NKY Thrives

Newport’s Monmouth Street continues to make progress

Before the addition of the Newport on the Levee development, Newport itself was often known more for being a somewhat seedy place.  Over the past two decades though, the Northern Kentucky river city has made tremendous progress that extends far beyond the informal boundaries of the Levee. Monmouth Street is the historic main street of the community and provides the business services for much of the surrounding residential neighborhoods.  The commercial part of the street is thriving as it has an estimated 90 percent occupancy rate with the slew of new businesses opening within the coming weeks. Robert Yoder, Main Street Coordinator for the City of Newport, says that while the district is competing with many other nearby districts and niche market has formed there.  “We’ve got a fitness niche going on here with Wiefit, Fusion Studio, Bicycle Outfitters, Leaders and Miles and Galaxy Skate Shop to name a few.” Yoder who also worked in Over-the-Rhine as part of the Digital Rhine efforts in the 90’s has also seen a significant number of small internet companies opening up on the second floors of buildings along Monmouth like Purple Trout and Red Hawk. Yoder’s work with the Main Street Program is focused in the area south of Third Street and up to Eleventh Street bounded by York and Washington streets on either side.  He notes that there are about 80 Main Street programs in Kentucky that Newport’s Monmouth Street is competing against for state grants to help with facade improvements. “We’re always trying to upgrade the facades of buildings.  We’re really focused on the 800 block of Monmouth Street right now and are working with developers and code enforcement officers to clean up the area,” says Yoder.  In the past two years Yoder notes that he has done about 14 or 15 facade grants, some of which still have work ongoing and can result in up to $30,000 for improvement work. Another key area that the Main Street Program is working on is marketing of the district.  One of those efforts has resulted in the Go2Newport weekly e-newsletter, but Yoder emphasizes that the best sale is word of mouth. “It’s no coincidence that we have six new businesses opening soon down here…existing businesses are talking to those looking at spaces and are drawing them into the neighborhood,” says Yoder. Wiefit is an exercise and body building studio at 842 Monmouth where Rick Lohre Photography is also opening.  Fan Mail Marketing is a “direct-to-fan” marketing internet platform for the music industry and is opening at 844 Monmouth.  A new 'green' grocer called Peluso's Produce & Plants will specialize in all local products at 627 Monmouth.  Purple Trout is a search engine optimization company at 336 Monmouth, and Knit On! Is a retailer for knitting supplies at 735 Monmouth Street. “Even though it’s a down economy I’m working with a lot of people who have been downsized and they are looking at new business ideas.  Home-based businesses like Purple Trout have been growing and are looking at permanent spaces.”  All in all Yoder says that the district is doing pretty good given the economy and is planning on a couple more new businesses in the near future. Writer: Randy A. Simes Photography by Scott Beseler

ASTAR Bringing 150 Jobs to Florence

ASTAR, a Wilmington air cargo charter company, plans to move to Florence pending payroll tax credits from Florence City Council. ASTAR serves DHL Worldwide Express, which in April announced it was moving its freight and sorting operation from Wilmington to CVG. The ASTAR move will bring 150 jobs to Northern Kentucky. Read Full article here.

Northern Kentucky’s Southbank Partners raises over $200k for Riverfront Commons project

Paging Dr. Robot: St. E gets first da Vinci robotic surgical system in Northern Kentucky

St. Elizabeth Medical Center is set to operate on its first patient in August using Intuitive Surgical’s high-tech da Vinci S Surgical System.The robotic surgery system is the Northern Kentucky region’s first. Gynocologic Oncology and Urology patients will be among the first to undergo this minimally invasive surgery. “With this new system in place, the benefit to patients will be a quicker recovery, a shorter hospital stay and a quicker return to their baseline functioning level,” said Dr. Jack Basil, gynecologic oncologist.  “In addition, this new robotic surgical system will keep St. Elizabeth Healthcare at the forefront of surgical technology.” The system, introduce in 2006, allows for smaller incisions and more precise cuts. Among its further benefits are reduced hospitalization costs and lesser patient trauma. “My robotic experience has confirmed improved outcomes for patients,” said Dr. J.D. Williams, urologist.  “I am eagerly looking forward to having the opportunity to offer this technology to patients in Northern Kentucky.” The da Vinci Surgical System consists of an “ergonomically designed console where the surgeon sits, a mobile patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms, a high-resolution 3-D vision system, and proprietary wristed instrumentation,” according to St. Elizabeth. The surgeons hand movements are prescilgy in synch with the tiny tools inside the patient’s body. The St. Elizabeth Foundation providing funds for the da Vinci system. The foundation helps the hospital purchase important, but otherwise cost prohibitive like the da Vinci. Writer: Feoshia HendersonSource: St. Elizabeth Medical Center

Serving it up local style

In the last 15 years, KHI Foods in Burlington has turned a humble honey sales operation into an innovative local foods powerhouse bringing Kentucky crops to the national market while feeding the region's manufacturing industry.

BlueStar opens new HQ in Hebron, to hire 60

BlueStar, a provider of solutions-based distribution technology, recently opened a new 150,000 square-foot world headquarters in Hebron, Kentucky. The new facility includes a state-of-the-art training center, warehouse and distribution center, and corporate headquarters. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and BlueStar President and CEO Steve Kuntz attended the June 25 ribbon-cutting ceremony. With wireless mobility, data collection, bar coding, Point-of-Sale, and radio-frequency identification (RFID) products, BlueStar is a leader in global distribution technology. The privately-held company employs 200 people in Greater Cincinnati, with an additional 100 employees worldwide. “BlueStar quickly outgrew its Florence facility,” stated Tracey Lugo, BlueStar’s Marketing Communications Manager. “As we continue to grow we now have the room to hire approximately 60 new employees. We will be seeking candidates from our own community who are seasoned in business development, hi-tech product marketing, distribution, and web development.”The new facility includes energy-efficient motion sensor lighting; recycling of waste has been expanded to 70 percent. Integrated software allows place-based media and narrowcasting throughout the new facility. The global training center is large enough to host simultaneous events; expanded integration/repair and customer support centers allow optimal support for BlueStar’s resellers. “BlueStar’s relocation to a Global Headquarters of this magnitude is emblematic of our character and direction in the present and future global solutions-based distribution market,” said Steve Cuntz, BlueStar’s Chief Executive Officer. By Elena StevensonSource: BlueStar, Tracey Lugo

Cuban restaurant opens in Covington’s Wedding District

A quarantine for WEG horses will be in a Cincinnati parking lot

An estimated 600 horses will come to the Kentucky Horse Park for the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and they will all need somewhere to stay. Part of that lodging solution will come in the form of a parking lot at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport where a complex of covered stables will be built to help house the horses before they compete at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. The games will take place from September 25 to October 10 and will attract visitors from all over the world, and the quarantine will allow for the proper prevention of the spread of any potential diseases. Read full article here.

Koreans interested in Dayton project

The proposed Manhattan Harbour development in Dayton, Kentucky has attracted the attention of a South Korean firm that hopes to create a project that boasts cutting-edge technology that will also be brought to the rest of the city.Technology firm LG CNS signed a memorandum of understanding with Manhattan Harbour's developers to be a part of the project that will be built along the banks of the Ohio River.LG CNS' involvement is attracting other international firms and investors with one considering building $20 million to $40 million worth of development in the project.Once complete, Dayton, Kentucky would become the United States' first "smart city," and be among a select few world wide.Read full article here.