Italy might not be the first country that comes to mind when people think about foreign investment in Cincinnati. But 18 Italian companies that make everything from sheet metal to motors to Mentos -- the freshmaker! -- would beg to disagree.

Armando Varricchio, Italy's ambassador to the United States, visited Wednesday to celebrate his country's growing investment in the Tri-State and to explore new opportunities to create jobs here. He is the first Italian ambassador ever to visit Cincinnati, his office and city officials believe.