Cincinnati Development Fund

The CDF Team had a great time helping out at the Civic Garden Center, a nonprofit organization that has been teaching people how to grow food and care for the environment since 1942. From K-12 education, Green Teens, Community Gardens, and so much more, the Civic Garden Center offers multiple programs for people interested in nurturing ecology, growing food, and building community. Our hosts Shelby, Julie, and Karen taught us about the incredible assets on the grounds in Avondale as we worked to spread mulch, keeping the plants and trees moist and healthy during these hot summer days. Thank you for having us and for all that you do for Cincinnati!

Wow! It was so wonderful to celebrate Working In Neighborhoods Near-Net-Zero Urban Village this morning! The Near-Net-Zero Urban Village is an ambitious, 50-unit project consisting of 25 new construction net-zero homes for first-time homebuyers and 25 energy-efficient upgrades for current homeowners in the Cincinnati neighborhood of South Cumminsville. From structurally insulated panels and HVAC mini splits to solar panels and low VOC paint, carpet, and other materials, WIN is leading the way in affordable, energy-efficient construction. Executive Director Sr. Barbara Busch said WIN is happy to be the first organization doing this work, but they don't want to be the only ones. There is so much potential for more developers to adopt energy-efficient construction practices and with federal funding coming soon, we can't wait to see how this market unfolds. Thanks to WIN for leading the way and congratulations on today's milestone! #keepgoing #affordablehousing #solar #communitydevelopment #realestate #makingadifference

The 2024 Think Tank on Equity & Inclusion featured conversations to measurably advance racial health and wealth equity. CDF was pleased to sponsor and participate in this year’s program, alongside a robust cabinet of speakers. Chief Strategy Officer Luke Blocher joined the panel on “The Equity Impact of Renovating the Duke Energy Convention Center,” to discuss CDF’s focus on supporting emerging contractors who don’t have access to traditional sources of financing to grow their businesses. Joining Luke on the panel were Whitney Eckert of Jostin Construction, Laura Castillo, Director, Department of Economic Inclusion, City of Cincinnati, John Page of ASM Global, Sonya Walton, CPSD of Messer Construction Co., and Katie Westbrook of 3CDC and facilitated by Eric Kearney of the The African American Chamber of Commerce: Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. The renovation of the Duke Energy Convention Center presents a tremendous opportunity for small businesses to participate in this highly visible civic project. Panelists discussed the project’s timeline, upcoming bid packages, inclusion goals, and access to capital. Thank you to Claudia M. Abercrumbie for another terrific Think Tank!

Congratulations to Kaiker Development + Construction on your amazing growth over the past few years. We are honored to work with you. Keep up the great work and thank you for supporting community development corporations and impactful neighborhood projects! #CDFIs #communitydevelopment

CDF is hiring! We are looking for two individuals to join our team--a Data Analyst and a Credit Risk Specialist. See full job descriptions on our website.

From acquisition and construction financing to New Markets Tax Credit allocations, bridge financing, and permanent financing, CDF has invested in neighborhood revitalization since 1988. Our team recently took a tour of some of the projects we've financed using a variety of tools in Walnut Hills, Evanston, Madisonville, Bond Hill, Northside, Camp Washington, and the West End. We are so grateful to the residents, community development corporations, developers, nonprofit organizations, municipal and financing partners, who collaborate to make these difficult projects come to life. #CDFIs #RealEstateFinance #communitydevelopment #cincinnati

From acquisition and construction financing to New Markets Tax Credit allocations, bridge financing, and permanent financing, CDF has invested in neighborhood revitalization since 1988. Our team recently took a tour of some of the projects we've financed using a variety of tools in Walnut Hills, Evanston, Madisonville, Bond Hill, Northside, Camp Washington, and the West End. We are so grateful to the residents, community development corporations, developers, nonprofit organizations, municipal and financing partners, who collaborate to make these difficult projects come to life. #CDFIs #RealEstateFinance #communitydevelopment #cincinnati

Affordable housing development happens when the right mix of tools and the right partners come to the table. We are proud to partner with developers like Urban Sites to bring more units to the market in Over-the-Rhine. Thanks to Rob Williams WXIX for the opportunity to share our story!

Congratulations to CDF President & CEO, Joe Huber, for his appointment to Leadership Ohio, the state's only leadership development program that connects diverse leaders from across Ohio to promote positive change. After receiving a record 147 nominations through a competitive selection process, 35 individuals were appointed as 2024 Leadership Ohio Fellows. Over the next eight months, these leaders will explore critical questions, engage in challenging social discourse, and identify opportunities that impact Ohioans and the communities in which they live and work. We know that Joe will represent Southwest Ohio well and will contribute greatly to the Leadership Ohio program. We can't wait to hear what he learns from communities across Ohio. Congratulations, Joe! #leadershipohio2024 #CDFIs #leaders

This story of the Walnut Hills redevelopment shows what it takes to achieve comprehensive community development—a resident-led vision, dedicated partners, patience, and creative solutions to complex real estate challenges.   CDF is happy to have played a role in many of the featured projects—whether it was an acquisition loan, a construction loan, or a New Markets Tax Credit allocation—we work with neighborhoods to invest in their revitalization efforts. From Trevarren Flats and the Comfort Station to La Soupe and Paramount Launch, we’re grateful to be part of a big team helping to see the Walnut Hills neighborhood vision come to fruition.   Since 1995, CDF’s innovative financing has helped to support 29 unique projects in the neighborhood through 41 loans totaling $25MM, creating 389 housing units (58% affordable) and 556,797 square feet of commercial space. Commercial tenants in these buildings include Café Vivace, Just Q’in, Tiki Tiki Bang Bang, Blacklist Board Shop, and more. Through our New Markets Tax Credit program, we invested $28MM in allocation in 4 projects, including Paramount Square, creating 51 housing units (22% affordable) and 84,648 sf commercial space, including Esoteric Brewery, The Aperture, and First Financial Bank. Today, we’re working with Artworks and Mortar as they build their new headquarters and deepen their connections in Walnut Hills. We can’t wait to see what’s next! #CDFIs #communitydevelopmentfinance #neighborhoods #cincinnati #walnuthillsohio #cdcs