Gov. Andy Beshear joined local and state leaders in Covington Wednesday morning for the groundbreaking of the OneNKY Center, the future home of Northern Kentucky growth organizations focused on business development, tourism and innovation.
“We needed this new facility in Northern Kentucky, and we have acted quickly with this investment,” Beshear said at the groundbreaking. “We can support the many life sciences and biotech companies already in the region, and we can welcome new innovators, startup companies, and we can create more high-wage jobs, and cutting edge treatments right here in Kentucky.”
NKY Chamber of Commerce, meetNKY, OneNKY Alliance, The Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky, BE NKY Growth Partnership, Horizon Community Funds of Northern Kentucky and Northern Kentucky Bar Association will all be tenants of the OneNKY Center, located at the foot of the Roebling Bridge.
“The Roebling Bridge serves as a Gateway to Northern Kentucky and is the ideal location for a signature building to house our region’s growth organizations and the Covington Life Science Lab,” said Karen Finan, president and CEO of OneNKY Alliance. “This project represents the brand and voice for our NKY Community thanks to the many organizations involved.”
The building will be owned by the Northern Kentucky Port Authority — a multi-jurisdictional economic development organization that facilitates river port projects along the Ohio and Licking Rivers.
“Launching the Northern Kentucky Port Authority as an active player in economic development has been a priority of our board of directors for several years,” said BE NKY Growth Partnership CEO and President Lee Crume. “In 2019, we began the groundwork that led to the role the Northern Kentucky Port Authority is playing in the OneNKY Center and are proud that it is the building’s owner.”
Hemmer Construction will the general contractor, said Corporex Chairman Bill Butler.
“I applaud the dedication of the OneNKY Alliance and Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky boards of directors to bring this building to life and thank the Governor and General Assembly for funding the Covington Life Science Lab,” Butler said. “Corporex is proud to be the developer of the building.”
State, local and charitable funding was raised for the project, which will include a $15 million Covington Life Science Lab. The lab will provide research and development facilities with shared equipment and office space.
“I am thrilled to see the Covington Life Science Lab coming to fruition with this groundbreaking and support from the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” said Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights). “Congratulations to the OneNKY Alliance and Catalytic Fund of Northern Kentucky and the vision their boards of directors have demonstrated and supported to bring the OneNKY Center to Covington and Kenton County.”
Covington Mayor Joe Meyer said he is looking forward to having entrepreneurs and biotech firms launching in the lab.
“The wet lab space was a need identified by our life sciences leaders – CTI, Bexion Pharmaceuticals, Gravity Diagnostics, and NKU – with encouragement from advocates associated with North Carolina’s Research Triangle,” Meyer said. “We look forward to more new groundbreaking therapies and discoveries being developed here in Covington.”