Media Contacts:
 
Kelly Adamson                     or         Bridget Castellini
513-470-1379                                   513-515-9673
[email protected]                     [email protected]
 
For Immediate Release
April 29, 2021
 
OVER-THE-RHINE CHAMBER AND AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER LAUNCH CINCINNATI’S INAUGURAL SMALL BUSINESS WEEK 
 
The May 3rd - May 9th Week is Creating the Framework 
to Support Small Business All Year Round
          
The Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce (OTRCC) and the African-Amercian Chamber of Commerce (AACC), have partnered up to create Cincinnati’s first official Small Business Week, which runs May 3rd - May 9th, 2021. Each year, the Small Business Administration (SBA) designates the first week in May as SBA's National Small Business Week, so the two organizations decided to launch an official Cincinnati Small Business Week, to help Cincinnati’s small businesses and small business districts quickly recover and honor the role they play in strengthening Cincinnati’s economy and culture. 
 
For the inaugural year, the leaders of two organizations, Kelly Adamson, OTRCC’s Executive Director and Eric H. Kearney, AACC’s CEO, are maintaining the mindset of “simple yet informative,” with the goal of growing Cincinnati Small Business Week each year.
 
“The experience of guiding OTR’s small business community through a pandemic opened my eyes to the real need to establish a culture of small business support throughout our entire city,” Adamson said. “as many small businesses survived because the people in our community gave that extra effort to help them. One goal of creating Small Business Week is to encourage a change in shopping habits for the long-haul, hopefully resulting in more people carrying the “shop small” mentality year-round.”
 
“As the African American Chamber celebrates its 25th anniversary, we celebrate the contributions of the many small businesses, including those that are minority-owned and operated, throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky communities,” said Kearney. “We are proud to partner with the Over-the-Rhine Chamber to promote our region’s small businesses, especially as they begin to emerge from the uncertainty of the pandemic.”
 
Cincinnati’s Small Business Week will officially kick-off Monday, May 3rd with a press conference at Washington Park Porch at 10 a.m. to announce a week of activities to support small businesses in all of Cincinnati. The press conference will include details on the following:
  • A resolution recognizing Cincinnati Small Business Week, sponsored by City Councilman Chris Seelbach, will be put forth at the May 5th City Council meeting.
  • A new website to be launched Friday April 30th, cincysmallbiz.com, listing celebrations and promotions going on throughout the week.
  • How the OTRCC and AACC are calling on small businesses and small business district leaders to share their events, specials and promotions by submitting them here.
  • All neighborhood businesses district leaders are encouraged to host happy hours, walking tours and spotlight their small businesses through social media. 
  • How residents can come together to support small businesses this week and beyond.
OTR Chamber Small Business Week Celebrations
The OTR Chamber is celebrating Small Business Week by hosting their annual OTR Made Awards and launching a digital campaign dubbed “OTR’s Spring Showcase” celebrating the diverse and inspiring landscape that continues to grow in each of the unique districts of OTR. Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @otrchamber and more information to come at otrchamber.com. The first week in May also includes celebrations for Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day and Asian Food Week. 
 
AACC Small Business Week Celebrations
The African American Chamber will recognize Small Business Week with a series of events to help support owners and operators of small businesses throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Events include a May 5th workshop to assist businesses in creating a virtual tour, followed later that day with an in-person networking happy hour at Esoteric Brewing. A marketing 101 workshop will be hosted by Morgan Owens on May 6th. Find more information at www.african-americanchamber.com.
 
How Small Businesses Can Participate in Cincy’s Small Business Week:
Submit any events, educational trainings, promotions and specials to this link, use hashtag #CincySmallBiz on social media and email [email protected] to request logos and a social media toolkit. 

How Cincinnati Residents Can Participate in Cincy’s Small Business Week: 
Use the hashtag #CincySmallBiz, and post about your favorite small business, check-out cincysmallbiz.com for events and specials in your area. Shop a new small business in your area or visit a small business district you’ve never been to before!
 
ABOUT THE OTR CHAMBER:
The OTR Chamber of Commerce has provided support to OTR's small business district since the very beginning, being a guide and resource for small businesses to create the OTR we know and love today. Since 1985, the Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce has represented its members and the community with a mission to be the driving force for creating a strong economy while also promoting inclusivity, embracing diversity and celebrating originality. Our vision is for Over-the-Rhine to be a model neighborhood for inclusive urban revitalization. 
 
ABOUT THE GREATER CINCINNATI AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (AACC)
The AACC is the largest African American Chamber in the State of Ohio. It is committed to inclusion, business development, advocacy and capacity building. The AACC leverages regional partnerships and collaborates with organizations and supplier diversity and inclusion experts to empower businesses to succeed. The AACC is your business advocate providing business education series, marketing programs and networking events to grow your business. 

The AACC was founded in 1996 by a group of African American business owners and consumers seeking to improve the economic status of African Americans and the African American community. The vision was to form an organization, which would advocate on behalf of emerging and established businesses, help to create new market opportunities, and provide access to capital, and revitalize African American communities.
 
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