SparkHaus, a $16 million redevelopment of a 48,000 sf building in Covington, is the future home of entrepreneurship in Northern Kentucky and will be operated by Blue North, the innovation connector in the region. In May 2023, with funding from the Kenton County site development fund, the NKY Port purchased the former Sims Furniture building in Covington for redevelopment into Northern Kentucky’s entrepreneurial hub. In April 2024, SparkHaus received an additional $6 million in state funding through Kentucky House Bill 1 to support the project’s build out. Individual investors and private foundations have also provided funding for the building’s transformation which kicked off on September 16, 2024 and should be completed in mid-2025.
Building:
48,000 sf
Owner:
NKY Port Authority
Project Partners:
Blue North
Kenton County Fiscal Court
State of Kentucky
Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky
Investors:
Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile Jr. Foundation
Corporex Cos.
Drees Homes Foundation
Duke Energy Urban Revitalization Initiative
Fischer Homes
John Cain
Milburn Family Foundation
R.C. Durr Foundation
Ried Schott
St. Elizabeth Foundation
Developer & Construction Manager:
Urban Sites
