Economic Opportunity
Partnerships and Programs
The Port advances economic opportunity through programs and partnerships that expand access to real estate development focused on housing, homeownership, neighborhood development, and construction contracting. Economic opportunity strengthens small and emerging businesses, while keeping investment rooted in local communities.
Queen City Developers (QCD)
Launched in 2022, Queen City Developers (QCD) is a collaborative information-sharing network and resource hub that connects emerging and established real estate developers with the knowledge, relationships, and support they need to move projects forward across the Cincinnati region. QCD acts as an aggregator of economic and real estate development information, helping participants navigate the development ecosystem through industry insights, networking, project discussions, and referrals to technical assistance providers, capital sources, public agencies, and subject-matter experts. Through monthly meetings and peer engagement, members stay current on market opportunities, development tools, and financing resources while building relationships that support long-term growth and community investment.
ULI REAL Program
Through ULI Cincinnati’s Real Estate Accelerator Lab (REAL) program, participants gain hands-on development experience directly from leaders in the field. Teams put their learning into practice on a real property selected from the Hamilton County Landbank inventory and compete for a cash prize, awarded at the end of each cohort. The program pairs practical experience with real community impact, turning landbank sites into opportunities for the next generation of developers. The Port has been a proud supporter of the program since its inception, and we are proud to partner with ULI Cincinnati to help build the next generation of real estate leaders.
Small Business Enterprise Utilization (SBE)
The Port’s work focuses on closing the wealth gap in historically disinvested communities through equitable development to promote job creation, improve property value, increase homeownership, and achieve the highest and best use of real estate. By prioritizing economic opportunity, we ensure our real estate initiatives drive meaningful economic outcomes and improve quality of life. Real estate is a key driver of both these outcomes and local opportunity, and we are constantly exploring how we can do more within our scope to advance economic opportunity through real estate.
“When we talk about EE&I, we talk about it from a social perspective... but there’s a business opportunity (too). Ohio is number seven in the GDP list of top ten states, and has the lowest growth rate in the top 10. The power of EE&I can lift our GDP by 5% a year over the next five years.” - George Simms, President & CEO, Ohio Minority Supplier Development Council (OMSDC)
Why we are working to increase equity through our region's real estate:
Economic opportunity has always been a part of The Port’s fabric. It translates into innovation, competitive pricing, and more sourcing opportunities for minorities and women.
Housing development is not simply a by-product of economic development but rather an engine of economic stability and growth. The Port recognizes that a sufficient supply of housing available to all income levels, is the foundation for economic mobility, opportunity, and economic opportunity. Jobs provide financial stability, and homes create wealth. Real estate is one of the fastest ways to shrink the wealth gap and help restore the middle class. In Cincinnati, there is a disparity in homeownership by race. For example, nationally, about 42% of Black households own their home, compared to 72% of white households, and 'if the typical Black-owned home was worth the same as the typical white-owned home, Black wealth would more than double.' Housing and homeownership are the foundation of everything else in our lives, and for too long, the lingering legacy of redlining and segregation has stifled some residents from the opportunity of homeownership.
