'Storefronts to the Forefront': Powering community connections in Greater Cincinnati

• Duke Energy, Cincinnati Chamber partner together on new neighborhood support initiative.

CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber today announced a new partnership with Duke Energy called "Storefronts to the Forefront."

The new initiative will support 11 business districts: Bellevue, East Price Hill, Fort Thomas, Loveland, Ludlow, Madisonville, Milford, New Richmond, Norwood, Reading and Walnut Hills.

"We are thrilled to partner with Duke Energy, which has a strong history of supporting small businesses, to power connections for eleven neighborhood business districts, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Jill Meyer, President and CEO of the Cincinnati Chamber. "These districts are the lifeblood of the local economy. They were so crucial during the pandemic, and we want to make sure they survive - and thrive."

The program has two key elements for the region's business districts in these neighborhoods: to provide business connections and support, and to promote and market the small business community.

"Duke Energy has a long history of supporting small businesses and their employees, and we're delighted to partner with the Chamber to help lift up these businesses even more," said Amy Spiller, president, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. "We're excited to deepen our commitment to our community."

The Cincinnati Chamber and Duke Energy will co-promote one business district each month, highlighting stories of small businesses and entrepreneurship through Chamber publications, social media, email, and other outlets. The Cincinnati Chamber will lead a robust marketing program to support storytelling of businesses in each district, and the two organizations will continue to provide support over the next year.

"The Cincinnati Chamber and Duke Energy partnered to select these neighborhoods because they are representative of the diversity of our region's business districts and our communities," said Meyer. "We're excited to further engage and connect stakeholders, business owners and community members in these neighborhoods with one another, with the broader business community and with the regional business members of the Cincinnati Chamber."

"Our objective is two-fold," said Meyer. "We want to promote the wonderful things these neighborhood business districts have to offer, and we also want to give them an expanded toolbox for success. We will offer customized programming opportunities specific to the needs of these storefront businesses in our region and help them grow throughout the year."

More information: www.storefrontstotheforefront.com

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's mission is to grow the vibrancy and economic prosperity of the Cincinnati region. The Chamber team is working on behalf of member businesses to ignite business resiliency and inclusive growth, to invest in the people who call this region home, to lead regional connectivity through collaboration, and to champion the region's unique advantages. The Chamber is powered by inclusion, regional thinking, data, policy, and relationships. The Cincinnati Chamber's vision is that the region embodies the Future City, where business growth delivers the economic platform that accelerates opportunity for everyone who calls this region home. For more information, visit www.cincinnatichamber.com.

Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio/Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to about 860,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to approximately 538,000 customers in a 2,650 square-mile service area.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 7.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 51,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,500 people.

Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy strategy to create a smarter energy future for its customers and communities - with goals of at least a 50 percent carbon reduction by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The company is a top U.S. renewable energy provider, on track to own or purchase 16,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2025. The company also is investing in major electric grid upgrades and expanded battery storage, and exploring zero-emitting power generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.

Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2021 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Media contacts:

Duke Energy - Sally Thelen
Phone: [phone]
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_SallyT

Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber - Danielle Wilson
[e-mail]