As the end of 2022 draws near, our team has been reflecting about our work this year. We continue to be driven by our mission to help companies adopt inclusive practices that empower their employees, the community, and their businesses to thrive. We have made great progress towards our mission through strategic connections with the business community and our broader local and national partners. Our guiding focus remains on our vision: that the Cincinnati region is a beacon of inclusion and engagement for employees resulting in long-term financial success, innovation, and sustainability for its employers and, thereby, the community. We know that as we continue to engage employers and partners in the work to make inclusive capitalism real, we can be a model for other communities to follow.

This year, we had the opportunity to showcase our model on a national stage:

• In April, The Brookings Institute featured Cincinnati as one of the cities it profiled for “Institutionalizing inclusive growth: Rewiring systems to rebuild local economies.” In it, the case study highlights the Workforce Innovation Center for our approach to work directly with employers in the adoption of inclusive practices that benefit businesses and employees.
• In May, we announced that we had joined the Council for Inclusive Capitalism as an Ally and we invited others to join us. To date, Nehemiah Manufacturing has become a Steward and The Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati has also joined as an Ally. Three additional companies are going through the process of joining as stewards. We would love to see more local organizations join!
• In July, we were thrilled to share that we formed the Talent Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati with other local partners to become one of the newest sites to join the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
• In August, we featured our work with Hamilton County Public Health and its launch of Recovery Friendly Hamilton County, modeled after programs proven in other locations to provide practical solutions for employers to share with employees who may be struggling with substance use disorder.

Throughout these milestones, we have continued our consulting practice to guide employers through their workplace challenges as trusted partners, helping them navigate myriad challenges in today’s talent landscape. We have engaged and grown our vast network of partners in the workforce and talent ecosystem. We have added new employers to our career board and helped job seekers find employment at organizations with quality opportunities for them to grow.

We will continue these endeavors in 2023 and we know there will be new, important work for us to do. We are excited for what is ahead of us in partnership with employers and partners to create more opportunities for all.

We wish you all a peaceful holiday and a fruitful new year!

Featured Partner – United Way of Greater Cincinnati
 

With its dedicated donors, partners, volunteers and staff, United Way of Greater Cincinnati brings new voices and solutions to decades-old challenges so more families in our community thrive. As the community catalyst, UWGC drives change through investments, influence and filling gaps in services to create lasting change for families today and for future generations. UWGC does this by focusing on six investment portfolios: Housing First, NextGen Success, Equitable Economic Mobility, Improved Prevention/Stronger Communities, Ready Kids/Resilient Families and Responding to Community Needs.

Learn more about UWGC’s work in nine counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana and how you can be part of our collective community impact at UWGC.org. #LiveUnited

2022 State of the Region Report
 

In September, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s Center for Research and Data released the 2022 State of the Region Report, presented by Bank of America. The inaugural report, a first of its kind for the Cincinnati region, defines 20 key indicators and dives into a host of economic and community datasets. Brandon Rudd, Director of the Center for Research and Data, authored a guest blog for the Workforce Innovation Center, highlighting some of the State of the Region’s key data as it pertains to our work.

Connect with Us to Set Your Teams Up for Success in 2023