Economics Center Research and Consulting Division Renews Focus on New Business Development and Hires Consultant, Stephen Samuels
July 26, 2011
Cincinnati, OH – Stephen Samuels, President of Bridging Broadway and former Vice-President of client experience for Blackbook EMG, has been retained by the University of Cincinnati’s Economics Center to lead its most recent business development efforts. This includes a renewed focus on education and economic development in our region’s urban cores, planning across jurisdictional boundaries, and a collaboration with UC’s Community Design Center.
Stephen combines his degrees in urban planning and business real estate with twenty years of marketing and business development to specialize in placemaking. His passion is for transforming locations into lifestyles, particularly by engaging stakeholders in the design and development process. As founder and president of the local non-profit Bridging Broadway, he collaborates with the City of Cincinnati and the downtown community on design and implementation strategies that will maximize the benefits of Cincinnati’s new Horseshoe Casino.
Stephen lives downtown and is active in business attraction and retention in Over the Rhine. He serves on the OTR Chamber’s committee that directs its Business First Program, which rewards grants to new businesses locating in the neighborhood. He is also a musician and actor, and can sometimes be found performing on stage or television promoting our local arts and culture.
Stephen is thrilled to be working with the Economics Center Research and Consulting division. As he states, “Examination of the urban fabric is especially critical today as it relates to core issues like education, health, equity, and transportation. As our local governments and non-profit organizations struggle to find resources, planning with an economic development approach helps to justify investment and alter underperforming political agendas. Regional planning, investment in urban schools, and residential diversity – these can have an exponential financial and social return that improves the quality of life for our communities.”
The Research and Consulting division of the Economics Center utilizes economic data and analysis to provide the knowledge building blocks that help clients and their communities better understand the consequences of policy and economic development decisions. Our proven approach and dynamic tools empower leaders to strengthen local economies and improve quality of life.
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