In the winter of 2021, Uptown Consortium, Inc.’s (UCI) inclusion initiatives were featured as a best practice in the IEDC Economic Development Journal, a premier publication of the economic development profession, featuring in-depth articles on important programs, projects, and trends in the United States and around the world.
UCI launched its economic inclusion initiatives in 2014 to ensure that existing residents benefitted from new developments in Cincinnati’s Uptown neighborhoods. In 2020, UCI received IEDC’s Excellence in Economic Development Gold Award in Economic Equity and Inclusion for its long-term inclusion and engagement initiatives. Receiving the award showcases to the community the efforts and impact UCI has had in Uptown.
According to IEDC, the Excellence in Economic Development Awards recognize the world’s best economic development programs, partnerships and leaders for their efforts to create positive change in their communities. The Economic Equity and Inclusion Award specifically “recognizes programs dedicated to improving the quality of life within a community through focused, innovative, and inclusive initiatives that incorporate the unique experiences and knowledge of underserved members of the community.”
The IEDC article, written by Beth Robinson, President and CEO of UCI and a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) since 2007, was an opportunity to highlight UCI’s award-winning program. The article walks through how to develop and sustain meaningful economic inclusion efforts. An active member with IEDC, Robinson also discusses the successes of UCI’s inclusion efforts and how other organizations can set up their inclusion efforts for success. UCI’s overall inclusion goal is to ensure there is investment in the community and job opportunities for Uptown residents and minority- and women-owned businesses to prevent resident displacement.
“Revitalization of urban neighborhoods nationwide is leading to fears of resident displacement in historically low-income African American neighborhoods. That’s why it is important to work with community members to ensure that existing residents have opportunities to grow alongside new development while also attracting new residents and businesses,” Robinson said, noting that she was pleased to be able to share UCI’s best practices with peer organizations.
UCI’s strategy, covered in the article, established “opportunities throughout the life of a development, from pre-construction professional services through construction, tenant selection, staffing and annuity services.” This has proven to be a critical factor in the success of UCI’s inclusion efforts and serves as a national best practice.
The article points to four other specific areas organizations should focus on to establish a successful inclusion program. These include developing strong partnerships, implementing a community benefits agreement, creating a pipeline of talent and subcontractors, and measuring progress towards the goals. UCI has had proven success already in each of these areas.
These efforts are “necessary to maintain vibrant and diverse communities and prevent displacement.” UCI plans to continue adjusting and improving their inclusion strategy as development progresses.
The article is available to members of the IEDC and can be accessed on the IEDC website. For more information about UCI’s inclusion efforts, visit the organization's website.