Northern Kentucky’s primary economic development organization has undergone a full rebrand; complete with a new color scheme, logo and name.
Going forward, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED will be known as BE NKY, short for BE NKY Growth Partnership. The name is derived from the organization’s BE NKY’s Build + Elevate Northern Kentucky investor campaign, which launched in February of last year. Their official website is already sporting the new branding.
“BE NKY is the final step in a transition the Board of Directors started in 2018. We began working toward a new name in 2020, but had to pivot our strategy due to COVID,” said BE NKY CEO Lee Crume. “We are excited to launch the name BE NKY Growth Partnership, the last piece of the Board’s restructuring efforts.”
Founded in 1987, BE NKY’s mission is to provide Northern Kentucky’s public and private sector leaders with resources, data and expertise on how to enhance local businesses and strengthen the region’s overall economy.
The new name aligns BE NKY with other regional development organizations which have rebranded over the past decade. The Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau rebranded to meetNKY in 2015. More recently, the Northern Kentucky Regional Alliance rebranded to the OneNKY Alliance in 2020.
In a press release, the organization stated new name to reflects “the team involved, which includes not only staff, but the public sector and private companies, all working together to achieve BE NKY’s vision and strategy for Northern Kentucky.”
“BE NKY Growth Partnership is a fresh, forward-thinking name that reflects the team’s passion for excellence and commitment to the community,” said Board Secretary Ben Brandstetter.
Some prominent regional leaders have already voiced their support for the organization’s new brand identity.
“It’s about a new energy, it’s about a new focus, it’s about being something more than we were before,” said Kenton County Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann.
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore said the new name was a “natural fit” and will “help convey who, where, and what the region is all about.”