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We’ve moved! Find us at 221 East Fourth Street,
Suite 200, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
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NEWS FROM THE PORT
Edition No. 27 | November 2025
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The Port’s Industrial Strategy Paves the Way for Global Investment
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What was once one of the region’s most challenging brownfields is now ready for new life. The Port’s multi-year cleanup and site preparation of the former Dow Chemical site in Reading, now known as Centennial Industrial Park, has paved the way for Givaudan Flavors Corporation’s new $215MM Taste & Wellbeing facility.
The 25-acre property had been home to heavy chemical manufacturing for more than six decades, leaving behind extensive environmental damage when operations ceased in 2014. The Port acquired the site in 2019 through its Industrial Revitalization strategy and led a complex cleanup that removed contaminants, demolished obsolete structures, and restored the land for safe, productive reuse.
Through support from the Ohio Department of Development, JobsOhio, Hamilton County, the City of Reading, and other local and federal partners, The Port transformed a shuttered industrial campus into a build-ready site. After completing final environmental orders and infrastructure work in early 2024, the property was sold to Givaudan, whose investment will bring hundreds of jobs and renewed tax revenue to the City of Reading.
The project serves as a powerful example of how public-sector leadership and strategic partnerships can transform challenging sites into lasting community assets, reclaim contaminated land, support local industry, and create new opportunities for future generations.
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Pictured: An animation of all sold CARE Homes
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Celebrating 50 CARE Home Sales and Expanded Homeownership Across Hamilton County
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Through its CARE Homes Initiative, The Port has successfully transitioned more than 50 formerly investor-owned properties into affordable, owner-occupied homes for Hamilton County families. Each sale represents more than just a transaction—it’s a tangible investment in neighborhood stability and the creation of generational wealth.
This milestone affirms our commitment to reclaiming housing for people, not portfolios, and demonstrates how bold public action can deliver lasting impact for communities across the region.
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Meet our New Board Member
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In early October, The Port welcomed Christian Gonzalez, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at Fifth Third Bank, to its Board of Directors. Appointed by the Hamilton County Commissioners for a four-year term, Gonzalez brings extensive experience in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and public finance to help advance The Port’s mission.
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Pictured: Wild flowers planted in a greenspace that used to be an abandoned gas station.
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From Gas Station to Green Space: A Fresh Start in Mt. Healthy
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What was once a vacant, deteriorating gas station in Mt. Healthy is now a pocket park blooming with wildflowers and new potential. This multi-year transformation demonstrates how environmental remediation can restore not only land, but community pride.
While future development plans are still being explored, this visible improvement reflects The Port’s commitment to reclaiming underutilized land and returning it to productive, community-focused use.
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UC Real Estate Roundtable
In October, The Port’s President & CEO, Laura Brunner, joined a panel discussion at the ULI Cincinnati and UC Real Estate Roundtable Series program, offering insights into the Uptown Innovation District. The panel also featured Kimm Lauterbach, President & CEO of REDI Cincinnati; Eddie Pauline, President & CEO of the Ohio Life Sciences Association; and Diana Rife, Managing Director at JobsOhio. The discussion was moderated by Carl Goertemoeller, Executive Director of the UC Real Estate Center. It was a dynamic conversation on the intersection of real estate and innovation, and the bold, shared vision for a world-class innovation district.
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Queen City Pitch & Business Enterprise Expo
Several members of The Port team attended the City of Cincinnati’s Fourth Annual Business Enterprise Expo, an event that highlights the City’s MBE, WBE, and SBE-certified firms and expands contracting opportunities for local businesses. As part of the program, Jilson Daniels, The Port’s Senior Vice President of Economic Equity, hosted another round of Queen City Pitch, allowing local entrepreneurs to showcase innovative development ideas.
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American Heart Association CycleNation
Port staff members participated in the American Heart Association’s CycleNation Cincinnati event, joining hundreds of riders to raise awareness and funds to fight heart disease and stroke. Through friendly competition and teamwork, participants helped raise more than $350,000 to support research and prevention efforts that save lives.
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Meet Scott Betz, Director of Development
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Scott serves as a Director of Development for The Port, where he manages predevelopment and development activities. In this role, Scott plays an instrumental part in The Port’s efforts to put underutilized property back to productive use for job creation and community benefit. He supports the Development Team, managing industrial and commercial projects in The Port’s portfolio through all project phases, including due diligence, demolition, remediation, site work, construction, and disposition.
Prior to joining The Port, Scott worked as a Development Officer at the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC) where he managed over $70 million in development in Cincinnati’s urban core. He has overseen a variety of project types, include right-of-way/public space, affordable housing, market rate housing, historic preservation, commercial fit-outs, and large-scale demolition. Scott’s experience spans all phases of real estate development, design, and construction. Prior to that role, Scott worked for Architrave Architects in Washington DC where he spearheaded a strategic planning process for Eastern Market, a public food market in Washington DC, and capital improvements planning for the Smithsonian National Zoo. Prior to working in real estate development, Scott worked as an architect in Mexico City and Cincinnati.
Scott holds a Masters of City and Regional Planning from the University of Pennsylvania, Bachelors of Environmental Studies and Bachelors of Architecture from the University of Cincinnati. Scott is a Registered Architect in the State of Ohio and a Certified Planner by the American Planning Association.
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