The recent federal shutdown has weighed heavily on many of our neighbors, and its impact is still unfolding. Even with government operations restored, the ripple effects are real. Families across the tristate are managing reduced income from furloughs and the SNAP delays, which affected millions nationwide, have likely touched an estimated 197,000 households in our region. For context, SNAP supports families earning up to 130 percent of the federal poverty level, roughly $42,000 a year for a family of four, and represents roughly $34 million in monthly assistance in the Cincinnati region.

Moments like this remind me how fortunate we are to have a strong network of local organizations ready to respond. United Way of Greater Cincinnati and Greater Cincinnati Foundation, alongside many other community partners, have mobilized quickly to meet the urgent needs of our community. For those navigating food insecurity, Freestore Foodbank and Last Mile Food Rescue continue to be reliable, steady sources of help. United Way also offers a food resource map to help individuals understand where valuable resources are located. 

Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in a resource-sharing webinar with United Way to highlight the powerful services provided by their comprehensive 211 system with community and business partners. You can catch the full discussion here and learn more about connecting those you know to critical resources and services they might need and also explore how you might support your own employees who could be struggling. Because it’s difficult to know who may be directly impacted by recent events, broad distribution of resource information is one of the simplest and most meaningful steps an employer can take, and we strongly encourage you to share these materials with your teams.

This Thanksgiving week, we are grateful to be working with colleagues, partners and employers who generously support our neighbors in need. If you or your teams need additional information on supporting your own employees, please let us know how we can help.

Happy Thanksgiving,

FEATURED EVENT

The Fifth Third Bank Leadership Symposium is the Cincinnati region’s largest and most impactful annual business event dedicated to advancing belonging and inclusion. Bringing together professionals, community leaders, and organizations, the symposium features renowned local and national thought leaders who share insights, innovative ideas, and actionable strategies to create meaningful change. Through inspiring keynote addresses, engaging panel discussions, and interactive workshops, the event empowers attendees to foster inclusivity in their personal lives, workplaces, and communities. The symposium catalyzes collaboration and progress, driving Cincinnati to a region where everyone belongs.

Join us December 10, 2025 for this year’s Fifth Third Bank Leadership Symposium. The theme is Leading Across Abilities: Integrity & Innovation for All and our keynote is Haben Girma. She is the first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School and is an award-winning advocate, author, and keynote speaker.

EMPLOYER TOURS

We are winding down our 2025 Employer Tours, but there's still plenty to explore!

Our blog features detailed recaps of every tour, including information about current job openings. If you haven’t yet, take a look at the latest entry and accompanying video recap covering our tour of Jostin Construction & Brewster Pumping to learn more about their work and the employment opportunities that they offer. 

This program is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Hamilton County, Ohio by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are grateful to the support of the Hamilton County Commissioners in funding this program.

PARTNER SPOTLIGHT

The Community Builders (TCB) is a non-profit real estate development organization founded in Boston in 1969. Since then, TCB has expanded its work to communities across the country.

Community Life is TCB’s place-based model that uses healthy and stable housing as a platform for residents to connect with community resources and opportunities to thrive. Community Life utilizes a resident-centered approach, placing residents’ experiences, agency, and opportunities at the foundation of our work. Service Coordinators and Financial Coaches are trained in resident-centered coaching to help increase a resident’s sense of agency and control.

Estate Planning Education Session & Wills Clinic: Empowering The Avondale Community for the Future

On October 21st, The Community Builders proudly hosted a full house for their Estate Planning Education Session and what an incredible turnout it was! The Community Builders thanks everyone who attended and helped make this event such a success.

Special recognition goes to the outstanding team from the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati. Their expertise and approachable style transformed what can often feel like an overwhelming topic into an empowering experience. Together, residents explored:

• Why estate planning matters for protecting your family and assets

• The role of wills and powers of attorney in securing your wishes

• How to preserve generational wealth and avoid common pitfalls

This session wasn’t just about sharing information—it was about inspiring action. Many participants left feeling confident and ready to take the next step toward safeguarding their future.

And the momentum didn’t stop there! Attendees had the opportunity to schedule appointments for the Wills Execution Clinic on November 6th, where Legal Aid attorneys returned to provide free wills to the community, a powerful step toward building financial security for generations to come.

The Workforce Innovation Center offers a wealth of services and resources to help companies improve their business practices, create a more connected regional workforce ecosystem, and strengthen the economic prosperity of the Greater Cincinnati Region. From customized consulting services to tours of quality local employers, our services and resources are designed to assist you in addressing your workforce and talent needs, whatever they may be. Click a section below to learn more!

NEWS OF INTEREST

See How the Average U.S. Worker Has Changed Over 250 Years – The Wall Street Journal

It’s time to reimagine workforce development – Fast Company

Governor DeWine, Lt. Governor Tressel Announce Recipients of $7.1 Million Grant to Establish Career Pathway Support Networks | Governor Mike DeWine

Work-life balance finally outranks pay as a top motivator for job seekers, but CEOs aren’t sold - Fortune

Recent college grads face highest unemployment rate in decades - Cincinnati Business Courier

Tens of Thousands of White-Collar Jobs Are Disappearing as AI Starts to Bite - The Wall Street Journal

Some Workers Want to Redefine their Workday with Microshifts - SHRM

A growing disconnect means millions of job postings never result in a hire – Cincinnati Business Courier

The second-act career is surging, here’s how to do it right – Cincinnati Business Courier

United Way’s Response to SNAP Benefit Disruption in Greater Cincinnati – United Way of Greater Cincinnati

Holiday Hiring Slows, Frustrating Job Seekers – The New York Times

Unemployment hits four-year high, but data paints a messy, mixed picture - Axios