Conference looks to increase opportunities for Black developers | Opinion

The next decade is anticipated to bring over $4.5 billion in investment to Cincinnati through the Brent Spence Bridge, Western Hills Viaduct, convention center and bus rapid transit projects, among others. This money will open other opportunities as our city grows and further urbanizes. It is crucial that the people and organizations building the future of Cincinnati are diverse, and City Council must start working now to ensure that Black developers, architects, contractors and banks are a central part of this work.

To that end, my office alongside the city of Cincinnati, the Port, Greater Cincinnati Realtist Association and Cincinnati Development Fund will host the city's first-ever Black Developers Conference at TQL Stadium and the Duke Energy Convention Center on Sept. 7-8. The two-day event is aimed at increasing Black and minority development opportunities by fostering public/private partnerships and eliminating barriers that hinder the opportunities for Black and minority firms to obtain favorable contracts.

The conference includes three tracks: "Getting Started/Real Estate Basics," "Financing," and "Scaling Your Business." This allows anyone, whether you’re a beginner looking to get into real estate, a micro-developer who owns one or two properties, or even an established developer looking to expand and grow your business, an opportunity to benefit from the conference. In addition, representatives from the city of Cincinnati will be in attendance and have tables to provide direct assistance and answer questions. Following the completion of the conference, follow-up guidance and resources will be provided for all those who register to ensure that we are supporting however we can.

So far, 350 people have registered to participate in the conference, and the number of available spaces remaining is extremely limited. More information can be found at buildblkcincy.org.

Fully addressing Black economic mobility includes both anti-poverty policies, as well as policies that target the entrepreneur and investor class. This council and mayor have made progress on anti-poverty policy, including a $2.125 million dollar first-of-its-kind investment towards medical debt relief, child savings accounts and a guaranteed income pilot. Additionally, we have allocated historic dollars into affordable housing projects and rental assistance to help keep people in their homes. These policies benefit Black residents who need it most but do not directly support growing the Black middle and investor class that are prevalent but largely ignored in the region.

The Black Developers Conference will bring together the extensive, cross-organizational work that’s being done to boost Black and minority participation in development projects by connecting attendees directly to resources and providing access to a network of local organizations that are key partners and leaders in Cincinnati’s growth. This will include information and connections to the major projects happening in the coming years.

If you or someone you know would benefit from the conference, please have them visit the website and learn more about how to be involved. It is my hope this is just the beginning of an annual touchpoint aimed at centralizing and streamlining increased minority participation in development.

Cincinnati Councilman Reggie Harris is chair of the Equitable Growth and Housing Committee.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Conference looks to increase opportunities for Black developers | Opinion