Uptown Consortium Recognizes Success during First Uptown Business Celebration

CINCINNATI – Uptown Consortium, the local nonprofit development corporation dedicated to economic development in Uptown Cincinnati, held its first Uptown Business Celebration to recognize the successful businesses and nonprofits throughout Uptown’s five neighborhoods.

The Consortium awarded winners in five categories:
• Uptown Small Nonprofit of the Year, Clifton Cultural Arts Center;
• Uptown Large Nonprofit, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden;
• Uptown Business Community Champion, Dr. Stanley Broadnax;
• Uptown Small Business, Stag’s Barber Shop; and
• Uptown Large Business, Kilroy Restaurants.

Uptown President and CEO Beth Robinson congratulated the winners and spoke to the growth and success Uptown Cincinnati continues to experience. Robinson outlined the good work going on in Uptown from the Consortium’s business development partnerships to leveraging New Markets Tax Credits to prioritizing transportation and the I-71 interchange.

“As the second largest economic engine in the city of Cincinnati, Uptown is charging ahead and we wanted to take today to recognize the successes we’ve witnessed,” said Robinson. “Thank you to all of our nominees, committee members, winners, finalists, nonprofits and businesses for the great work you are doing in Uptown. We notice your commitment to the neighborhood and it is paying off with a surge of success.”

Award criteria included strong commitment to the Uptown community, success in meeting the organization’s mission and demonstration of sustainable business practices. All eligible businesses and nonprofits were to be located in Avondale, Clifton, Corryville, Clifton Heights, Fairview, University Heights or Mt. Auburn.

The event was held at Kingsgate Marriott Conference Center with a crowd of more than 240 attendees. WLWT-TV General Manager Richard Dyer served as a master of ceremonies while George Vogel, executive sports producer of WLWT, conducted an interview with special event guest University of Cincinnati Athletic Director Whit Babcock. The celebration also included remarks by Uptown Consortium Board Chair John Prout, president and CEO of TriHealth.

The Consortium plans to make the Uptown Business Celebration an annual event. To see the full list of finalists, visit www.uptowncincinnati.com. For more information on Uptown Consortium and community news, follow Uptown President and CEO Beth Robinson on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bethuptown.

The Uptown Consortium (www.uptowncincinnati.com) is a non-profit community development corporation dedicated to the economic development of Uptown Cincinnati.  The organization was formed by the chief executive officers of Uptown’s largest employers and the area’s leading tourist attraction: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati (The Christ Hospital and University Hospital), TriHealth, Inc. (Good Samaritan Hospital) and University of Cincinnati.  Combined, the consortium members employ nearly 50,000 people, have a payroll of $1.4 billion, and produce an annual economic impact of over $3 billion.