Region MSA Map

Amplifying the Cincinnati Region's Unique Value Proposition

Why the Cincinnati Region?

  • The Cincinnati region possesses the unique combination of economic diversity, global connectivity, logistical advantages, excellent quality of life, and accessibility necessary to propel the region to even greater heights. These strengths, especially combined, set the region apart from its competition.
  • Perhaps most importantly, the Cincinnati region boasts an incredibly diversified economy that balances extensive advanced manufacturing capabilities with a myriad of corporate headquarter investments. Thanks to the presence of 13 Fortune 1,000 companies and leading manufacturers, no other major metropolitan area in the U.S. features a greater concentration of both management and manufacturing operations.
  • The presence of corporate titans such as Procter & Gamble and The Kroger Company provide the Cincinnati region with peerless expertise in consumer insights. Leading manufacturers such as GE Aerospace, combined with the region’s proximity to Honda and Toyota manufacturing plants, contribute to the region’s production prowess.
Big Mac Bridge

REDI Cincinnati's Guiding Pillars

The Pillars That Fuel Our Mission

  • BOOMING BUSINESS: Advance the economy. We’re helping to build the region into one of the nation’s most dynamic and globally connected economies. How: Catalyzing innovation. Attracting global expansion. Supporting existing local businesses.
  • GLOBAL BRAND: Get the word out. We’re actively promoting the Cincinnati region as a leading destination for innovative, growth-minded businesses. How: by applying our marketing and business development expertise to showcase the region’s unique strengths.
  • SITES & INFRASTRUCTURE: Build for growth. We’re working actively to support the advancement of our region’s competitive readiness through site development. How: by promoting investment to develop high-potential commercial and industrial sites.
  • TALENT HUB: Advise on talent needs. We’re supporting and uniting the Cincinnati region’s communities in their talent outreach efforts with existing businesses and prospective businesses. How: by providing talent acquisition services and pursuing initiatives to connect talent with opportunity.
  • DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION: Contribute to inclusive growth. We are weaving diversity, equity and inclusiveness into the very fabric of its culture and all its economic development work surrounding job creation and investment. How: by supporting and building sustainable relationships with businesses owned and/or led by underrepresented populations as well as those businesses located in distressed communities and multipliers that provide inclusive business solutions.
Cincinnati Region

#1 Booming Business

  • 62 % of Projected 5-Year Budget
  • Goal: Contribute to developing the Cincinnati region into one of the nation’s most dynamic and globally-connected economies.
  • Priorities: Catalyze innovation and entrepreneurial activity at the CID, Innovation Corridor, and across the Cincinnati region for increased economic growth. Continue to attract global expansions, relocations, and foreign direct investment to the Cincinnati region for job creation and increased capital investment. Support the growth and competitiveness of the Cincinnati region’s existing businesses. Collaborate with local, regional, and state partners to advance the Cincinnati region’s business competitiveness.
  • 2020 Updates: Added new Director of business development for innovation and technology in support of JobsOhio investment in CID™. Announced FDI attraction win. Revised business development plan including new targeted attraction efforts, developed a Key Accounts strategy and completed 600+ calls to companies during COVID.
  • 2021 Updates: Completed RESTART Report; Launched Biohealth Center of Excellence; Launched attraction efforts for Business Retention & Expansion, and the Cincinnati Innovation District.
Cincinnati Region

#2 Global Brand

  • 26 % of Projected 5-Year Budget
  • Goal: Promote, market, and amplify the Cincinnati region as a leading destination for business.
  • Priorities: Showcase the Cincinnati region’s unique value proposition within REDI Cincinnati’s marketing and business development tools.
  • 2020 Updates: Launched 2019 Metrics digital hub with Courier to showcase the region, 2019 metrics, and projects; Launched a new website with clear value proposition + testimonials promoting ease of doing business in the region; Began monthly email campaigns in support of Business Development’s revised COVID strategy.
  • 2021 Updates: Partnered with Cincinnati Experience on digital Business Courier hub to tell our region’s story; Developed/launched awareness digital advertising campaign on LinkedIn, Google Search/Remarketing, and programmatic; Helped develop World Cup 2026 pitch and video for FIFA Delegation visit.

