Nearly 400,000 people live in Northern Kentucky (NKY), a vibrant, fast-growing community comprised of three counties—Boone, Campbell and Kenton—and a staggering 36 cities. Northern Kentucky is part of the 16-county Greater Cincinnati region, a thriving metro with nearly 2.2 million residents and a labor pool of more than 1.13 million workers. Nearly 68% of Northern Kentucky residents participate in the labor force.
Northern Kentucky is located within a day’s drive (or a 60-minute flight) from 60% of the U.S. population, at the center of where three interstate highways meet. With I-75 and I-71 running through the heart of the region, the transportation and logistics industries play a major role in the area’s economy.
NKY is home to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), which offers 165 peak-day flights and is the seventh-largest cargo airport in North America. The Amazon Prime Air hub is located at CVG, along with the DHL Express Global Superhub. Dozens of other logistics and transportation companies are located near the airport, including warehouses for eBay, Amazon and Wayfair.
Other key industries in the region include financial services, aviation and aerospace, food and flavor, life sciences, and automotive. Northern Kentucky’s demographics paint a picture of a thriving, growing and impactful region that is poised to continue to attract attention from business and industry leaders for many years to come.
Top employers
The largest employment sector in NKY is transportation and warehousing, followed by health care and social assistance. Manufacturing is the third-largest employment sector.
NKY is a region made up of many cities and townships that collaborate on several initiatives, including the health department, convention and visitors’ bureau, public transportation, economic development and more. Six cities are located along the Ohio River: Ludlow, Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton and Fort Thomas.
The largest cities in the region, according to population, are Covington, Florence, Independence, Erlanger, Burlington and Newport.
COVINGTON
More than 40,000 residents live in Covington, a riverfront city located at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers that was incorporated in 1815. The city is known for its unique small businesses, historic homes, beautiful architecture, repurposed commercial spaces and innovative entrepreneurial environment.
The Florence Y’all water tower welcomes Interstate 75 drivers to Northern Kentucky.
FLORENCE
Located along Interstate 75, Florence is the retail capital of Northern Kentucky. The region’s second-largest city is comprised of a diverse mix of young professionals, families and senior citizens. The city is home to more than 2,500 businesses and is one of the few cities in the region to operate an independent drinking water system and sanitary sewer system.
ERLANGER
Just five minutes from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), Erlanger is located at the center of the metro region. It is home to several large manufacturers, like Perfetti Van Melle, Toyota Boshoku, the United States Playing Card Co., Newly Weds Foods and more. Wayfair also operates a large fulfillment center there.
FORT THOMAS
Located along the Ohio River, Fort Thomas served as a U.S. Army post for many years. Today, the suburban city is home to families and young professionals and is known for its schools and small businesses.
BURLINGTON
The county seat of Boone County, Burlington is a Census-designated place that is home to over 17,000 residents and numerous businesses.
NEWPORT
The river city of Newport is known for its Purple People Bridge, a pedestrian bridge that connects Newport to Cincinnati. The city has many tourist attractions, including the Newport on the Levee entertainment complex and Ovation, a mixed-use development that includes an indoor/outdoor concert venue and more.
Bircus Brewing in Ludlow is described as a place where the “surreal world of circus meets the love of beer.” Photo by Point & Click Studio, courtesy of Bircus Brewing
Something for everyone
There’s a lot to love about the thriving Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky metro area. The region is a perfect blend of small-town charm and big-city buzz—professional sports teams, Fortune 500 companies and well-known firms, major arts and cultural institutions, nationally recognized restaurants, live music and more.
NKY’s riverfront cities have quick access to Cincinnati and all its amenities, but NKY is far from being in Cincinnati’s shadow. In fact, Northern Kentucky has it all. Quaint downtowns bustling with development. Prominent universities and a successful community college system. Historic neighborhoods and a booming residential real estate market. Global logistics expertise that is driving growth and bringing more high-paying jobs. Quick access to the best regional airport in North America. Four major-league sports teams and successful high school sports programs that bring the community together. Innovative entrepreneurs and a supportive business community. Exciting riverfront development. Multiple arts and culture venues. A cost of living below the national average.
NKY is one of the largest urban areas in Kentucky. It is a thriving manufacturing center and leader in logistics, finance and technology. It has walkability, world-class restaurants, live music and a variety of craft breweries and bourbon distilleries. It also has an active suburban community with great schools and shopping destinations.
Fans from all over the region celebrated the Cincinnati Bengals’ return to the Super Bowl in 2022, the team’s first appearance since 1989. Who Dey, the Bengals’ mascot, visited with football fans at Newport on the Levee during the leadup to the big game.
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The Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati riverfront is a
major tourism draw and economic driver.
The Northern Kentucky Pridefest in Covington’s Mainstrasse Village features an assortment of vendors, games, drag shows, craft beer, an art installation walking tour and more. Pre-COVID, the event also included a parade, featuring the Dancing Queens (shown here) and other community groups.
