City of Cincinnati

What City of Cincinnati does

The City of Cincinnati, operating through its Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) under the ChooseCincy brand, is a municipal government entity that deploys public, private, and federal funds across housing, small business, and neighborhood development programs within Cincinnati, Ohio. Established in 1788 as a political subdivision of the State of Ohio and currently governed by an elected Mayor and City Council, the City delivers its economic development mandate through approximately 40 DCED staff organized into Economic Development, Housing, Neighborhood Development, and Fiscal & Operations divisions, supplemented by contracted program administrators.

DCED's product surface consists of more than 25 distinct programs rather than a single integrated platform. Financing offerings include the Affordable Housing Leverage Fund (administered via Cincinnati Development Fund), Access to Capital lines of credit up to $500,000, MicroCity Loans up to $50,000 (via GCMI), the Grow Cincinnati Fund (SBA 7(a) via Grow America), and Job Creation Tax Credits. Housing assistance spans ADDI down payment assistance up to $14,000, Lift-HI construction subsidies, LIHTC letter-of-support review, HOME monitoring, and Lead Paint Hazard Control. Business and neighborhood programs include the Commercial Tenant Improvement Program (grants up to $20,000), Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program, Neighborhood Business District Support Fund across 34 CNBDU districts, the Neighborhood Catalytic Capital Investment Program (up to $100K pre-development), Business Retention & Expansion visits, Community Entertainment Districts (26 as of 2024), and DORAs. Tax-incentive tools include Commercial and Residential CRAs with up to 67% net abatement for 15 years.

The business model is government service delivery, not commercial revenue capture: funding flows from City tax revenue, federal HUD HOME Investment Partnership and CDBG allocations, SBA-guaranteed lending, and partner-administered state and county programs. Go-to-market is community-led — direct in-person BR&E visits, neighborhood council and CDC networks, the DCED Know ListServ, and a Wix-hosted public portal (choosecincy.com). Reported programmatic outcomes include 1,727+ jobs created/retained, 789 housing units created/preserved (44% AMI-restricted), and $80M+ in total investment across housing, economic development, and neighborhood projects. In 2024, DCED announced restructuring into the Department of Opportunity, Outreach, Resources & Services (DOORS) and the Office of Strategic Growth (OSG), with the legacy DCED website flagged as no longer maintained.

Name

City of Cincinnati

Legal name

City of Cincinnati

Website

https://choosecincy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1788

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The City of Cincinnati's Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) deploys $80M+ in public, private, and federal funds across housing, small business, and neighborhood development programs serving Cincinnati residents, developers, and business owners, currently being restructured into DOORS and OSG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Economic Development and Housing Services

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Administration of Urban Planning and Community and Rural Development (92512)

SIC

Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Development & Neighborhood Revitalization (CDBG, Place-Based Initiatives) (BPAIANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM), Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI), Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

Keywords

• Economic development programs
• Housing assistance programs
• Small business lending
• Community development services
• Tax incentive programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tax Revenue & Federal Grants: City government funded primarily through tax revenue and federal grants, particularly HUD HOME Investment Partnership funds and CDBG allocations for community development activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The City of Cincinnati's Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) administers a portfolio of community and economic development programs for the City of Cincinnati. Offerings include financing programs (Affordable Housing Leverage Fund, Access to Capital, MicroCity Loans, Grow Cincinnati Fund, Job Creation Tax Credits), tax incentive programs (Commercial and Residential Community Reinvestment Area abatements), housing assistance (ADDI, Lift-HI, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit support, Lead Paint Hazard Control, HOME monitoring), small business and neighborhood programs (BR&E visits, Commercial Tenant Improvement Program, Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program, Neighborhood Business District Support Fund, Neighborhood Catalytic Capital Investment Program, Neighborhood Support Program), entertainment and refreshment designations (Community Entertainment Districts, Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas), and workforce training (Hand Up Initiative). These services target developers, homeowners and prospective homeowners, business owners, neighborhood groups, and contractors within Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Product overview