#3 Sites & Infrastructure

  • 8% of Projected 5-Year Budget
  • Goal: Advance the Cincinnati region’s competitive readiness by investing in sites.
  • Priorities: Catalyze strategic investment in and development of high-potential commercial and industrial sites.
  • 2020 Updates: Performed analysis to determine inventory gaps within the region in an effort to advance Ohio Sites Inventory Program (OSIP); Leveraging regional site request data, statewide programming & competitiveness insights to develop strategy creating virtual real estate products (sites) videos highlighting premier sites; Continue to provide best practices, education, & feedback to 20+ communities and local partners regarding the site selection process; Offered regional data, insights, senior sponsorship in support of The Port’s 10-year Industrial Strategy (Mfg. District).
  • 2021 Updates: Established program parameters for Sites Revolving Loan Fund; executed service agreement with The Port; Helped Miami University & City of Oxford secure a $1.5M JobsOhio Vibrant Community Grant for startup initiative in distressed community; Initiated site identification analysis to proactively uncover potential competitive sites in the region.

#4 Talent Hub

  • 4% of Projected 5-Year Budget
  • Goal: Support and convene the Cincinnati region’s communities in their talent outreach efforts with existing businesses and prospective businesses.
  • Priorities: Implement JobsOhio’s Talent Acquisition Services Strategy within the Cincinnati region.
  • 2020 Updates: Held LEDO Roundtable to provide awareness and information on JobsOhio Talent Acquisition Services re-optimization; Created and distributed external marketing for partners on Talent Acquisition Services re-optimization; Served as an advisor on all projects and to existing businesses and regional partners in midst of COVID.
  • 2021 Updates: Partnered with JobsOhio, the DDC, and regional workforce partners to launch Ohio to Work; REDI provided talent advisory to 57 companies; offered customized talent acquisition services to 8 companies.

Washington Park

REDI's DEI Pillar#5 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

  • Goal: REDI Cincinnati will contribute to the inclusive growth of the Cincinnati region by weaving diversity, equity and inclusiveness into the very fabric of its culture and all its economic development work surrounding job creation and investment.
  • Priorities: Provide support and build sustainable relationships with businesses owned and/or led by underrepresented populations as well as those businesses located in distressed communities and multipliers that provide inclusive business solutions; Attract, expand and retain businesses owned and/or led by underrepresented populations to the Cincinnati region via Business Development resources and partnerships and celebrate their successes; Work with partners to provide displaced, underserved, and underrepresented populations with access to reskilling and employment opportunities; Provide support to distressed communities with underrepresented populations to drive development within the Cincinnati region. Provide support, training and professional development opportunities, inclusion program updates, and intelligence about other diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for REDI Cincinnati team members.
  • 2020 Updates: Executed on 16 projects utilizing the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant (35% of project total) and secured a top-half ranking in projects and funds secured.
  • 2021 Updates: REDI team participated in JEDI training (developed/conducted by RiskVersity); Secured JobsOhio Inclusion Grants for 29 companies, creating 218 jobs, 418 retained jobs, $3.7M in capital investment.

REDI Cincinnati Major 5-Year Initiatives

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Leverage the Creation of the Centers of Excellence

to pursue cutting-edge advancements and future generations of businesses.

To date:

RESTART Taskforce Econ. Dev. Sub Committee's area of focus will be on Supply Way and Biohealth

Catalyze the Cincinnati Innovation District® and the Innovation Corridor

by attracting innovative, targeted companies.

To date:

JobsOhio investment in the Cincinnati Innovation District; Launching go-to-market strategy with CID ®

Advocate for a Regional Economic Development (RED) Zone

to align incentives across state lines.

To date:

On hold

Market a Business-Oriented Aerotropolis or Subregion of Commerce

centered on the airport and take the lead on increasing opportunities with new businesses.

To date:

Conversations continuing; alignment with CVG's New Heights 5-year Strategic Plan
money

Create a Site Revolving Loan Program

that lends resources to LEDOs and others to make sites authentication-ready.

To date:

On hold due to financial constraints placed upon us by COVID