Regional Inclusive Growth Network – What We Learned
Workforce Innovation Center at The Cincinnati Regional Chamber
Helping companies transform their workplace to empower their employees and their businesses.
Yesterday, the Brookings Institution released its report about the Regional Inclusive Growth Network, the 24-month initiative we have been involved with along with seven other small- and mid-sized cities. The report is an in-depth look at how organizations like the Cincinnati Regional Chamber and regional business leadership organizations in other cities engage business and civic leaders to help regions create a better economic future. It includes case studies of Cincinnati as well as Akron, Birmingham, Ala., Greater Des Moines, Iowa, Kansas City, Mo., New Orleans, La., Richmond, Va., and St. Louis, Mo. We’ve shared highlights of our RIGN engagement in previous newsletters (October 2023 and September 2024).
The RIGN initiative brought together committed leaders from across the country to learn from one another and share practices to improve our own regions. We explored what defines quality jobs, how to expand inclusive procurement efforts, utilizing data to inform regional decision-making, and how each region’s historical context influences its current state.
Through our collective engagement as part of the network, we were able to demonstrate the work we do across what the report’s authors call the five capabilities necessary to create an “invisible civic infrastructure” to drive inclusive economic growth. Those capabilities are connecting networks, orienting regional stakeholders, activating key business leaders, integrating teams, and mobilizing resources. Throughout the report, you will see outstanding examples from Cincinnati and our peer cities tackling challenging regional issues with collaborative networks and deep engagement with communities.
Along with my Cincinnati Regional Chamber colleagues, we look forward to continuing to apply the lessons and share the resources from the RIGN to our work with partners in the Cincinnati region. We know that making a more inclusive regional economy benefits us all and that our persistent efforts now will make meaningful impacts for years to come.
Audrey Treasure
Executive Director, Workforce Innovation Center
Introducing New Workforce Innovation Center Team Members!
I’m so pleased to welcome two new colleagues to the Workforce Innovation Center team, both of whom started full-time last week! Daniel Love has joined the team as the new Workforce Innovation Center Manager, and Jackson Fort has converted from an intern to the Coordinator of the Workforce Innovation Center.
Below are their bios. Each of them is joining the team to work on the Workforce Innovation Center’s priorities of connecting and engaging our workforce and talent ecosystem partners on relevant priorities such as employer tours, supporting employers with their workforce and talent needs, and building out the Center’s work as a leader in solving problems related to the workforce in our region. I'm so excited to have them join the Cincinnati Chamber team to leverage their experience and their passion for the region in the work that we do.
Daniel Love is our Workforce Innovation Center Manager. As a passionate advocate for equal opportunities in the workforce, he leverages his background in operations and project management to lead initiatives that support the Workforce Innovation Center's mission of driving business growth while empowering employees. Daniel is a former award-winning sports columnist whose writing has been published in various outlets, including the Cincinnati Herald. He considers himself a Cincinnati native, having spent most of his life in the Greater Cincinnati area, and is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community. In addition to championing initiatives that provided minority students with greater access to books featuring diverse characters and themes, Daniel has served as a member and co-chair of the L. Ross Love Memorial Scholarship committee, making college and intergenerational mentorship more accessible to community-driven Cincinnati Public School graduates.
Jackson Fort has joined the Workforce Innovation Center as a Coordinator. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Jackson has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the Carl H. Lindner College of Business and a Public Relations Certification from the College of Arts & Sciences. During his previous internships at the Workforce Innovation Center, Jackson worked on a variety of projects supporting our work with the Women of Color in Tech program, the Workforce Coordination Entity initiative with our workforce and talent ecosystem partners, and our consulting work with employers. Jackson is originally from Dallas, Texas, and came to Cincinnati as a professional ballet dancer with Cincinnati Ballet 2 in 2019.
Featured Partner: NKY Works
NKY Works leads and integrates workforce development services in Northern Kentucky. Through a collective-impact model, NKY Works strives to cultivate a workforce that is enthusiastic, prepared, and capable of filling and retaining quality jobs across all sectors of our economy.