The City of Cincinnati's Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) offers a comprehensive portfolio of economic, housing, and neighborhood development programs and services. The offerings include financing programs (Affordable Housing Fund, Access to Capital, MicroCity Loans, Grow Cincinnati Fund, JCTCs), tax incentive programs (Commercial CRAs, Residential CRAs), housing assistance (ADDI, Lift-HI, LIHTC Support, HOME Monitoring), business development (BR&E Visits, CTIP, NBDIP, NBDSF), neighborhood programs (NCCIP, NSP), community development (CEDs, DORAs), and workforce initiatives (Hand Up Initiative). These programs function as standalone offerings rather than an integrated platform, serving developers, homeowners, business owners, and neighborhood groups through various application processes and partner organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Housing Leverage Fund (AHLF) Aggregates public, private, corporate, and charitable funds, managed by the Cincinnati Development Fund in partnership with the City, to finance construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable housing for developers and affordable housing projects.
• Access to Capital Program (ATC) Provides financial capital (lines of credit up to $500,000), relational capital (network connections), and technical capital (development plan assistance) to emerging developers and contractors without access to traditional capital, including MWBE businesses.
• American Dream Downpayment Initiative (ADDI) Provides down payment assistance of up to $14,000 to lower- to middle-income first-time homebuyers buying single-family property in Cincinnati through HUD funding.
• Available City-Owned Properties Program Facilitates sale of City-owned properties through the Cincinnati Land Reutilization Program (CLRP) or competitive RFP/RFQ process to encourage redevelopment activity by developers and property buyers.
• Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Visits In-person or virtual meetings with local businesses to discuss needs, problem-solve issues, remove barriers to growth, and connect them with financing, partners, and regional resources.
• CBDO Certification Program Certifies Community-Based Development Organizations to work with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding, providing flexibility for neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Community Entertainment Districts (CEDs) Creates bounded areas with entertainment, retail, and dining establishments that can obtain new pools of restaurant liquor permits comparable to D-5 permits. There are 26 CEDs across Cincinnati as of 2024.
• CHDO Designation Program Certifies Community Housing Development Organizations to receive HOME Investment Partnership funds for developing affordable housing, with a 15% set-aside requirement.
• Commercial Tenant Improvement Program (CTIP) Offers grants up to $20,000 to small businesses relocating to, opening new, or expanding within Cincinnati to cover renovation costs for commercial spaces.
• Commercial Community Reinvestment Areas (Commercial CRAs) Community Reinvestment Area tax abatement program offering up to 67% net abatement for up to 15 years for companies building or renovating residential (5+ units), commercial, industrial, or mixed-use facilities with job creation.
• Residential Community Reinvestment Areas (Residential CRAs) Allows residents to pay taxes on pre-improvement property value for up to 15 years for renovations, improvements, or new construction, reducing barriers to residential development.
• Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas (DORAs) Permits residents in specific bounded areas to openly consume alcoholic beverages from on-premises permit holders. State law allows up to 6 DORAs within Cincinnati, each up to one square mile.
• HOME Affordable Units Monitoring Annual monitoring of housing constructed with HOME funds to ensure adherence to lease requirements, property standards, and AMI-restrictions for affordability compliance.
• Job Creation Tax Credits (JCTCs) Tax credits against net profits tax obligation for companies expanding in or moving to Cincinnati based on net new jobs created (minimum 25 jobs or $1MM yearly payroll within 3 years).
• Lead Paint Hazard Control Grant Program Federal HUD grant program to control lead paint, dust, and soil hazards in residential properties built before 1978 to protect children from lead poisoning.
• Lift Neighborhood Homebuyer Initiative (Lift-HI) Construction subsidy program providing forgivable loans to developers for new construction or rehabilitation of single-family and condominium units in Lift Neighborhoods, to be sold to first-time homebuyers at 120% AMI or below.
• MicroCity Loans Loans up to $50,000 for small businesses with 5 or fewer employees, administered through GCMI, for working capital, equipment, tenant improvements, construction, renovations, and property acquisition.
• Neighborhood Business District Improvement Program (NBDIP) Multi-stage review process funding transformative neighborhood business district projects with minor projects up to $50,000 and major projects with no cap, based on private-to-public investment ratio.
• Neighborhood Business District Support Fund (NBDSF) Annual grant funding to 34 CNBDU member organizations for projects enhancing vibrancy of recognized neighborhood business districts in categories including organizational development, promotional activities, physical improvements, and collaboration.
• Neighborhood Catalytic Capital Investment Program (NCCIP) Provides pre-development funding up to $100,000 to advance transformative neighborhood projects, with $500,000 available annually for activities including market studies, environmental assessments, design studies, and structural stabilization.
• Grow Cincinnati Fund SBA 7(a) backed loan program through partnership with Grow America for permanent working capital, machinery, property acquisition, renovations, leasehold improvements, and debt refinancing.
• Hand Up Initiative Job training and supplemental services program for low-to-moderate income residents in NRSAs through community-based organizations, covering industries including construction, healthcare, IT, and green industries.
• Neighborhood Support Program (NSP) Funds neighborhood projects and activities planned and implemented by eligible Community Councils, managed through Invest in Neighborhoods to enhance quality of life through self-determination.
• Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Support (LIHTC) City provides letters of support for developers submitting 9% LIHTC applications to Ohio Housing Finance Agency, jointly reviewed with Cincinnati Development Fund.
• Meet & Confer Program Public meetings between developers and City-certified MBE, WBE, and SBE contractors for DCED-supported construction projects to increase equity in economic opportunities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,727+ jobs created and retained
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Greater Cincinnati Microenterprise Initiative (GCMI)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGCMI administers the MicroCity Loan Program providing loans up to $50,000 to small businesses, and provides entrepreneurial education programs including the Ice House Entrepreneurship Program and Business I/II training.
• Port of Greater Cincinnati Development AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Port manages brownfield remediation, landbanking, Southwest Ohio Regional Bond Fund, CARE Homes Initiative, REACH home rehab program, and industrial revitalization programs in partnership with the City.
• Homebase (Neighborhood Development Organization)majorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHomebase provides professional development training, VTICA funding, and operates the Hand Up Initiative for job training in NRSAs.
• 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner3CDC is a major downtown development partner offering commercial leasing spaces and collaborating on urban development projects.
• REDI CincinnatimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organization providing business retention, foreign direct investment support, site selection, and incentive information for companies considering Cincinnati.
• JobsOhiomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level economic development organization partnering on BR&E visits and providing statewide incentives including JobsOhio Small Business Grants.
• Cincinnati Neighborhood Business Districts United (CNBDU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNBDU is a non-profit comprised of the City's 34 recognized neighborhood business districts. They oversee the NBDIP peer review process and provide final approval for NBDSF funding.
• Hamilton CountymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamilton County partners on down payment assistance, home improvement programs, HVAC repair, landbank home repairs, small business assistance through Ally Development, and equity initiatives.
• OKI (Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerOKI provides CMAQ grants for transportation alternatives and surface transportation block grants for projects including EV charging infrastructure.
• U.S. Army Corps of EngineersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Army Corps of Engineers partnered with the City on Duck Creek flood infrastructure investigation following July 2026 flooding events in Oakley.
• Great ParksmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreat Parks received $6 million in CMAQ grant funding through OKI for the Oasis Trail phase two construction and is partnering on the 4.75-mile pathway connecting Sawyer Point to Lunken Airport.
• Metro (Cincinnati Metro)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetro closed with Indiana and Ohio Railway on easements to sell the northern track property to Cincinnati for the Oasis Trail project, partnering on transit-adjacent development.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• JobsOhio: JobsOhio is the state-level economic development organization that partners with DCED on BR&E visits and incentive stacking. While broader in scope, it is the most natural incumbent peer for the economic development function.

