COVINGTON, Ky. (WKRC) – A historic building in Covington has been transformed into SparkHaus, Northern Kentucky’s largest dedicated entrepreneurship hub, officially opening its doors on Monday. The 50,000-square-foot facility aims to be a new home for entrepreneurs, small businesses, and innovators, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and local leaders, business champions, and community partners.
“This space is about building something bigger than a building. It’s about giving our entrepreneurs the tools and connections they need to succeed and creating a community where innovation thrives,” said Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann.
“Entrepreneurship has long been concentrated in larger markets, but SparkHaus changes that for Northern Kentucky,” said Dave Knox, Executive Director of Blue North. “This space gives our innovators access to the same resources, mentorship, and community you’d expect in major startup cities—right here at home.”
SparkHaus is a $16 million investment in Covington, supported by nearly $3 million in private philanthropic contributions and a $6 million contribution from the Kentucky General Assembly. The project was executed by the Northern Kentucky Port Authority and is debt-free.
The facility includes an event space, a public-facing cafe, coworking spaces, and various meeting rooms, with the first floor housing these amenities.