The City’s Small Business Program is supporting nine businesses, including an art gallery, a doula home, a new restaurant, a corner building, a historic electric sign, a vintage clothing store, a vintage retail furniture and cor store, a Pilates studio, and a wellness studio.
Rent subsidies, facade upgrades, and historic electric light incentives were recently authorized by the Covington Board of Commissioners. These measures will encourage private investment, the development of new jobs, and a more appealing business climate in The Cov.
The City’s Small Business Program, which allocates $150,000 annually to assist new businesses with their first year’s rent and to assist commercial property owners in renovating their exteriors or restoring a historic electric business sign, provided the incentives during the fourth round of funding this fiscal year.
In order to support businesses’ continued success and expansion, our Economic Development staff works hard to make doing business in the city simple. Patrick Duffy, Manager of Business Retention and Expansion at Covington, stated.
According to business owners, the money will help them expand their companies.
Meredith Frickey, the owner of Pilates on Pike, expressed her gratitude for being a recipient of the program. The first year’s rent is covered by the contribution, which frees up funds for me to use in expanding my business through marketing campaigns, studio supplies, and other features that will establish Pilates on Pike as a popular studio in the center of Covington.
Frickey added that the simplicity of the fund application process was beneficial.
According to Frickey, the application process for the rent subsidy scheme was simple. Patrick [Duffy] was open and honest about what I could anticipate while my application was being reviewed.
The money will assist the exterior of Pique Art Gallery, located at 210 W. Pike St., match the energy within, according to Lindsey Whittle, co-owner.
According to Whittle, a facade renovation at 210 W. Pike St., kindly funded by the City of Covington, would enable Pique to better represent the creativity and sense of community we foster within. We invite both locals and guests to engage through exhibitions, workshops, and shared experiences as a modern art gallery and bed & breakfast. With this update, the lively spirit inside may be reflected outside.
A total of $55,500 was given out on Tuesday for four facade projects, four rent subsidies, and a historic electric sign. These incentives include:
Faade Incentives:
Six Thousand to Sparkezilla. The building’s facade will be painted and tuckpointed as part of the $23,400 repair at 210 Pike St. The structure, which is home to Pique Art Gallery, will be renovated in accordance with historic preservation standards. The MainStrasse Village neighborhood is where the company is situated.
Mugsy Development received $6,000. Repairing the right doorway, painting, tuckpointing, and repairing shop windows are all part of the $29,550 restoration at 326-328 Pike St. Doulas of Cincinnati is housed in the building. The Westside neighborhood is where the building is situated.
341-343 Pike St. for $6,000. Storefront windows and trim are being replaced as part of the $27,951 makeover. A new bar or restaurant will be drawn to this charming corner building as a result of the project. The Mutter Gottes neighborhood is where the structure is situated.
701 Madison Ave. for $6,000. Pressure washing, tuckpointing, painting, new flashing and trim, downspout repair, and repainting and rearranging the antique electric sign are all included in the $47,868 project. The structure, which is in the Westside area, will eventually house a new restaurant.
Rent Assistance:
$6,000. Feel Something, LLC. In the center of Ritte’s Corner is the vibrant vintage retail establishment. The store, which specializes in mid-century antique furniture and décor, will sell curated vintage goods from up to ten suppliers. Local vendors from Covington and the neighboring villages will be supported by the retail establishment. The company is situated in the Ritte’s East district at 3706 Decoursey Ave.
Pilates on Pike will cost $6,000. A state-of-the-art Pilates studio that uses reformer Pilates to promote physical fitness. Pilates on Pike will use state-of-the-art technology to provide both group and individual instruction for students of all skill levels. The company is situated in the Mutter Gottes district at 33 Pike St. A business plan with projections for the future was provided by the owners.
$6,000 to Goods. Goods is a vintage store catering to all sexes, ages, and genders that sells high-quality, carefully chosen vintage apparel and items that are meant to last for many generations. The 7th and Pike street area will gain another retail establishment thanks to this space. Owners Ray Vietti and Kyle Wolff, who supplied a business plan and three-year prognosis for the store, are opening their second retail location. Goods is situated in the Mutter Gottes district at 33 Pike St.
Breathe Wellness Studio will cost $6,000. By providing traditional wellness activities like yoga and massage along with breath work, sound healing, and other complementary therapies that are customized to meet the requirements of each client, Breathe Wellness Studio helps to bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern wellness practices. The studio is situated in the Mutter Gottes area at 118 W. Pike St., on the second floor.
An electric sign that is historic:
$7,500 to Sparkhaus, a division of NKY Port Authority. The Sims Furniture building was adaptively reused by the NKY Port Authority in October 2024 to become Sparkhaus’ future location. Urban Sites has collaborated with Klusty Sign Associates, the American Sign Museum, and Durham Brands to conserve the 1950s Sims Furniture electric sign and rehabilitate it to reflect its current tenant, Northern Kentucky’s center for entrepreneurship. The building is situated in the Westside neighborhood at 721–731 Madison Ave.
172 companies or projects have benefited from the Small Business Program since its launch in 2017.
Covington City