HCDC, Inc. held its Annual Business Development Awards Ceremony on Feb. 23 to celebrate the organizations and individuals who have partnered with HCDC to help build the local economy “one business at a time.”
The economic development organization that runs a Startup Incubator in Norwood, is an SBA Lender, and is the Economic Development Office for Hamilton County. This year, seven individuals and organizations were recognized for their success and contributions to our community.
Nancy Aichholz of Aviatra was this year’s Todd Portune Innovation Champion Award recipient. The Award recognizes an innovator that passionately promotes new ideas, methods, products and those who work tirelessly to create them. Todd Portune received the inaugural Innovation Champion award in 2019 because of his support for innovators and effort to establish HCDC’s Office of Innovation and Creativity.
Aichholz effects change within our community, just like previous recipients have. As CEO of Aviatra, Nancy has served female founders from idea to exit and everything in between. She has piloted a program that has welcomed over 3,000 women with ideas or businesses into the community and offered them education, coaching, mentoring, networking and access to capital. Businesses she and Aviatra have touched have created approximately 15,000 jobs, accessed multi-millions of dollars in funding and generated cumulative revenues of over $1 Billion.
HCDC celebrates Aichholz contributions and results in Southwest Ohio. “Nancy’s dedication to female entrepreneurship is a tremendous asset in our region and her results speak for themselves”, said HCDC President Patrick Longo.
