Nehemiah Manufacturing Company

Project Description:

Nehemiah Manufacturing Company’s mission is to build brands, create jobs, and change lives. Beyond manufacturing products like Downy, Tide, and Dreft, Nehemiah places a heavy focus on second chance employment.

Founded in 2009, Nehemiah was built on the concept of profit with a purpose. After spending many years working in the consumer products industry, the company’s founders connected with Procter & Gamble to license its Pampers Kandoo wipes product line. The founders were not simply looking for an opportunity to build consumer brands, they wanted to provide an employment path for people with criminal records or previous histories of drug abuse. Nehemiah’s quick growth forced the company to work from several locations throughout Greater Cincinnati – and company leaders decided to bring operations back under one roof.

The Port has provided public financing to support Nehemiah’s Lower Price Hill manufacturing facility and nearby fulfillment center. The 182,000 SF manufacturing facility was completed in 2018, redeveloping a vacant 7.7-acre site. The Port’s structured lease agreement was a portion of the overall incentives provided to the growing manufacturer by the City of Cincinnati, REDI Cincinnati, and Jobs Ohio.

In 2022, Nehemiah opened an additional facility on a nearby block in Lower Price Hill. The Gest Street Fulfillment Center is a 49,900 SF warehouse and distribution facility built on a 2.2-acre site. The Port provided a Capital Lease Structure to support the project.

“We continue to stand by our mission of building brands, creating jobs and changing lives,” commented Dan Meyer, CEO of Nehemiah Manufacturing to REDI Cincinnati upon receiving a 2021 James A. Wuenker Growth Award. “This new space is a direct result of our commitment to our city and those that deserve a second chance. We couldn’t be more thrilled to work with city officials and our growing list of partners to see this new expansion come to life.”