"Breathe" ing, Celebrating and Supporting Small Business"

Today, I'm going to Breathe . Which is to say I'll be at the Cincinnati Nature Center with my fellow participants in the Chamber's newest leadership program, "Breathe." ?Sponsored by Paycor and Interact for Health , and in partnership with Osher Center at UC and others, we'll focus on mental and physical wellbeing and how we as leaders can create a culture of wellness in our organizations. It's an important initiative, and hugely critical to talent in our region.?

?You should know that last night we celebrated the winners of the CLIMB awards. This program, now in its 7th year, and in partnership with the Cincinnati Business Courier and the Minority Business Accelerator , celebrated 14 organizations doing effective and impressive work to support inclusion, belonging, and minority-owned business growth. You can read all about the winners in the Courier today.

?As of Tuesday night, we have some newly?elected officials whom we will partner with to grow our region.?Congratulations to new Congressman-elect?David Taylor (OH-2)?from Clermont County, our new U.S.?Senator-elect Bernie Moreno (a former small business owner in Ohio), and new Hamilton?County Prosecutor-elect,?Connie Pillich, as well as several?other new judges, state legislators, and county officeholders throughout our region. And headed to the Naval Observatory as the nation's next Vice President is Cincinnatian and Ohio's Junior Senator,?J.D. Vance. We fully expect VP-elect Vance's new position will bring a spotlight?to our region, and with that?brings opportunity. I'll note that we will get started building the companion to the Brent Spence Bridge with a VP?of the United States who has driven over our famous bridge many times himself! We'll have more news about the coming months in the Government Affairs and Advocacy world in our newsletter "The Pulse" which you can sign up for here.?

Before you go, check out the new Duke Energy Foundation Small Business Grant program we are launching today! It's a generous and helpful support for small businesses who need help to grow. ?

?We are proud to work on your behalf every day, even when the daylight is short and the work is hard. Together, we are going to achieve our vision of a growing, thriving region where everyone belongs. ?

?Have a great weekend!

DUKE ENERGY & CHAMBER OFFERING $5,000 GRANTS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

The Cincinnati Regional Chamber Foundation, in partnership with the @Duke Energy Foundation, is offering a grant program that will provide a total of $25,000 in financial assistance for small businesses located in Ohio counties within the Cincinnati region.

Through the grant application process, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber will be selecting and distributing five grants of $5,000 each to qualifying recipients. The funds, made available by the Duke Energy Foundation, should be used towards efforts to improve the vitality of their business. Examples range from capital improvements, payroll support, expansion investments, and other growth-related efforts. Applications are due by the end of day on November 22, 2024.

CENTER FOR RESEARCH & DATA

Learn more about the Center for Research & Data

The Workforce Innovation Center’s recent report, in collaboration with the Center for Research & Data at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber , features insights on Gen Z college graduates in the workforce and sheds light on where recent graduates are coming from and where they’re going. This week, we’re focusing on popular destinations for recent graduates leaving the Cincinnati region. Columbus tops the list, followed by Chicago and Cleveland. Some moves, like those to Columbus and Cleveland, may reflect graduates returning to their hometowns.

?Overall, approximately 58.4% of local college graduates move out of Cincinnati after completing their degrees, compared to 59.9% in Columbus and 57.0% in Cleveland.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS & ADVOCACY

The Chamber Advocacy Council offers a platform for Chamber members of various sizes, industries, and backgrounds to actively participate in discussions concerning government, politics, and policy. Join us at our next Chamber Advocacy Council – Post-Election Re-cap where you will hear from Jessie Balmert and Haley BeMiller , both reporters with the USA Today Network Ohio Bureau, as they reflect on the results of several key races and ballot issues from the November Ballot.?

Jessie Balmert covers state government and politics for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal, and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio. Haley BeMiller is a state government and politics reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau. Before arriving in Ohio, she reported on local government and politics in Wisconsin and covered the Illinois General Assembly. She was named a Livingston Award finalist in 2021.

?If you're a Chamber member seeking to establish connections and cultivate relationships with elected officials and policymakers across all levels of government, you don’t want to miss this opportunity!

WORKFORCE INNOVATION CENTER

Attracting, engaging, and retaining talent is consistently rated a top priority for Cincinnati Chamber members. We're excited to share this profile of the Workforce Innovation Center at The Cincinnati Regional Chamber ’s client, Jostin Construction , which is beating the industry average for turnover after implementing the Workforce Innovation Center's strategies to help them strategically support and engage their employees and achieve their business goals.

?Jostin engaged with the Center to learn more about their employees' perspectives about work and also what personal circumstances might be affecting them. They also reviewed and updated their policies to better attract and retain talent. Watch this video to learn more about Jostin's success.

Interested in learning how the Center might support your company with similar results, contact Audrey Treasure .?

REALM FALL 2024

A smashing time was had again in Mason in August, as the?Cincinnati Open ?exceeded expectations and broke attendance records in the second year under Beemok Capital’s ownership. Read about the Lindner Family Tennis Center improvements that debuted this summer and those still to come in the Fall issue of Realm, the journal for Queen City CEOs from Cincinnati Magazine.

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