OMNICARE? WHAT OMNICARE? COVINGTON MOVES ON

by Michael Monks
Email Michael
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-River-City-News/244172412265645
@theRCnews on Twitter
The confetti is still falling at Atrium One in Downtown Cincinnati where Omnicare CEO John Figueroa and a sparkling, unlikely duo of Ohio Governor John Kasich and Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory announced their job redistribution plan of taking more than three hundred positions from the edge of the Ohio River in Covington and placing them on the other edge in the Queen City. Though the distance is essentially the equivalent of an Olympic-size swimming pool, the financial ramifications for Covington are closer to the equivalent of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies.

But don't cry for The Gateway to the South. "Covington's been around for two-hundred years, through civil war, martial law, and floods," said City Manager Larry Klein. "We'll get through this. Hang with us." The rosy, unphased optimism was evident up and down the commission chairs at Tuesday night's meeting, even with one of those chairs noticeably vacant. Mayor Denny Bowman, effective September 30, resigned his seat as the elected leader of Covington for the second time in eleven years and was absent.

"We have a bright future ahead," said Commissioner Steve Frank. "Gateway College's urban campus, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, and an opportunity to live, work and play in a town we know as Covington."

The negative effect to the city's coffers that will result from Omnicare's phased departure beginning in December did not go unacknowledged, however. "This will require further belt-tightening," said Commissioner Steve Casper. "If employees have ideas, talk to your department heads. Invite us to meet with you."

Covington eliminated multiple positions and accepted early retirements from others this summer in an effort to close a projected $4 million deficit, following an often contentious and emotional debate. The loss of Omnicare and the pending loss of AC Nielsen (also possibly to Covington's larger neighbor on the northbank) may lead to more reductions in personnel.

"News of the last day let us know that we need to be better at retaining business," said Covington Business Council President Pat Frew, speaking before the Commission. "CBC hopes to help strategize solutions. We will overcome this latest challenge."

The optimism was triggered by two pieces of news Tuesday night: Covington's partnership with local firm bioLOGIC to seek federal funds for the creation of a life science business cluster along Pike Street and the IRS's plans to redevelop or to relocate nearby their current address, a one-story building stretched out across several acres on the riverfront.

"We're very proud of bioLOGIC and our ability to work with them," said Jackson Kinney, Community Development Director. Kinney explained that a joint effort between the city and the firm to seek federal funding for the cluster would lead to the redevelopment of vacant buildings on Pike Street. Already the city received a Duke Urban Revitalization Grant that will allow for the hiring of a program manager for the life science accelerator.

"You make us proud," Commissioner Sherry Carran said to representatives from bioLOGIC. "The future is about to get jump started immediately," Frank said.

"We need to use this as an opportunity," said Commissioner Shawn Masters. "We have to ask ourselves if (Omnicare & AC Nielsen) are the types of companies we want shaping our skyline. We need to focus on the 50-100 employee businesses who will have allegiance to our city."

"We all hate to see Omnicare leave but I can't fault Cincinnati," Carran said. "They have to do what they have to do. Hopefully the employees will come back and visit us. This is a comfortable, welcoming area."