Presentation from the Art Museum on 4/21/2008

Dear Concerned Citizen

Please join the University of Cincinnati President Nancy Zimpher, Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher, the Agenda 360 Leadership Team and representatives from the Brookings Institution the afternoon of April 21st for an important discussion on the status of Agenda 360, emerging economic development policies in Ohio and national economic revitalization activities.

This will be the first meeting in a series of educational opportunities to promote community understanding and dialogue regarding regional priorities that are emerging from the Agenda 360 process and the linkage with regional, state and national initiatives.

The goal of this meeting will be to update our community, engaged citizens, regional elected officials and civic and business leaders about state and national economic revitalization initiatives and the relationship with Agenda 360 activities and priorities.

We ask that you join us in the Auditorium at the Cincinnati Art Museum for this review and discussion beginning at 2 pm. We expect to conclude by 5 pm. Your participation is integral to this process. Please join us on April 21 and encourage colleagues and friends to do the same.

There is no charge for this event but seating is limited so please RSVP at 579-3111 if you plan to attend.

Sincerely,

Ellen G. van der Horst
President and CEO - Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber

Dr. Myrtis Powell
Co-Chair - Agenda 360

Kevin Ghassomian
Co-Chair - Agenda 360

CINCINNATI, Sept. 6, 2007 – The Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber's annual young professionals summit – Bold Fusion – today launched the first phase of community dialogue for one of the region's most comprehensive efforts in decades: Agenda 360, a regional action plan.

Underscoring the significance of the launch of the Agenda 360 discussion were kickoff remarks by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory at the afternoon session at the Duke Energy Center, Downtown. Additional public forums are being scheduled at community venues across Southwest Ohio, and will be announced in the near future.

Since the beginning of the year, a broad coalition of multi-generational community leaders have been at work building the early foundation for a shared civic agenda, an effort that has been co-chaired by Chamber President Ellen van der Horst, Myrtis Powell, Ph.D., retired from Miami University, and Kevin Ghassomian, an attorney with Greenbaum, Doll & McDonald.

Devised in similar fashion to Northern Kentucky's Vision 2015 – so the efforts will align and complement each other – Agenda 360 is being crafted to address five categories of work: Competitive Economy, Educational Excellence, Livable Communities, Urban Renaissance and Effective Governance. Five action teams have been formed to focus on the buckets, supported by support teams focused on Inclusion, Advocacy and Communications.

At Bold Fusion, YPs and community leaders participated in breakout sessions following the day's keynote address by Carol Coletta, CEO of CEO for Cities. Each YP was given $10 million in mythological dollars to invest in the particular projects they want to see move forward to advance Cincinnati USA. Those results will be posted shortly on YPCincy.com.

Ghassomian noted the rallying cry for Agenda 360 is "to transform Cincinnati USA, by the year 2020, into a leading metropolitan region for talent, jobs and economic opportunity for all who call our region home."

According to Agenda 360 officials, this transformation will require that Cincinnati USA:

• Develop metrics for success and continuously monitor regional progress against the performance indicators.

• Nurture and leverage our physical, cultural and intellectual assets.

• Critically confront the challenges of diversity, inclusion and economic disparity.

• And unite the region in a consensus for prioritized action.

"In layman's terms, it's all about energizing and inspiring teamwork and collaboration to put all the pieces of the puzzle together that will make Cincinnati USA a world-class destination," Ghassomian said. "Community leaders across Southwest Ohio agreed to publicly launch this effort at Bold Fusion because Agenda 360 is all about our future. And, as young professionals, we stand collectively as the future of Cincinnati USA."

For more information, contact Raymond L. Buse III, public relations director for the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, at 513.579.3194.