“If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.” — Elon Musk
Today’s issue:
August 18, 2020
GAME CHANGERS
Cincinnati COMPASS empowers immigrant entrepreneurs 
Photo: Cincinnati COMPASS
In 2014, Ohio's immigrant entrepreneurs generated nearly $532 million in business income. Immigrants make up a marginal 5 percent of Cincinnati's total population, yet they account for 7 percent of the state's entrepreneurs.
Cincinnati Future recently spent time with Bryan Wright, the Executive Director of Cincinnati COMPASS, to find out how that organization makes the transition for immigrants to the area easier.
How did you get involved with Cincinnati Compass?
While a professor at Cincinnati State, I was part of a subcommittee on Mayor Cranley’s Task Force on Immigration. Hundreds of greater Cincinnatians contributed to the task force and developed a vision to assist immigrants to land here successfully.
How is the organization funded?
Funding comes from a variety of sources, including national foundations, the city of Cincinnati, the University of Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky University, Xavier University, Miami University, Procter & Gamble, Western-Southern Life Insurance, and the Elevar Design Group.
How would you best describe your operating model?
We have a three-pillar model. First, we have advocacy groups at the national, state, and local levels. This gives us an understanding of state and local policies and hiring practices of employers. Second, we serve as a connector for immigrants to resources and to other cultural communities within Cincinnati itself. Lastly, we celebrate and promote the economic successes of immigrants to increase their visibility and contributions to our community. Much of our work is data driven from surveys measuring different parameters such as housing, education, employment, and schools.
How do immigrants know where to look for resources?
Immigrants can call our office directly or use our self-service website, which can assist them in finding the resources that they need. Community-based organizations point them to us, as well as cultural and religious organizations. We also have multilingual workers and access to interpreters who speak a variety of languages to help immigrants navigate through the resources which can assist them. We have a working relationship with Cincinnati Cares.
How do you connect resources with immigrants?
Resources often reach out to us for the purposes of advocacy. Here is a list of them.
How has Cincinnati COMPASS dealt with COVID-19?
The pandemic has created a shortage of nurses and healthcare workers in Cincinnati, the state of Ohio, and throughout the country. Immigrants can help fill the void. Over 44% of immigrants in Cincinnati have Bachelor of Science degrees or higher from their originating countries. We can help them with the credentialing process needed to work here in healthcare industries.
What are ongoing challenges and how will Cincinnati COMPASS address them going forward?
New executive orders provide challenges in terms of interpreting them and providing education and guidance to immigrants. For the past two years, there really hasn’t been an immigrant asylum process, and visas have been tougher to obtain, causing additional disruptions. There is ongoing insecurity in employment, housing, schooling, and healthcare for immigrants.
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Miami U committed to growing entrepreneurs Miami University takes an immersive, practice-based learning approach to entrepreneurial education.
“Miami University’s undergraduate entrepreneurship program is a belief in the transformative power of learning by doing so, inside and outside the classroom. What sets our program apart from others is our commitment to graduate students who are ‘job-ready, day one,’” said Tim Holcomb, Chair of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Director of the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship.
It just takes a look at the 2019-2020 stats to illustrate the point:
"Our vision is that every student at Miami will have taken an entrepreneurship course to expose them to different aspects of our entrepreneurial world, whether it's a startup, social, corporate innovation or creativity," Holcomb says, speaking to the TrustedPeer Entrepreneurship Network.
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TECH SOLUTIONS
Kroger's tech addresses COVID-19 There's a reason Kroger is the largest supermarket by revenue in the U.S.--the company never stops innovating. Kroger has implemented more than 30 policy and process changes since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in order to offer safer and easier ways to shop. These include:
Now the company is launching a contactless payments pilot in its QFC division (located in Seattle). The tech will allow customers to use their mobile device for a more seamless checkout experience. The pilot accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, mobile banking apps, and contactless chip cards, underpinned by near-field communication (NFC) technology.
Kroger's technology team recently enabled NFC payments at 61 QFC stores. The NFC technology uses a radio frequency field to transmit data between two devices—a mobile device and PIN pad—eliminating physical contact. Customers can place their mobile device or contactless chip card near the PIN pad, and payment data is transmitted from the device or card to the terminal to process the transaction.
"Kroger continues to invest in innovative technologies that advance the customer experience, including our payment systems," said Kathy Hanna, Kroger's senior director of payments in a press release. "Providing our customers with flexibility—whether that means having the option to choose between shopping in-store or online for groceries or how you pay for them—we are committed to personalizing their shopping trip."
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New app helps people cope with COVID anxiety In addition to its terrible medical toll, COVID-19 is causing feelings of anxiety and stress in people trying to deal with the upheaval. To help people cope, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has created a new smartphone app that provides recommendations for self-care. The app is designed for adults and children over the age of 13. The University of Cincinnati and behavioral-health developer Wysa collaborated on the project.
Anxiety and disorders like phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder affect about a fifth of the US population and nearly a third of people at some time in their lives. The COVID pandemic has worsened those conditions. The app is not designed to be a substitute for therapy, but rather to offer a way to help people understand their anxiety and provide some tools and exercises to encourage self-care.
MOVING IN
European player in paper recycling makes a move to Ohio Saica, one of the largest European players in the development and manufacturing of recycled paper for corrugated board, has determined the location for its entry into North America: Hamilton.
When Saica began planning its move, it started by considering sites in the Midwest because of its concentration of manufacturing experience, workforce talent, and businesses, as well as proximity to potential clients.
Ohio is one of the strongest advanced manufacturing states in the US. Its low-cost business environment and pro-manufacturing tax structure make it appealing. Its central geographic location also means that manufacturers can reach 60% of the U.S. and Canada populations within a day’s drive.
Construction on the site is expected to start in September 2020 and take 18 months to finish.
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