Direct peers

• City of Cleveland Department of Economic Development: Cleveland's economic development department runs comparable housing finance, neighborhood revitalization, and business attraction programs targeting a similar Rust Belt Midwestern urban market with similar federal HUD funding access.
• City of Columbus Department of Development: Columbus's economic and housing development division administers similar CRA-style tax incentives, affordable housing programs, and small business lending — making it the closest peer in scale, scope, and Ohio-municipal context.
• City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development: Indianapolis's DMD oversees similar affordable housing, brownfield redevelopment, and economic development functions in a comparable Midwestern city, providing a strong direct peer for program design and outcomes benchmarking.
• City of Detroit Economic Development Corporation: Detroit EDC is a quasi-governmental economic development organization running comparable small business, housing, and neighborhood revitalization programs, making it a relevant peer for DCED's community development portfolio.
• City of Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority: Pittsburgh URA administers housing development, commercial revitalization, and business lending programs for a comparable legacy industrial city, making it a strong functional peer for DCED's housing and neighborhood portfolios.

Regional players

• REDI Cincinnati: REDI Cincinnati is the regional economic development partner explicitly listed in DCED's network, providing business retention, FDI support, and site selection services for the same Cincinnati metro — a directly adjacent peer.
• 3CDC (Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation): 3CDC is a major Cincinnati downtown development partner that collaborates with DCED on urban development projects and commercial leasing, making it a close regional peer for place-based revitalization work.
• Port of Greater Cincinnati Development Authority: The Port manages brownfield remediation, landbanking, the CARE Homes Initiative, and industrial revitalization for Cincinnati in partnership with the City — directly comparable to DCED's neighborhood and housing programs.

Others

• Cincinnati Development Fund (CDF): CDF administers the Affordable Housing Leverage Fund and Access to Capital Program on behalf of the City. As the primary financial implementation partner, CDF is a directly relevant ecosystem peer for DCED's housing lending function.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/choosecincy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/in/choosecincy
• Instagraminstagram.com/choosecincy_dced
• Facebookfacebook.com/choosecincy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Cincinnati