Ohio is watching Greater Cincinnati—and the view is good

When we learned that JobsOhio President J.P. Nauseef would tour Ohio’s six major regions in May, REDI Cincinnati mobilized with one main objective: Make sure he leaves Greater Cincinnati with a clear understanding of our three-state region’s unique position and potential, especially as it relates to talent and sites—the key drivers of economic success. With our goal in mind, we got to work.

First on the agenda was engaging the local business community by gathering top leaders, economic development professionals and elected officials from throughout Southwest Ohio. In this setting, communities shared with Mr. Nauseef their proudest achievements, most pressing priorities and remaining hurdles to success.

Meanwhile, our region’s commitment to accelerating business attraction and retention was on full display, as we took took Mr. Nauseef on a tour that highlighted our innovative approach to developing talent and shovel-ready sites.

Touring our regional real-estate assets, Mr. Nauseef saw firsthand the impact of our partnership with Laura Brunner and The Port, which plays a critical role in regional economic success by preparing sites for REDI Cincinnati to market to locationally active companies. Speed to market is often a key consideration, and without this vital partnership, we would not have world-class sites to promote. On a personal note, I always enjoy viewing these places through the eyes of a visitor. I’m proud of how far our region has come in answering the call for more and diverse locations that support business growth while invigorating their surrounding communities. 

Later, we detailed for Mr. Nauseef our partnership with the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, who, under Jill Meyer’s leadership, is investing in non-traditional solutions to drive tech talent and fill the pipeline with qualified workers across all industries. In one shining example of collaboration around talent and location, University of Cincinnati Chief Innovation Officer David Adams showcased the 1819 Innovation Hub, emphasizing the importance of giving business, education and talent a place to converge for the future.

Mr. Nauseef left with a clear understanding that Greater Cincinnati’s exceptional ecosystem of organizations and communities share a vision for the region’s economic development success. He sees each entity playing an essential role in expanding growth and opportunity in Southwest Ohio, and this close collaboration is now a trademark of how business is done in the region.

It’s my challenge, to every leader in this amazing place we call home, to take a page from Mr. Nauseef’s playbook and get more curious and involved in regional economic development. In the coming weeks, REDI Cincinnati will call on our regional business community to provide input in creating our five-year strategic economic development plan. Through continued collaboration from our partner organizations, we can drive talent, site development and economic success in our region for generations to come.