Earlier this month, the Cincinnati region was highlighted by the Brookings Institution as a region that is prioritizing inclusive economic growth. The recently released study, “Institutionalizing inclusive growth: Rewiring systems to rebuild local economies,” featured Heartland cities and focused on their initiatives that leverage public, private, and civic efforts to build inclusive local economies.
The Workforce Innovation Center was recognized for our innovative approach to help companies adopt inclusive and effective practices that benefit their business and our community as a whole. We are thrilled that the case study also recognized other Cincinnati Chamber initiatives including Apprenti Cincinnati for encouraging employers to adopt new pipelines for untapped talent in the tech space and the Minority Business Accelerator for their success growing, building, attracting, and creating minority-owned enterprises in the region.
Outside of the Cincinnati Chamber, Cincinnati’s case study included the great work of Lightship Foundation and Mortar to invest in underrepresented entrepreneurs, 3CDC’s important and long-running efforts to invest in downtown and Over-the-Rhine, and the University of Cincinnati’s investment in inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship via the Cincinnati Innovation District.
We were pleased to be able to share our story with the great team at Brookings Metro and to be featured with the other cities in the report. It’s incredibly exciting to be in the Cincinnati region right now, working with employers and partners alongside our peers outlined in the case study to make our community more economically equitable for all.
AUDREY TREASURE
VP & Executive Director Workforce Innovation Center | Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber
Audrey Treasure joined the Cincinnati Chamber in December of 2018 as VP and Executive Director of the Workforce Innovation Center. In her role, she has established the Center as a central place to support companies in solving challenges, recruiting new sources of talent, and implementing inclusive capitalism practices within businesses to benefit their organizations and to support the people that they employ.
Audrey previously served as Senior Director at the Cincinnati Business Committee and the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, membership organizations comprised of the Cincinnati Region’s top CEOs. In earlier roles, Audrey worked as the Advancement and Strategic Partnerships Officer at Antioch University Midwest, the Senior Director at Junior Achievement of Georgia, and as a Teach for America Corps Member in Chicago and Atlanta. Audrey serves on the board of 4C for Children, on the Selection Advisory Committee for GreenLight Fund Cincinnati, as a member of the Center for Employment Opportunities Cincinnati advisory committee, and is the Treasurer and founding board member of School Board School. Audrey completed her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University in Spanish and Nonprofit Management and has a Master of Arts in Management and Change Leadership from Antioch University.
