[2] MORTAR was founded in 2014, with its first location in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Over-the-Rhine (OTR),[2] which has the highest income inequality of more than 61,000 communities in the US.
While Over-the-Rhine was gaining economic vitality, the three co-founders noted that many poor and black residents of OTR were being "left behind".
[3] By 2018, it had expanded to additional Cincinnati neighborhoods, including Walnut Hills, West End, and Uptown.
[5] MORTAR additionally provides entrepreneurs assistance with securing store fronts, legal services, and guidance for marketing.
[6] For their involvement with MORTAR, cofounders Derrick Braziel and William Thomas were included on the Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2016.