Experiencing Covington | Experiential and The Entrepreneurship Economy

All Character and No Chains...

What does that mean? It means small, local-owned businesses outnumber national chains. By a lot. Covington is a welcoming city that offers a diverse and thriving community, and this cool urban vibe attracts the one-of-a-kind small retailers, restaurants and drinking spots that add personality and character of The Cov. We encourage and award authenticity. Each year, we recognize businesses via our Authenti-CITY awards program, and trust us that it’s a fun experience.

“Covington is such a close-knit, supportive community with great business networking opportunities, as well as a large population – and that includes a growing culturally-diverse population -- to support local businesses,” said Chapman. “Covington afforded my family the opportunity to fulfill our economic and social objectives in a niche market. This is a great location to do business and build relationships and connections.”
- Carolyn Chapman, Owner, Anchor Grill

Entrepreneurship at Innovation Alley

Entrepreneurs will find solid support through Covington’s Innovation Alley, where organizations provide expertise that it takes to grow your idea into a sustainable business. (Companies like Microsoft and Apple started in dorm rooms or garages, so why not an alley?). Here’s what you’ll find:

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers one to one coaching at no cost.
Aviatra Accelerators enable women to start and sustain businesses by providing resources needed for success.
Blue North is a Kentucky Innovation Hub helping startups and small businesses connect with the right resources to accelerate their business.
African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cincinnati (AACC) offers black entrepreneurs with business technical assistance.
Community Action Committee of Northern Kentucky (CAC) offers technical assistance for small and home-based businesses that may need extra support.

Entrepreneurship at Sparkhaus

Opening Summer 2025, Sparkhaus is a regional entrepreneurial hub and coworking space for high growth companies and venture backed startups. Located in the same spot of the first Clubhouse of Covington Industrial Club in 1911, Sparkhaus is designed to create a collaborative environment where people and ideas collide to build the next big success story.

Located in Covington’s central business district, 727 Madison.
Space for (47,000 sqft):
– Entrepreneurs, offering flexible office space from 1-10+.
– Investors, from seed stage venture capitalist to Northern Kentucky’s largest firms, to interact with growing startups.
– Support Organizations, i.e. Blue North, Northern Kentucky’s primary entrepreneurship advocacy and resource organization.
– Café/coffee, meetings, classrooms and presentation rooms.

Highlights:

Entrepreneur ecosystem

Creates synergy to move ideas and business forward. For example, Cov Creates brings agencies, entrepreneurs, students, creative professionals, city officials and curious minds together through quarterly meetups.

Cov Creates – Collaboratively Creating the Future of Covington

Inclusive and welcoming

A city where diversity and inclusion is embedded in its core values.

City incentives

Designed to assist small and large businesses and developers.

Talent Pipeline

12,000 degrees and certificates awarded from Cincinnati metro in related majors.

Walkable and Quirky

Intriguing public art, lively events, locally owned restaurants and boutiques, notable bourbon bars all woven together in an historic river city.

Be in good company with a sampling of:

Unique retailers and restaurants:

Anchor Grill
Covington Yard
Earth to Kentucky
Opal Rooftop
The Madison
The Roost

High growth start-ups:

Connecti Ventures
eGateway Capital
Flame.ai
Nichefire
Safewave
StepCG

“I couldn’t imagine a better place to build and grow my business than right here in Covington. It has all of the elements you would want as a business owner: a vibrant, walkable community; a central location easily accessible to clients and employees on both sides of the river; and a bustling creative community that we are proud to be part of. The support and guidance the city and its staff have provided as we’ve grown over the past ten years have been invaluable.”

Shannon Boyer

Founder and President, Scooter Media

“We doubled down on Covington. We are bringing people from all over to the city and making an impact.”

Tony Remington

CEO & Co-Founder, Gravity Diagnostics

“Indy Honeycomb supplies customers from the US, Europe, Asia, and South American companies. Probably 30% of our products are exports. Being close to the CVG allows us to provide world-class service”.

Steve Barnett

CEO, Indy Honeycomb

“Covington is such a close-knit, supportive community with great business networking opportunities, as well as a large population – and that includes a growing culturally-diverse population -- to support local businesses,” said Chapman. “Covington afforded my family the opportunity to fulfill our economic and social objectives in a niche market. This is a great location to do business and build relationships and connections.”

Carolyn Chapman

Owner, Anchor Grill

“In 2023, nearly 30 startups raised more than $10 million in grants and venture capital in Northern Kentucky, attracting investment from firms in California, New York City, and Chicago. With SparkHaus bringing together capital, startups and growth companies, the potential in the years to come is limitless.”

Dave Knox

Executive Director, Blue North

“Simply put, we could not do what we do without the City of Covington’s Economic Development team! The support Covington offers to women entrepreneurs is stellar. City staff members are welcoming to the entrepreneurs in our classes and incubator space, and they enthusiastically support and help promote our annual WOB Crawl (Woman-Owned Business Crawl). The City’s award-winning Small Business Incentives Program is second to none and makes it possible for even the newest of entrepreneurs to thrive.”

Jill Morenz

President + CEO, Aviatra Accelerators

Expand or relocate your business here.

We are ready to assist!

Team

Susan Smith

Business Attraction
susan.smith@covingtonky.gov
859-292-2321

Patrick Duffy

Business Retention and Expansion
pduffy@covingtonky.gov
859-292-2141