Covington Plaza, part of the city’s portion of the Riverfront Commons project, features two hiking and biking trails that link to the six-city Riverfront Commons trail system, two overlooks, canoe and kayak access, and a 1,350-seat amphitheater and event area.
The MainStrasse Village Mardi Gras Parade brings a taste of New Orleans to Covington each February.
Hotel Covington, a 114-room boutique hotel, is located in the former Coppin’s Department Store in downtown Covington. Its restaurant and bar, named Coppin’s, is a popular spot for cocktails and locally sourced foods.
Bircus Brewing—a microbrewery, restaurant, theater and performing circus—is considered one of the most unique destination breweries in the U.S. The attraction opened in Ludlow in 2018 and has grown significantly over the past few years, branching out to Covington (pictured) and Cincinnati
Newport on the Levee, a multi-level retail entertainment destination in Newport, offers a stunning view of the skyline and easy access to downtown Cincinnati via the Purple People Bridge.
Covington, Ky.
The Purple People Bridge
ns from all over the region celebrated the Cincinnati Bengals’ return to the Super Bowl in 2022, the team’s first appearance since 1989. Who Dey, the Bengals’ mascot, visited with football fans at Newport on the Levee during the leadup to the big game.
St. Elizabeth Healthcare and ArtWorks, an award-winning nonprofit that has created public art throughout the Greater Cincinnati region, unveiled a 59-foot-tall by 91-foot-wide mural to honor the heroic efforts of healthcare workers worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Simultaneously, this year marks the 160th anniversary of St. Elizabeth Healthcare so this mural also creates a lasting public commemoration of this moment in history.
Gov. Andy Beshear, right, joined Fidelity Investments leaders, including Kevin Canafax, vice president of regional public affairs, in celebrating the company’s plans to hire 600 more workers at its Covington campus. The July 2021 announcement marked the second year in a row that Fidelity added hundreds of workers at its NKY site.
Photo courtesy of MeetNKY
One Highland, a mixed-use luxury condominium development being constructed in the heart of historic Fort Thomas, will feature nearly 13,000 s.f. of street level retail/office space and 18 single-level, luxury condominiums.
Following a $20 million investment, ZEISS Vision Care opened its new U.S. headquarters, optical laboratory and 2,500 s.f. showroom with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in July 2021.
Presales have begun for The Residences at Ovation, which includes 88 boardwalk residences with parking garage access, valet and vehicle detailing services, private elevator access, on-site security, refined floor-plan options, high-end appliances and unparalleled views from balconies located at the end of each home.
Rendering of the completed street level for Corporex's Ovation project
Newport on the Levee
For more than 50 years, the IRS operated a data processing facility in downtown Covington on 23 acres of prime real estate. The City of Covington will replace the “flat top” building with a completely reimagined neighborhood that will feature a restored street grid, a levee park, a community plaza for festivals, and a mixture of buildings featuring offices, hotels, retail shops and residential units.
Ovation is a $1 billion mixed-use development that will cover nearly five city blocks at the confluence of the Ohio and Licking rivers in Newport.
Ovation will also have a freestanding, state-of-the-art health and wellness club with a full-service spa, group exercise classes, a heated elevated pool and more.
Employees cheer as company leaders and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear celebrate the grand opening of the Dollar General distribution center in Walton, a $65 million investment that created more than 300 new distribution and private fleet jobs
Mike Zelkind is co-founder and CEO of 80 Acres, which is locating a new vertical farming facility in Boone County.
ee Crume, president and CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-County Economic Development Corp., speaks at the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce’s Government Forum Series at Covington Plaza in August 2021.
The Gateway Flats
at Manhattan Harbour opened in May 2021
on the Dayton riverfront. The 76 units have sweeping views of downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River.
The Ascent at Roebling’s Bridge, the iconic blue-and-white riverfront residential building with a spiral-sloped roof, is a notable fixture of the Northern Kentucky skyline.
Redevelopment of the former YMCA and Gateway Bookstore is revitalizing the corner of Madison Avenue and Pike Street in downtown Covington. The project will expand Hotel Covington, provide space for a bourbon experience that will serve as the northern trailhead for the Kentucky bourbon industry, and create 10,000 s.f. of office space. Hotel Covington officials are hoping for an October 2022 grand opening.
Hemmer Construction celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2021. The company also completed several projects, including an expansion project at Mazak Corp. that included two new buildings.
Thomas More University in Crestview Hills is a small, liberal arts school that serves more than 2,000 students.
In celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2021, Thomas More University launched a yearlong series of events to honor the past and propel the university into the next 100 years.
Over 4,000 students attend one of Gateway Community & Technical College’s campuses in Boone County, Covington and Edgewood.
Gateway Community & Technical College launched a lineworker training certificate program in 2020 with the help of grant funding from the Duke Energy Foundation.
