BY PERRY BROTHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Emphasizing the need for regional thinking, area economic development leaders agreed Wednesday that riverfront cities can work together for their mutual benefit.
Among the speakers at the University of Cincinnati for the third annual Regional Economic Development Seminar -- sponsored by the university and Cinergy Corp. -- were Andi Udris, Cincinnati's economic development director, and Laura Long, Mr. Udris' counterpart in Newport.
Several speakers at a morning session titled "Bridging the Gap" stressed that Cincinnati, Covington and Newport are cooperating.
"We're not in constant conflict as the newspapers would like to report," said Mr. Udris. "One of the things that I have to recognize is that our downtown doesn't stop at the riverfront. Our biggest challenge is the suburbs, not ourselves."
Ms. Long detailed the "Cinderella story" of Newport -- from an adult entertainment mecca to an urban development hot spot -- saying, tongue-in-cheek, that the city plans to return to its roots. Instead of adult entertainment, however, Newport is focusing on tourism and family entertainment such as the Newport Aquarium. Barry Rosenberg, president of Aquarium Holdings Inc., debunked reports that Cincinnati had dropped the ball on luring the tourist attraction.
"What happened was that at the time that we came to Cincinnati . . . they had two bigger things on their plate," he said, referring to the stadiums and the National Underground Railroad Museum and Freedom Center.
Other speakers included the Underground Railroad museum's senior adviser, Leon Boothe, and William R. Burleigh, vice chairman of economic development for the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce.
