Kim joined The Port in 2013 and is responsible for maintaining applicable accounting records for Port entities which includes managing accounts payable and accounts receivable and the month-end close process to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting. Kim is also responsible for presenting the financial report at the HURC and Foreign Trade Zone quarterly board meetings. Prior to joining The Port, Kim was an accountant for one of the nation’s largest providers of diversified industrial property. Before that, Kim had over 20 years of managerial experience as an owner of her own businesses and served as administrative manager for other small businesses primarily in the construction industry, assisting with bookkeeping and administrative support.

Kim joined The Port in 2013 and is responsible for maintaining applicable accounting records for Port entities which includes managing accounts payable and accounts receivable and the month-end close process to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting. Kim is also responsible for presenting the financial report at the HURC and Foreign Trade Zone quarterly board meetings. Prior to joining The Port, Kim was an accountant for one of the nation’s largest providers of diversified industrial property. Before that, Kim had over 20 years of managerial experience as an owner of her own businesses and served as administrative manager for other small businesses primarily in the construction industry, assisting with bookkeeping and administrative support.

New homeownership opportunities for renters

Earlier this month, The Port announced it will purchase 194 single-family homes currently owned by an out-of-town, institutional investor to prevent many Cincinnati renters from possible eviction. For several years, out-of-town investors have been buying low-cost single-family homes and renting them at high monthly rates. The Port’s intent is to create a pathway for current renters to become owners of their homes.

The Port will work closely with several non-profit, community support organizations, each of which has voiced its support of this acquisition by The Port.

“These institutional investors are fundamentally changing the landscape of single-family housing in Hamilton County, so we are relieved The Port is stepping in to purchase properties whose occupants frequently face increased rental rates, threats of eviction, or maintenance requests that are regularly ignored,” said Rachel Hastings, executive director of Price Hill Will.

In November, Port veteran Todd Castellini was named the new leader of our industrial redevelopment efforts. Castellini will continue to lead The Port’s Public Finance work, which he has since 2016.

“As we accelerate our industrial strategy and look for ways to increase our capital base, merging our industrial and public finance work under one leader makes good sense,” said Laura Brunner, President and CEO of The Port. “There are natural synergies between our industrial and public finance strategies which make Todd an ideal fit for this role,” Brunner added.

Castellini is replacing Melissa Johnson, who left The Port in September after leading the organization’s industrial redevelopment work since 2011

2020 Impact Report: “Equitable Renewal”

Last month, The Port released its 2020 Impact Report. The virtual report features highlights across the pillars of The Port and its managed entities’ work. The report features profiles of The Port’s work including creating affordable housing across the County, working with two Cincinnati companies to retain over 500 jobs, financing a key development in the Innovation Corridor, and more. You can view “Equitable Renewal: The Port’s 2020 Impact Report” here: www.cincinnatiportimpact.org.

Skanska receives CLIMB Award for construction management building blocks program

Congratulations to Skanska USA for being awarded the 2021 “Changing the Face of Business” CLIMB (Cincinnati Lifts Inclusion and Minority Business) Award at the November 18 ceremony held by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and the Cincinnati Business Courier. The Port and its vice president of economic equity, Jilson Daniels, helped create and continue to support Skanska’s Construction Management Building Blocks Program, designed to help small, diverse businesses expand within the construction industry. Elevating and building capacity for small, diverse businesses is part of The Port’s strategic platform to advance economic equity in our region.

Port Shorts: K&J Seafood

K&J Seafood has been serving authentic Creole meals in Cincinnati since 2018 and is the 3rd minority/women-owned small business to open in the Bond Hill Business District. In this Port Short, we take an inside look at how two life-long best friends made their dream to own a restaurant come true.

Port Shorts: Communities First

The Port is proud to offer the Communities First - Down Payment Assistance Program, providing first mortgage financing and down payment/closing cost assistance grants to eligible homebuyers. In this Port Short, we explain the Communities First program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply!

Liz joined The Port in 2016 and is responsible for the planning, construction, and marketing of our successful REACH (Rehab Across Cincinnati and Hamilton County) single-family residential rehab program that has brought new homes to Evanston, Walnut Hills, Price Hill, and Avondale. Liz is leading REACH’s expansion to additional Hamilton County communities and overseeing the stabilization of historic properties. Prior to The Port, Liz worked in the multifamily industry for over 10 years and managed residential units across Hamilton County and the Greater Cincinnati region, Columbus, Lexington, Louisville, and St. Louis.

New homeownership opportunities for renters

Earlier this month, The Port announced it will purchase 194 single-family homes currently owned by an out-of-town, institutional investor to prevent many Cincinnati renters from possible eviction. For several years, out-of-town investors have been buying low-cost single-family homes and renting them at high monthly rates. The Port’s intent is to create a pathway for current renters to become owners of their homes.

The Port will work closely with several non-profit, community support organizations, each of which has voiced its support of this acquisition by The Port.

“These institutional investors are fundamentally changing the landscape of single-family housing in Hamilton County, so we are relieved The Port is stepping in to purchase properties whose occupants frequently face increased rental rates, threats of eviction, or maintenance requests that are regularly ignored,” said Rachel Hastings, executive director of Price Hill Will.

In November, Port veteran Todd Castellini was named the new leader of our industrial redevelopment efforts. Castellini will continue to lead The Port’s Public Finance work, which he has since 2016.

