About
OHIO CITY INC.
Ohio City Incorporated (OCI) is the community development corporation responsible for preserving, promoting and developing the Ohio City neighborhood. OCI serves the community by providing assistance to both neighborhood residents as well as businesses and institutions through the vehicles of advocacy and engagement, community building, marketing, special events, neighborhood planning and housing assistance. Furthermore, OCI is engaged in tenant attraction and retention. The work of OCI is aimed at making Ohio City a vibrant and livable community.
We center the city with our
Mission
We lead the development of Ohio City by collaborating to address the needs of a diverse community of engaged people, driving new investments in and preserving the quality of a historic place, and promoting an inviting urban neighborhood for all.
We dream big with our
Vision
Ohio City is Cleveland's most complete neighborhood, a destination for celebrating the urban experience and an ideal setting to make a home, raise a family, start a business, serve others and live a full life.
Safety
Ohio City Safety Camera Initiative
The safety of the residents, workers, and visitors is a top priority for Ohio City Incorporated and the community. The Ohio City Safety Camera Initiative is designed to deter crime by installing, and identifying through signage, safety cameras in strategic locations throughout the neighborhood. Camera footage is a useful tool to the Second District police in investigating incidents of crime. For more information, contact Molly Farris at mfarris@ohiocity.org
Ohio City Improvement Corporation
Ohio City’s Clean & Safe Ambassadors provide services that include patrolling the Special Improvement District, removing litter and graffiti, providing safety escorts, addressing public disturbances, homeless outreach, and greeting and assisting people in the district. These services are funded by property owners in the identified special improvement district.For more information, contact Ben Trimble at btrimble@ohiocity.org.
Safety Committee
Ohio City Inc. facilitates a Safety Committee comprised of OCI staff & Board members and neighborhood safety leaders that meets monthly to assess safety needs and concerns in the community. For more information, contact Brandon Collier at bcollier@ohiocity.org
Engagement
Near West Recreation
Created in 2013, Near West Recreation is a partnership between Ohio City Incorporated, North West Neighborhood Community Development Organization, Tremont West Development, and Metro West Development Organization. Near West Recreation offers year-round recreation programming for children of all ages as well as select programs for adults. This league operates on a sliding-scale system, with need-based financial assistance available to participants living on Cleveland's Near West side, making it accessible to all. For more information contact Keri Palma at kpalma@ohiocity.org.
Community Engagement Committee
OCI facilitates a Community Engagement Committee comprised of OCI staff & Board members and neighborhood residents that meets monthly to discuss opportunities to strengthen our engagement with the Ohio City community. For more information, contact Brandon Collier at bcollier@ohiocity.org.
Block Club Support
Ohio City Inc. regularly attends meetings for and exchanges updates with neighborhood Block Clubs.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering is a great way to get connected to your community! OCI facilitates year-round volunteer opportunities including neighborhood clean-up and planting days, Near West Recreation youth sports coaching, outreach initiatives, and neighborhood events. Click here to register with our volunteer database!
Spring Jam
Each March, OCI puts on a Spring Break program for youth residents of Lakeview Terrace. This program includes cost-free childcare for the week of CMSD Spring Break, daily educational and community building programming, meals and transportation to activities. For more information, contact Keri Palma at kpalma@ohiocity.org.
Economic Development
Ohio City Inc. provides support for businesses looking to locate in the neighborhood. Our staff can help connect you to property owners and resources as the Neighborhood Retail Assistance Program, the Storefront Renovation Program, the Ohio City Small Business Development Fund, as well as signage and building rebates. For more information, contact Julia Metler-Grove at jmg@ohiocity.org
Neighborhood Planning
Ohio City Inc. helps to advocate, plan, fundraise and provide technical support for neighborhood planning initiatives that improve transit connectivity, walk and bike-ability, green spaces, and public art. For more information, contact Julia Mettler-Grove at jmg@ohiocity.org
Housing Assistance
Ohio City Inc. provides technical assistance to home and property owners and developers to aid in the permitting and design review processes. For more information, contact Ben Trimble at btrimble@ohiocity.org or Julia Metler-Grove at jmg@ohiocity.org
Marketing & Events
Annual Meeting
Each March, Ohio City Inc. hosts an Annual Meeting to share the accomplishments of our past year with the community and announce a series of awards for excellence in the neighborhood. At this event, we also present our Annual Report, sharing the details of the work we accomplished over the past year and updates on ongoing projects.
Events
Our major annual event is the Ohio City Street Festival, which brings in over 15,000 attendees each September. This day-long celebration of the Ohio City neighborhood showcases neighborhood restaurants, West Side Market vendors, and retail, a wide variety of interactive arts programming, live music, and a kid's zone full of family-friendly activities. This event is completely free and open to all.
Ohio City Inc. provides financial and technical support for a number of events taking place in the neighborhood including Station Hope, Ohio City Stages, Open Air in Market Square and the Ohio City Run & Crawl
Marketing
Ohio City Inc. facilitates neighborhood and West Side Market marketing initiatives through our social media, website, e-newsletter, quarterly newsletter In Your Backyard (mailed free of charge to Ohio City Inc. members,) and other communications. We also help to support neighborhood events, initatives and groups by sharing information through these platforms.