About 16,000 students attend Northern Kentucky University, located on 300 acres in Highland Heights just seven miles from downtown Cincinnati.
The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) has provided transit services since 1973.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said they will jointly pursue up to $2 billion in federal funding to drastically reduce traffic congestion on and around the Brent Spence Bridge.
Verst Logistics, a large third-party logistics company headquartered in Walton, offers fully integrated transportation, warehousing, product fulfillment, contract packaging and e-commerce services.
The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) welcomed more than 9.1 million passengers in 2019. CVG ended 2021 at 70% of pre-pandemic passenger levels, serving an estimated 6.4 million travelers. The airport has an annual economic impact of $6.8 billion, and it is the seventh-largest cargo airport in North America—home to Amazon Air’s primary U.S. hub and DHL Express Global Superhub.
The six-story, 250,000-s.f. St. Elizabeth Cancer Center in Edgewood, which opened in late 2020, can treat up to 500 patients a day with personalized care and treatment.
The Florence Wormald Heart & Vascular Institute at St. Elizabeth, a new 67,000-s.f. building in Edgewood, sees about 200 patients daily. Cardiologist Dr. Damodhar P. Suresh, right, serves as executive medical director of the institute.
Florence Mayor Diane Whalen, left, and St. Elizabeth officials celebrate the November 2021 grand opening of a new endoscopy center on the campus of St. Elizabeth Florence.
In December 2021, DBL Law moved into its new headquarters, the refurbished Monarch Building in downtown Covington. The $11.3 million construction project began in the fall of 2020. Managing partner Bob Hoffer, shown here in one of the firm’s conference rooms, said the building is a bridge to connect DBL with its history; the firm started in Covington more than 60 years ago but moved to Crestview Hills in 1983.
A popular attraction, New Riff Distilling crafts a range of whiskeys: bourbon, rye, malted rye and Kentucky wild gin. Its distillery and warehouse tours offer an up-close immersion in the bourbon experience.
Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter attracts thousands of visitors annually to Williamstown.
American singer/songwriter Kesha was the first artist to perform at the new PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation in August 2021. The $40 million indoor/outdoor concert venue was constructed as part of the first phase of the Ovation project in Newport. Photo by Day Off Cincy
The Newport Aquarium at Newport on the Levee has thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. It attracts approximately 700,000 guests annually.
The Northern Kentucky baseball team once called the Florence Freedom changed its name in early 2020 to the Florence Y’alls, paying homage to the iconic Florence Y’all water tower that welcomes Interstate 75 drivers to NKY.
The Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball team had an exciting post-season run, falling just short of earning the 2022 Horizon League Basketball Championship title.
To honor its veteran employees on Veterans Day, Perfetti Van Melle designed and unveiled three veterans’ Walls of Honor in its Erlanger factory distribution center and main lobby. The candy company, is headquartered in Boone County.
Legion Logistics moved its headquarters in 2021 from Florence to a new 5,000-s.f. space at Newport on the Levee. The third-party logistics provider (3PL) specializes in refrigerated and frozen food, over-dimensional freight, multi-pick and multi-drop shipments, and fresh produce.
Owen Electric has more than 5,700 miles of energized lines in nine Northern Kentucky counties: Owen, Grant, Gallatin, Pendleton, Scott, Campbell, Boone, Kenton and Carroll.
Gov. Andy Beshear presented a total of nearly $20 million in Cleaner Water program grants to Northern Kentucky utilities companies. Sanitation District No. 1 (SD1), Boone County Water and Northern Kentucky Water District were among the recipients.
The Newport Gangster Tour
Bircus Brewing in Ludlow
Photo courtesy of Rabbit Hash Facebook page
Hofbrauhaus Newport
Velocity Bike and Bean in Florence
Mazzocca Bros. Furniture & Antiques in Newport brings classic pieces back to life at an accessible price, allowing them to shine for a second time.
Photo courtesy of Mazzoca Bros.
Bircus Brewing in Ludlow is described as a place where the “surreal world of circus meets the love of beer.”
Photo by Point & Click Studio, courtesy of Bircus Brewing
Nearly 400,000 people live in Northern Kentucky (NKY), a vibrant, fast-growing community comprised of three counties—Boone, Campbell and Kenton—and a staggering 36 cities. Northern Kentucky is part of the 16-county Greater Cincinnati region, a thriving metro with nearly 2.2 million residents and a labor pool of more than 1.13 million workers. Nearly 68% of Northern Kentucky residents participate in the labor force. 
Northern Kentucky is located within a day’s drive (or a 60-minute flight) from 60% of the U.S. population, at the center of where three interstate highways meet. With I-75 and I-71 running through the heart of the region, the transportation and logistics industries play a major role in the area’s economy.
Fidelity Investments
NKY is a region made up of many cities and townships that collaborate on several initiatives, including the health department, convention and visitors’ bureau, public transportation, economic development and more. Six cities are located along the Ohio River: Ludlow, Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton and Fort Thomas. 