“As we accelerate our industrial strategy and look for ways to increase our capital base, merging our industrial and public finance work under one leader makes good sense,” said Laura Brunner, President and CEO of The Port. “There are natural synergies between our industrial and public finance strategies which make Todd an ideal fit for this role,” Brunner added.

Castellini is replacing Melissa Johnson, who left The Port in September after leading the organization’s industrial redevelopment work since 2011

2020 Impact Report: “Equitable Renewal”

Last month, The Port released its 2020 Impact Report. The virtual report features highlights across the pillars of The Port and its managed entities’ work. The report features profiles of The Port’s work including creating affordable housing across the County, working with two Cincinnati companies to retain over 500 jobs, financing a key development in the Innovation Corridor, and more. You can view “Equitable Renewal: The Port’s 2020 Impact Report” here: www.cincinnatiportimpact.org.

Skanska receives CLIMB Award for construction management building blocks program

Congratulations to Skanska USA for being awarded the 2021 “Changing the Face of Business” CLIMB (Cincinnati Lifts Inclusion and Minority Business) Award at the November 18 ceremony held by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber and the Cincinnati Business Courier. The Port and its vice president of economic equity, Jilson Daniels, helped create and continue to support Skanska’s Construction Management Building Blocks Program, designed to help small, diverse businesses expand within the construction industry. Elevating and building capacity for small, diverse businesses is part of The Port’s strategic platform to advance economic equity in our region.

Port Shorts: K&J Seafood

K&J Seafood has been serving authentic Creole meals in Cincinnati since 2018 and is the 3rd minority/women-owned small business to open in the Bond Hill Business District. In this Port Short, we take an inside look at how two life-long best friends made their dream to own a restaurant come true.

Port Shorts: Communities First

The Port is proud to offer the Communities First - Down Payment Assistance Program, providing first mortgage financing and down payment/closing cost assistance grants to eligible homebuyers. In this Port Short, we explain the Communities First program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply!

Liz joined The Port in 2016 and is responsible for the planning, construction, and marketing of our successful REACH (Rehab Across Cincinnati and Hamilton County) single-family residential rehab program that has brought new homes to Evanston, Walnut Hills, Price Hill, and Avondale. Liz is leading REACH’s expansion to additional Hamilton County communities and overseeing the stabilization of historic properties. Prior to The Port, Liz worked in the multifamily industry for over 10 years and managed residential units across Hamilton County and the Greater Cincinnati region, Columbus, Lexington, Louisville, and St. Louis.

Bringing ‘Nawlins to the ‘Nati

On October 25, The Port hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for K&J Seafood’s newest location, in Bond Hill. K&J Seafood has been serving authentic Creole meals in Cincinnati since 2018, and is the 3rd minority/women-owned small business to open in the Bond Hill Business District, joining The Davis Cookie Collection and Gi’Zelle’s Head 2 Toe. Approximately 40 neighborhood and community leaders attended the grand opening, which included complimentary menu items. If you haven’t been to K&J Seafood, you’re in for a culinary experience!

Putting Our Properties To Good – and Sometimes Unique - Use

As we continue to evaluate options for the planned redevelopment of 435 Elm in the City’s Central Business District, we discovered a new, temporary use for the property: training firefighters. The City of Cincinnati Fire Department needed a new training location for its new recruits and asked to use 435 Elm for its training. In late September, about 40 rookie fire fighters spent 3-4 days navigating rigorous training exercises inside the vacant building.

County Commissioners Approve Port’s Ownership of Blighted Hotels

In September, the Hamilton County Commissioners approved a resolution to fund The Port two million dollars for the purchase, remediation, demolition and site readiness of The Carrousel and Drake Hotels, located in Sycamore Township along the Reading Road Corridor. The acquisition of these two properties is the first step in turning 93,000 square feet of high potential real estate back to its highest and most productive use. The Port intends to prepare both properties for advanced manufacturing to attract high paying jobs to our region. When properties like these are in such neglected shape, it’s important they are in public control because they can be demolished and made pad ready much sooner, efficiently ridding the area of the blight.

Port Shorts: TriVersity Groundbreaking

In the thriving Walnut Hills Business District, The Port has been a key cog in supporting multiple minority-owned businesses since 2017. In this Port Short, we showcase how The Port supported minority-owned TriVersity’s move to Walnut Hills.

Port Shorts: Property Maintenance

The Hamilton County Landbank was established in 2012 by Hamilton County under the Ohio Revised Code to create a tool for communities to deal with vacant and abandoned property after the foreclosure crisis. Most of these properties are dangerous eyesores to their neighborhoods and are hotspots for criminal activity. In this Port Short, we examine the work required to help keep the County and City clean.

Deborah joined The Port in 2004 as Director of Economic Inclusion and has over 25 years of experience in management of award winning economic inclusion programs. A long time advocate for affordable housing, Deborah became Director of the HURC and Residential Sales in 2015. Since then, she has managed the 501c3 non-profit entity and has overseen the rehab of over 33 homes for low to moderate income buyers. Deborah also received her real estate license in 2016 and is responsible for the sale of most Port single-family homes. Deborah is passionate about bringing affordable housing to Hamilton County residents and is equally passionate about creating generational wealth through homeownership for African American home buyers.