Cincinnati: The Queen City is a Green City

Yesterday, July 14th, 2021, Cintrifuse broadcasted a compelling story on sustainability to nearly 2,000 marketers and innovators during the P&G Signal Conference. Pete Blackshaw, CEO of Cintrifuse highlighted the bold leadership and ambitions of Greater Cincinnati with contributions from Mike Zelkind, CEO of 80 Acres Farms, Cincinnati Mayor, John Cranley, Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co., Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG Airport, and Brian Cobb, Chief Innovation Officer of CVG Airport.

Watch the story unfold below.

Cintrifuse is the Greater Cincinnati’s regional catalyst for startup and BigCo innovation on a mission to make Cincinnati the #1 startup hub in the Midwest and one of the top innovation centers in the nation.

Pete Blackshaw, CEO of Cintrifuse came back here three years ago after nearly a decade in Europe leading digital innovation for Nestle. Pete was inspired by the opportunity to help ensure the long-term vitality of Cincinnati by growing a tech-based innovation economy — and he immediately began looking for competitive advantages that we can exploit as a region to attract talent, capital, and technology.

We see Cincinnati as the Great Supply Way — an epicenter of supply chain, logistics, advanced manufacturing, and e-commerce distribution — in addition to its heritage as one of the world’s great retailing and brand-building centers. This magnificent Queen City is also one of the world’s great Green Cities! 

Did you know, for example, that Cincinnati was named by Site Selection magazine as the Most Sustainable City in America? Ahead of cities like Seattle, San Francisco, and LA?

We’re home to breakthrough sustainability startups such as GoSun, Electrada, DropWater, Workhorse, Clean Earth Rovers, Purecycle, Terracycle Loop, TrueChoicePack, and Last Mile Food Rescue — the “Uber” of food waste elimination. 

And, we’re a hub for corporate leaders setting the pace for sustainability leadership. What’s most important, though, is that we’re not just a green city. We’re a hub of green innovation.

80 Acres Farms, for example, is the world’s first fully automated indoor farm. And its sister company, Infinite Acres, is exporting game-changing vertical farm tech to the rest of the world.

“We knew food isn’t what it used to be, so we made it better by creating a completely new kind of farm. A farm that uses 100% renewable energy. A farm that uses zero pesticides. A farm that grows 300 times, not percent, but times more food on less than 1% of the land. Fresher food means less food waste. And we’re doing all that right here in Cincinnati and we’re bringing it to the rest of the world.” – Mike Zelkind, CEO of 80 Acres Farms

The City of Cincinnati is another example. Under the leadership of Mayor John Cranley, the City has created the biggest municipal solar array in the nation.

“Cincinnati is becoming the first carbon neutral city in America. Cincinnati has the distinction of building the largest solar farm ever built in America, led by a city. Enough to fill up 750 football fields. Once completed, we will be putting on the grid as much energy as the city government consumes, which includes providing clean water to 2,000,000 people in the Greater Cincinnati Area.” – Cincinnati Mayor, John Cranley 

Kroger has launched its moonshot goal to eliminate hunger and food waste.

“Any place where we work we want to help support a community to have zero hunger, and as a company, we want to have zero waste. It’s companies around us that we’ve partnered with, in terms of learning from them. P&G has an incredible program and approach to sustainability. They have been an amazing sharer of information. It’s everybody working together.” – Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co. 

The Cincinnati region is the heart of The Great Supply. CVG now the #1 eCommerce distribution hub in the United States.  It’s also the nation’s fastest-growing cargo hub!  Our airport is innovating with remarkable speed — and in partnership with dozens of startups at a time —  in areas that are ripe for new technology. 

“We have pledged carbon neutrality by 2050. We are going to take that seriously at CVG and work with our partners on a variety of sustainability efforts to reach that goal.” Candace McGraw, CEO of CVG Airport

Sustainability has never been more important. Momentum is growing exponentially. Climate tech alone is a $2.7 trillion opportunity. We are on fire not only about what IS in Cincinnati, but what could BE with talent and partners like you. Let’s go after a disproportionate share!

If ever there was a time to be bold and move fast, it’s now. And if ever there was a place poised for growth, leadership and game-changing innovation, it’s here. We’re right down the street. Come join us. You’ll be welcomed with open arms.

Contact kathryn@cintrifuse.com

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