Duke Energy Foundation Awards $110,000 to Seven Recipients of 2024 Urban Revitalization Grants

• Grants support seven redevelopment opportunities that will address urban blight and building vacancies while promoting business creation and retention in the greater Cincinnati area.

• Over the program's 13-year history, it has funded over 110 projects to the tune of $3.4 million.

CINCINNATI, OH - The Duke Energy Foundation is proud to announce the Urban Revitalization 2024 grant recipients, a tradition that has been taking place for the last 13 years. The Foundation will be awarding $110,000 in Urban Revitalization Grants to seven local organizations. The grants are designed to deter the decline of cities, neighborhoods and main street corridors, impact job growth or retention, support community vitality, act as catalysts to spur additional commercial redevelopment activities and create jobs through commercial redevelopment.

"We are delighted to continue our commitment to urban revitalization through these grants. By supporting these innovative projects, we are not only addressing building vacancies but also fostering business creation and retention in the greater Cincinnati area," said Amy Spiller, President of Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. "These grants show our dedication to putting purpose into action, enhancing the vitality and resilience of the communities we serve."

At Duke Energy, we are committed to driving urban revitalization by investing in local infrastructure and fostering innovative solutions that enhance the vitality and resilience of the communities we serve. Since the program's inception in 2011, it has contributed more than $3.4 million in grant funding to organizations to help strengthen local business creation and retention. This year's grant recipients are:

• Avondale Development Corporation

$20,000 | Gabriel's Place Historic Church Remodel

To support the historic transformation, redevelopment functions will include assistance with funding for architectural designs, plans, and the integration of historic preservation engineering designs.

"Avondale Development Corporation is pleased to partner with the Duke Energy Foundation. Remodeling Gabriel's Place and its historic church and mixed-use property will provide tremendous value to Avondale - involving commercial space, rental units and a cultural arts center as well as preserving green space as a community garden. We're looking forward to making this neighborhood transformative project a reality and impacting future generations."
-- Russell Hairston, Executive Director

• Catalytic Development Corp

$10,000 | 343 Pike Street

To restore a blighted and vacant historic corner commercial building in Covington's Westside neighborhood into a vibrant community asset.

"The Catalytic Fund has a long history of partnering with the Duke Energy Foundation to make impactful investments in Northern Kentucky's river cities. This year, we're welcoming of their support on a project on Pike Street in Covington. With this support, we can spur momentum to overhaul a vacant and deteriorated building and bring about economic development opportunities for the community."
-- Travis Gysegem, Director of Research & Underwriting

• Camp Washington Urban Revitalization Corporation

$20,000 | 2908 Colerain Stabilization

To create architectural drawings and cover predevelopment expenses for the rehabilitation of a vacant building in the neighborhood business district.

"Camp Washington Urban Revitalization Corporation is on a mission to enhance economic opportunities, promote social engagement, and create a safe, blight-free physical environment in Camp Washington. The grant from the Duke Energy Foundation, in conjunction with funds previously received from the City of Cincinnati, will enable us to comprehensively stabilize the building. The project will include exterior painting, installation of a new roof, new upper windows, and a new commercial storefront. Upon completion, the building will stand as a significant and proud asset to the Camp Washington Business District."
-- Sidney Prigge, Executive Director of CWURC

• College Hill Urban Redevelopment Corporation

$10,000 | College Hill Plaza Development

To support comprehensive assessments for the plaza's revitalization, aiming to improve infrastructure, revitalize the community and business district, and promote economic growth and social well-being.

"College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation is grateful for the support of the Duke Energy Foundation. These funds will be used for predevelopment work in the College Hill Plaza Site. This is a strategic area in the College Hill business district and the future redevelopment will stabilize the site and transform the Plaza into a vibrant destination that aligns with the community's long-term vision for economic growth and neighborhood revitalization."-- Emmanuel Karikari, Chief Executive Officer, College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation.

• NEST - Cincinnati Northside Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation

$10,000 | 4001 Hamilton Ave.

To support the architectural and engineering costs of the redevelopment project, focusing on enhancing economic vibrancy, fostering new business creation, and eliminating vacancy and blight in the Neighborhood Business District.

"NEST is grateful for the Duke Energy Foundation's grant which will help us redevelop 4001 Hamilton Avenue. This blighted, vacant property will transform into 1 new commercial storefront and 4 affordable apartments at the entryway to Northside's Neighborhood Business District. Our community is excited about this catalytic project that will bolster the local economy and bring vibrancy back to the block."
-- Sarah Thomas, Executive Director, NEST

$20,000 | Workspace 513 / Vella's Café

To support the renovation of a building into an affordable co-working space featuring permanent rentals, short-term cubicles, meeting areas, and a coffee shop (Vella's Café), catering to the current hybrid work environment.

"Norwood Together is pleased to receive support from the Duke Energy Foundation once again. This time, we'll use the funds to create Workspace 513 / Vella's Café at 4351 Montgomery Road. Having sat empty for 17 years, it's thrilling to bring this building back to life. We couldn't do it without the support of Duke Energy; this will provide benefit to Norwood for years to come."
-- Mary Miller, Board President, Norwood Together

$20,000 | 3509 Warsaw - Architectural Design

To support the design of new first-floor retail space shared by multiple users, focusing on creating and refining layout options to meet code requirements and develop a collaborative hub for diverse tenants through an iterative co-design process.

"Receiving support from the Duke Energy Foundation is paramount for the revitalization of a key area in East Price Hill. Buildings at the corner of Warsaw Avenue and Wells Street are largely underutilized, vacant, and blighted. Renovating this area will no doubt reactivate businesses and the local economy. We're thrilled to spearhead this effort and look forward to the benefits it will provide." -- Ashley Feist, Commercial Real Estate Director, Price Hill Will

Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky

Duke Energy Ohio & Kentucky, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides electric service to 900,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 3,000-square-mile service area, and natural gas service to 550,000 customers in a 2,650-square-mile service area, in Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600 people.

Contact: John Juech
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