Cincinnati, OH (November 15, 2018) – The Over-the-Rhine (OTR) Chamber of Commerce has announced that by the close of 2018, 46 new businesses will have joined the dining, retail, bar, personal services, entertainment venues and office sectors in Over-the-Rhine, creating 350 jobs. In the last two years, there have been a total of 85 new businesses and 650 new jobs. Eateries and offices continue to be category leaders; however, retail also emerged as a secondary industry leader this year.

Nine of the 46 businesses are minority-owned, and 14 of these businesses are women-owned. In an effort to support this growing inclusive business district, OTR Chamber is partnering with MORTAR to lead a new initiative, called Represent, to make OTR the most diverse business district in Cincinnati, and deepen the success of minority-owned businesses to drive greater economic inclusion.

Independent businesses such as OTR Bagelry, which had its first start at OTR Chamber’s Second Sunday on Main, and the Arepa Place, Findlay Kitchen’s first graduate and OTR Chamber’s most recent Business First Grant Recipient, also contributed to 2018 economic growth. This brings a total of $450,000 in grants awarded to 31 businesses since 2007. The attraction grant funds capital improvements for new businesses opening in OTR.

Those national and regional businesses who chose to expand to OTR this year include Louvino, with its first expansion outside of Louisville, Kentucky, and retailers Bonobos and Warby Parker.

"Each of these business owners are investing their time, energy and hard-work into Over-the-Rhine; many have families, are working dual-jobs, put vacations and even weddings on hold, as they recognize the importance of building their business here, to be a contributor to our local economy and understand that this neighborhood is really something special," said Kelly Adamson, Executive Director with the OTR Chamber of Commerce. “This contributes to making OTR a healthy, sustainable and inclusive business district."