Duke Energy Foundation announced $250,000 in Urban Revitalization grants to eight projects in southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. This grant program spurs economic development through renovation and restoration of urban properties that will, in turn, bring jobs and growth to the region.
While Duke Energy continued to provide grants during the COVID-19 pandemic, grant ceremonies were paused as a safety precaution. As a result, the company celebrated a delayed 10th anniversary of the Urban Revitalization grant program this week at the Incline Theater in Price Hill, a previous grant recipient.
Since launching the program in 2011, Duke Energy has awarded more than $3.2 million to over 100 grantees across Greater Cincinnati. The grants typically provide funding for pre-development costs and serve as catalysts for further economic development in the urban core.
“Our urban corridors and main streets are critical to the vitality of our local communities, where our customers and employees live, work and play,” said Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “Through our Urban Revitalization grants, we are enabling long-term solutions and supporting the overall vitality of our neighborhoods.”
“We are grateful for Duke Energy’s support on our latest project – the Hollywood Theatre,” said Seth Walsh, chief executive officer, College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corp. “This historic crown jewel sits in the heart of College Hill’s business district. The grant will help fund the architectural and engineering for its critical renovation and no doubt will eliminate blight, create jobs and aid in business retention.”
2022 Urban Revitalization Grant recipients
Kentucky recipients of grants included:
Catalytic Development Funding Group
$25,000
Acme Building: The funds will be used to develop an 8,000-square-foot building with significant frontage on Madison Avenue in Covington and to spur additional development in this strategic location.
$30,000
Sims Building: This project will convert the historic, currently vacant Sims Building in Covington into a modern office building suitable for growth-stage technology and e-commerce companies.
Since 2011, Duke has invested $1.5 million in the Northern Kentucky urban core through this grants program to spur economic development and reduce urban blight in many neighborhoods including Dayton, Bellevue, Covington, Newport, and Ludlow.
Ohio grantees:
Alloy Development/Small Business Assistance
$40,000
Provide technical assistance to small businesses located in Mount Washington, Camp Washington, Kennedy Heights and Evanston.
College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corp./Hollywood Theatre
$50,000
This grant will provide architectural and engineering for the historic Hollywood Theatre in the heart of the business district.
Evanston Community Council/Montgomery Road Redevelopment
$20,000
Funds will be used for redeveloping multiple vacant storefronts and achieving historic building designation.
Norwood Together/Ventura Commons Area Project
$25,000
Funds will be used for pre-development expenses to continue development in the Ventura Commons Area Project with two buildings along the main business corridor of Norwood.
Price Hill Will/Warsaw Avenue Creative Campus
$35,000
The grant will be used to fund architectural services for the Creative Campus – connecting the Incline District to the historic Warsaw neighborhood.
Robert O’Neal Multicultural Arts Center
$25,000
The funds will be used for architectural schematics and additional pre-development expenses to accomplish next steps towards establishing arts access in the West End.