Housed at the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD), the initiative champions five focus areas: Early Childhood Education, Career Readiness, Work-Ready Adults, Talent Attraction & Promotion, and Employer Best Practices.
Recent initiatives included:
- Developed NKYCareerJumpstart.com to promote employers’ work-based learning opportunities to students and early-career adults
- Hosted 40 educators for an immersion event with 12 local employers from manufacturing, logistics, construction/skilled trades, financial, and IT industries
- Completed a digital student promotion campaign, generating 1.9M impressions and the contact information for dozens of individuals interested in our region
- Published short-term training opportunities in a detailed Training Resource Guide for career seekers
- Highlighted the cost of mental illness within the workplace; hosted free QPR certification for 80+ registrants
- Explored special hiring needs of veterans, women, those in recovery from substance abuse, at-home caregivers, and legal immigrants to help employers find and retain needed talent
NKY Works publishes blogs, newsletters, and other posts to advance workforce development. To subscribe or to get involved at any level, email NKYWorks@nkadd.org.
BE NKY Growth Partnership is an investor in and part of the initiative with support from the Fiscal Courts of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties.
Employer Tours: New Tours Scheduled!
Employer Tours continue with outstanding hosts and workforce professionals learning firsthand about our region's employers, their operations, the hiring process, and what they offer to employers.
Join us for the next tour in the program on Tuesday, July 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Airport. CVG leaders will provide a tour, including multiple employers and the variety of opportunities that exist on the CVG campus. This tour is limited to 22 workforce professionals, so be sure to secure your spot today!
We have one additional tour scheduled for the month of July on Thursday, July 17 from 10 am to 11:30 am at Pioneer Cladding and Glazing in Mason. Set up in collaboration with our partners at the Advanced Manufacturing Industry Partnership, this tour will allow attendees to learn about and network with representatives of a quality manufacturing firm in our region.
If you’re interested in attending these tours or any future events in the Employer Tours program, click here to register. Be sure to check in with this form regularly for updates as we add new tours to the schedule.
Want to host a tour yourself? Fill out this form and we will contact you shortly about arranging your tour.
We are recapping all Employer Tours on the Workforce Innovation Center blog, where we can share this information with job seekers, educational institutions, and workforce partners across the region.
This program is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Hamilton County, Ohio by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. We are grateful to the support of the Hamilton County Commissioners in funding this program.
Featured Event: Cincinnati Rhythm
Join Cincinnati Compass for Cincinnati Rhythm, where our community comes alive celebrating the immigrants and refugees who drive our economy forward and make our region extraordinary. This premier annual event delivers an incredible experience—savor authentic global cuisine, enjoy electrifying live performances, and witness inspiring recognition ceremonies honoring remarkable contributions.
Don't miss this powerful gathering that connects business leaders, government officials, community organizations, and neighbors from every background. Cincinnati Rhythm transforms how we see our shared future—one where diversity isn't just welcomed, it's the foundation of our strength.
2026 We Are Making Black History Nominations Now Open!
Each year, the Cincinnati Regional Chamber proudly honors Black leaders in our region who are making a lasting impact — those who uplift our communities, lead with excellence, and open doors for others. As part of our We Are Making Black History celebration, we’re now searching for our 2026 honorees. Know someone creating real change? Nominate a leader who inspires.
The Workforce Innovation Center - At a Glance
The Workforce Innovation Center at The Cincinnati Regional Chamber offers a wealth of services and resources to help companies improve their business practices, create a more connected regional workforce ecosystem, and strengthen the economic prosperity of the Greater Cincinnati Region. From customized consulting services to tours of quality local employers, our services and resources are designed to assist you in addressing your workforce and talent needs, whatever they may be. Click a section below to learn more!
Founder & CEO, APD Foundation
2wInteresting to see how connecting networks and mobilizing resources can quietly shape a region’s growth... reminds me how often the behind-the-scenes work drives the biggest changes.