Cincinnati Redesigns City Hall to Speed Up Development

Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long is tearing down bureaucratic walls that have frustrated developers and residents for years, replacing a tangled web of departments with two focused teams designed to say "yes" faster.

The city plans to dissolve its Department of Community and Economic Development by late May, creating instead an Office of Strategic Growth for big projects and a Department of Opportunity and Resident Services for everyday people. City Council will vote on the plan later this month.

"DCED was doing a lot of things, but not really doing a lot of things well," Long told WVXU. The old department asked 38 employees to "wear 50 billion hats," she said, leaving everyone stretched thin and no one excelling.

The new Office of Strategic Growth will become the single point of contact developers have been asking for. Instead of bouncing between departments for tax incentives, real estate deals, and community development programs, builders can work with one team that knows their projects inside and out.

Brandon Rudd, who joined the city in November after leading the Cincinnati Chamber's research center, will guide the office as interim deputy director. His team will handle everything from affordable housing programs to job creation tax credits.

The Ripple Effect

The second new department puts residents first. The Department of Opportunity and Resident Services will combine human services with small business support, homeowner assistance, and homelessness programs under one roof.

Current DCED Director Markiea Carter will lead this resident-focused team, bringing together services that help people build wealth and stability. Whether someone needs down payment assistance, eviction prevention help, or support starting a business, they'll find it in one place.

The restructuring comes from recommendations made nearly two years ago by an independent Futures Commission. Assistant City Manager Billy Weber says the key insight was simple: "It really comes down to mission focus—knowing who your clients are, who your customers are, and what you're there to accomplish."

All 38 current employees are invited to apply for positions in the new structure, though jobs aren't guaranteed. Officials say they need to match the right people to newly focused roles. Position postings will go up within weeks.

The changes won't cost extra money through June 2026, and Long promises no delays for projects already in the pipeline. Mayor Aftab Pureval praised the plan for "maximizing our service delivery" and positioning city workers "to catalyze and facilitate even more growth across our neighborhoods."

After four years of studying gaps in city services, Cincinnati is betting that simpler structures and clearer missions will help everyone from Fortune 500 companies to first-time homebuyers get the help they need faster.