The Duke Energy Foundation announced $250,000 in urban renewal grants for eight projects in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky. This grant program promotes economic development through the renovation and restoration of urban assets, creating jobs and growth in the region.
Duke Energy continued to provide grants during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the grant ceremony was suspended as a safety measure. As a result, the company celebrated his 10th anniversary of the deferred urban regeneration grant program this week at the Incline Theater in Price Hill, a former grant recipient.
Since initiating the program in 2011, Duke Energy has awarded more than $3.2 million to more than 100 grantees in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Grants typically fund pre-development costs and act as a catalyst for further economic development of the city centre.
Amy Spiller, president of Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky, said: “Through urban regeneration grants, we are enabling long-term solutions and supporting the vitality of entire communities.”
Seth Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corporation, said: This grant will help fund architecture and engineering for critical renovations that will no doubt end the epidemic, create jobs and help keep businesses going. ”
2022 Urban Renaissance Grant Winners
Kentucky grant recipients include:
Catalyst Development Fund Group
$25,000
Acmevir: The funds will be used to develop an 8,000-square-foot building on Madison Avenue in Covington and spur further development at this strategic location.
$30,000
Sims buildings: The project will transform the historic, now-vacant Sims Building in Covington into a modern office building suitable for growth-stage technology and e-commerce companies.
Since 2011, Duke has invested in northern Kentucky urban centers through this grant program to boost economic development and reduce urban degradation in many areas, including Dayton, Bellevue, Covington, Newport and Ludlow. We have invested $1.5 million.
Ohio grant recipients:
Alloy development and support for SMEs
$40,000
Provides technical assistance to small businesses located in Mount Washington, Camp Washington, Kennedy Heights, and Evanston.
College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corp./Hollywood Theater
$50,000
This grant will provide the architecture and engineering of a historic Hollywood theater in the heart of the business district.
Evanston Community Council/Montgomery Road Redevelopment
$20,000
The funds will be used to redevelop several vacant stores and designate them as historic buildings.
Norwood Together / Ventura Commons Area Project
$25,000
The funds will be used for pre-development costs to continue the development of the Ventura Commons Area Project, which has two buildings along Norwood’s main business corridor.
Price Hill Will/Warsaw Avenue Creative Campus
$35,000
The grant will be used to fund the architectural services of the Creative Campus, connecting the Incline District with the historic Warsaw neighborhood.
Robert O’Neill Multicultural Arts Center
$25,000
The funds will be used for architectural schematics and additional pre-development costs to accomplish the next steps in establishing arts access in the West End.
