REDI Cincinnati earns three OEDA Excellence Awards
CINCINNATI – Oct. 7, 2022 – The Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) conferred three of its annual Excellence Awards, which recognize the achievements of individuals and organizations in Ohio in the areas of economic and workforce development, to REDI Cincinnati. REDI’s rebranding and collateral development project won its category, while the joint #RepTheMidwest Digital Campaign with the Kansas City Area Development Coalition (KCADC) and the Foundry Redevelopment project, a collaboration between REDI, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), the City of Cincinnati, JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development, both received runner-up status. The accolades were presented to REDI on Thursday during OEDA’s Annual Summit.
“Each of these honors directly reflects two of our strategic pillars, making the Cincinnati region a global brand as a leading destination for growing businesses and advancing the regional economy through booming business,” said Kimm Lauterbach, president and CEO, REDI Cincinnati. “Congratulations to our staff and partners for receiving the awards and thank you to everyone who supported these projects.”
REDI Cincinnati’s Rebranding and Industry Collateral Development
REDI Cincinnati’s collaboration with its design partner Bloom Creative Group to establish a refreshed brand and generate industry collateral to support REDI’s business cultivation efforts was recognized as the overall category winner of the 2022 Excellence in Marketing & Communications award. The collective effort between REDI and Bloom resulted in a series of printed marketing collaterals, including an Annual Report, an array of sell sheets targeted to core industries, a set of comprehensive brochures, and a pocket folder to house the assets. REDI’s Global Business Development, Project Management and Engagement teams employ the materials as part of their attraction efforts for companies looking to expand within the region, locate to the region or invest in REDI’s efforts to grow the regional economy.
The rebranding and collateral development initiative also recently garnered recognition from the International Economic Development Council as a bronze award winner in its 2022 Excellence in Economic Development Awards
“Receiving awards at both the international and state levels for the rebranding and industry collateral development project indicate the quality of the final products, and that is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the REDI team and our partners at Bloom Creative,” said Gina Rittinger, vice president of marketing and strategic communications, REDI Cincinnati.
REDI Cincinnati’s #RepTheMidwest Joint Campaign with KCADC
The #RepTheMidwest digital campaign represented a shared effort between REDI Cincinnati and KCADC. The campaign leveraged the January 30, 2022, AFC Championship game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals as a platform to bring national awareness to the strength and viability of the Cincinnati and Kansas City regions and drive donations to local charities focused on economic development initiatives. A joint press release kicked off the campaign and was followed with blog posts from each organization’s CEO, REDI’s Lauterbach and Tim Cowden of KCADC, and four days of social media content highlighting the mutual strengths of Cincinnati, Kansas City and the Midwest overall.
A friendly wager between REDI Cincinnati and KCADC, with local charities in the city of the winning team receiving donations from both organizations, was also a vital component of the campaign.
“Collaborating with Tim and his team at KCADC to showcase both of our great cities and the Midwest region as a whole surrounding the AFC Championship game was an opportunity too good to pass up,” stated Lauterbach. “While the game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs was a competitive affair, we wanted to present the vitality and robust ecosystems of our regions in a positive light, and that included highlighting the philanthropic nature ever present in both cities.”
“Any time we can partner with a highly respected organization like REDI to benefit the greater good in both our regions, we’re all in,” said Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC). “It’s a true testament of our teams’ creativity, ability to think differently and act fast to leverage a time when the world is talking about our markets.”
The Foundry Redevelopment
Collaboration was once again key in renovating The Foundry in Cincinnati’s urban core to attract a rapidly growing business such as Divisions Maintenance Group (DMG), a full-service facility maintenance and service provider that has set its sights on becoming a $1 billion enterprise in the Cincinnati region. Together, Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), the City of Cincinnati, REDI Cincinnati, JobsOhio and the Ohio Department of Development partnered to bring the flourishing company on as a tenant, fueling downtown Cincinnati’s overall growth.
3CDC first convened city, regional and state-level partners to discuss the conversion of the former Macy’s-anchored Fountain Place. With agreement from all partners, work began to convert Fountain Place into The Foundry—a modern $51 million mixed-use development, which was supported by JobsOhio’s Ohio Site Inventory Program (OSIP) and the City of Cincinnati. DMG’s decision to locate to The Foundry will create 256 new jobs in fields such as engineering, data analytics and IT, and includes an investment of $4.5 million in improvements. In total, nearly 600 DMG employees will infuse downtown Cincinnati.
“The Central Business District continues to grow and thrive, rapidly earning a reputation as a destination location for growing businesses,” stated Kevin Donnelly, vice president of project management, REDI Cincinnati. “The collective work from the City of Cincinnati, 3CDC, JobsOhio, the Ohio Department of Development and REDI Cincinnati was instrumental in attracting a burgeoning company like DMG, which only further enhances the vibrancy in Downtown Cincinnati.”
“From our city’s low cost of doing business to the proximity of nine Fortune 1000 companies to its highly rated livability amenities, including recognition as one of America’s Next Great Food Cities and our dynamic arts scene, Cincinnati has the best combination for businesses,” stated Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval. “The redevelopment of The Foundry adds another crown jewel to a vibrant Central Business District, and Divisions Maintenance Group’s decision to grow here is a testament to the vitality of our business district. This honor is a tribute to the effort put forth by all the organizations and individuals that brought the redevelopment to fruition.”
“The Foundry is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility right in the heart of Downtown Cincinnati,” said Markiea Carter, director of the department of community and economic development, City of Cincinnati. “Attracting a company of Divisions Maintenance Group’s caliber further validates the attractiveness of our downtown and injects even more vibrancy to the area.”
“Completion of The Foundry, and the subsequent attraction of DMG, is among a long list of revitalization projects that strengthen the Central Business District,” said Steve Leeper, 3CDC president and CEO. “It’s an exciting time for the business district and Downtown Cincinnati, and we are beyond pleased to have DMG as a tenant in one of our most prominent buildings.”
“Ohio, including the City of Cincinnati, provides a strong business climate and quality of life that are attractive to both companies and employees,” remarked J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “Redevelopment at The Foundry and Divisions Maintenance Group’s relocation to the facility further solidifies Ohio as a destination for companies looking to improve their competitive position.”
“Moving to The Foundry allows us to bring all of our employees to one location and provide them with access to the best resources and top-of-the-line facilities, which better positions them to drive the innovation and growth of DMG,” commented company founder and CEO Gary Mitchell. “The conveniences afforded by The Foundry, including access to other Downtown businesses and amenities, assist with employee retention and recruitment.”
About REDI Cincinnati
The Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) Cincinnati is the first point-of-contact for companies locating or growing in the 16-county region at the heart of southwest Ohio, northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana. REDI Cincinnati is supported by top business leaders and community partners and staffed by a team of economic development experts who are uniting the Cincinnati region to compete globally.
The future is bright, and we’re building it, right now. Join us at REDICincinnati.com.
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