2 days ago
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Five things you need to know today, and your personal favorites
Happy Wednesday, Cincinnati! Here are five business news stories you need to know to get your day underway.
1) CVG hires construction firm for $6M project
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport has hired Hebron-based Harper Co. to reconstruct one of its major taxiways. The project will cost nearly $6 million and will include pavement reconstruction and electrical system upgrades. Harper was the only company that bid on the work, Chris Wetterich reports. The airport expects the project to wrap up by the end of the year.
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2) First Financial acquiring out-of-state bank to triple branches there
First Financial will acquire BankFinancial for $148 million, which will triple its Chicago branches to 26 total. Steve Watkins reports the deal will add $1.4 billion in assets to First Financial, which has $18.6 billion in assets and 128 banking centers in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Illinois. Prior to the acquisition, First Financial had seven branches in the Chicago area but has been interested in expanding in the market for years.
3) Historic former restaurant, beer garden to be redeveloped
Corryville Community Development Corp. plans to purchase the historic Mecklenburg Gardens building with $1.2 million in tax increment financing funds. The restaurant and beer garden closed in 2023 after 158 years. It has since sat vacant and deteriorating, Brian Planalp reports. Cincinnati City Council will have to approve the use of TIF funds. Upon approval, the Corryville CDC plans to bring an operating restaurant and brewery back to the space after renovations.
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4) Health system to offshore administrative jobs
Bon Secours Mercy Health is planning to build a support center in the Philippines, expanding its existing presence in the country, but cutting jobs in the U.S. as a part of a new global strategy. The offshored roles will include human resources, finance, supply chain and other administrative functions. The number of jobs impacted is unclear, according to the health system's chief administrative officer, who said it will be a small percentage of its domestic workforce. Mercy Health hopes the move will maximize operational efficiencies.
5) Growth fund with Cincinnati ties raises $238M
O.H.I.O Fund raised $238 million while making 19 investments across the state, two in Greater Cincinnati companies, Watkins reports. Headed by Mike Venerable and Jill Meyer, the fund raised money from more than 106 investors including high-net-worth individuals, institutions and family offices of wealthy individuals, financial institutions, foundations and other corporations.
This day in history
1942: The Manhattan Project commences, marking the start of the large-scale effort to develop an atomic bomb.
What I'm reading
"The Uptown Local" by Cory Leadbeater
What I'm listening to
Chappell Roan's new single "The Subway"
"August" by Flipturn
What I'm watching
"The Summer I Turned Pretty" on Amazon Prime Video
I've also been watching a lot of movies, including newer releases like "Jurassic World: Rebirth," "Freakier Friday," "Happy Gilmore 2," "Final Destination Bloodlines," "Sinners," the live action "Lilo & Stitch" and "Nonnas." I saw most in theaters with only two Netflix exceptions. My AMC Stubs A-List has been put to good use over the last few months.
Your favorite of all time
For the past year, I've felt like I was in the worst music drought ever. I find myself recycling the same playlists, same albums, same artists over and over again. I think I know the words to every song I have ever heard at this point.
We've had a few music conversations in the Courier newsroom, notably around the time when "A Complete Unknown," the Bob Dylan biopic came out and a few editors and reporters declared their dislike for Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and other similar artists. I won't name names to save my colleagues the grief.
I'd say I consume more music than the average listener. I listen to everything. From pop, rock, indie and rap to country, metal, folk, jazz and every sub-genre in between. Looking at my most recent Spotify plays, artists include Lorde, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, St. Vincent, Norah Jones, Mac DeMarco, Doechii, Modern Baseball, Taylor Swift, Turnstile, Steely Dan and Third Eye Blind.
While all of these artists are fabulous, I need new stuff. So my question to you, Business Courier readers, is what is your favorite album of all time? Or, is there an artist or song you have on repeat right now? I'm open to any and all genres from any decade. Email me at lschwartz@
