Meet the Team

Director
Markiea Carter
In the spring of 2021, Markiea L. Carter was appointed as Director of the Department of Community and Economic Development. As Director, Ms. Carter is responsible for managing, directing, and organizing the department which oversees economic development, neighborhood preservation, redevelopment initiatives, federal HUD grants, and parking. A graduate of Miami University, Ms. Carter began her career in public service over 13 years ago with the City of Cincinnati, starting her career with the City in Community and Economic Development. She most recently served as Director of Economic Inclusion for the City of Cincinnati where she administered the Equal Employment Opportunity Program, Living Wage, MBE/WBE/SBE certification programs and Local, State, and Federal prevailing wage.

Deputy Director
Dan Bower
How Can We Help?
Local Knowledge of our Local Economy
Learn more about the Cincinnati market from our team of development officers and analysts.
An Advocate in City Hall
We routinely assist business owners and developers in their interactions with city departments, as well as its boards and commissions, to facilitate growth and overcome potential hurdles to development.
Connections to Community Resources
Whether you need to find a pool of qualified job candidates, a new supplier, or assistance finding the correct state or federal program to help you grow, we can help connect you with the right resources.
Project Financing
We routinely work with business owners and developers to help finance quality projects. We partner with business owners and developers to secure loans, grants, incentives, or other financing tools to make your project become a reality.
Any Questions?
Find a site that’s right for you with our Site Selector map.
See our incentive & financing resources here.
Residential Tax Abatements are available for Cincinnati residents. Learn more on our Residential Tax Abatement page.
Our department has several teams who are available to discuss project details with you.
For projects in the urban core (Downtown, Over-the-Rhine, Pendleton):
Lindsey Florea, Division Manager
lindsey.florea@cincinnati-oh.gov
For projects in neighborhoods outside of the urban core:
Bob Bertsch, Economic Development Division Manager
robert.bertsch@cincinnati-oh.gov
For housing projects:
Roy Hackworth, Housing & Community Development Manager
roy.hackworth@cincinnati-oh.gov
If you’re looking to engage with your community council, you can find out more information on the Community Council Dashboard.
The OpenCincy tool identifies and estimates the permits, licenses, and fees needed to open or expand your business in the City of Cincinnati.
Yes, click HERE to pay.