City of Covington, Kentucky

The Kentucky Women’s Law Enforcement Network (KWLEN), a statewide organization, has selected the Covington Police Department as the “Public Safety Department of the Year.” KWLEN said the recognition is bestowed upon an organization that works to promote enthusiasm, harmony, gender equality and diversity in the organization and community as a whole. More at the link. https://bit.ly/3OfP9k8

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY. Today is America Recycles Day, a Keep America Beautiful initiative that’s the only nationally recognized day to promote and celebrate recycling across the United States. Each year, on November 15 and in the weeks leading up to it, communities across the country participate by promoting environmental citizenship and take action to increase and improve recycling in America (though many in The Cov are mindful of this daily). Confused about recycling? No need to worry. America Recycles Day (ARD) is a perfect time to overcome your recycling confusion, and Covington’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division is here to support your household by providing access to recycling carts at no charge (residences with 1-4 units are eligible), mailing educational information directly to your household, and online access to answer your questions.? To get your free recycling cart, contact Rumpke Waste & Recycling’s customer call center at 1-800-828-8171 and request your cart today. Recyclable material has value and when collected and processed creates jobs, conserves natural resources, saves energy, and reduces pollution and landfill space. So why wouldn’t you recycle? It’s just as easy to throw your material in the recycling cart instead of the trash cart when you know what to throw in it. Get quick, easy answers about what is accepted in our community by visiting Recycle Check or the City website’s Recycling Guidelines. And be sure to watch your mailboxes for the most up- to-date recycling guide arriving in the next few weeks. Check out our stats and ongoing recycling collection initiatives. Here’s how we’re doing in The Cov: ·????????Of the 15,735 Covington residential accounts, 9,816 households are participating in the recycling program. ·????????Over the last year, 1,919.58 tons of recyclables have been collected through our curbside recycling program. ·????????Covington is adding to and rolling out more street corner recycling receptables to capture even more material when folks are on the go.?To date, the city has 40 recycling receptacles. ·????????Electronics upcycling and recycling, REBOOT Electronics Reuse and Recycling in partnership with The Center for Great Neighborhoods’ Keep Covington Beautiful Program and the City’s Solid Waste and Recycling Division have made recycling electronics easy and convenient by placing a drop off bin in Covington. The REBOOT bin is located outside The Center for Great Neighborhoods at 321 W MLK Blvd/12th Street. Check out Reboot Electronic Recycling: Computer Recycling Company for more information about dropping off electronics. Celebrate America Recycles Day with us by learning more about what and how to recycle in The Cov. #AmericaRecyclesDay #Recycle #CovingtonKYRecycles

A magical painting party, cigars to smoke, wine to sip, live music to wind down (or up) with, collages to create, a centuries-old deal with the devil, and lots more happening in The Cov this weekend. https://bit.ly/3Z4u3eO

The City’s Business Retention and Expansion Manager Patrick Duffy, MBA, SHRM-CP and Business Attraction Manager Susan B. Smith were on hand for today’s U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) “Contracts & Capital for Veterans” event at the Kentucky Career Center in Covington. ? The event featured speakers from the SBA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the University of Kentucky, Republic Bank, and other organizations.?Attendees learned how to secure federal and state contracts and about SBA-backed lending for their veteran-owned small businesses.? ? The event was part of the SBA's 11th annual National Veterans' Small Business Week (NVSBW). The week-long celebration highlights the contributions of veteran-owned businesses to the economy and provides resources for veteran small business owners. #veteranownedbusiness #veteranownedbiz #veterans #smallbiz #veteranownedsmallbusinesses #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowners #CovingtonKY

Did you see the GREAT segment about Covington's Public Art on KET - Kentucky Educational Television's "Kentucky Life" on Saturday? If not, you can check it out right here! Tom West, AICP Rachael Parker ArtsWave Emily Palmer Wolff Jonathan Queen Janet Creekmore https://lnkd.in/gS8gZcNi

Great article on GovTech, the online portal to the national publication Government Technology, about how the City’s Economic Development Department worked with Todd Sink, Ph.D., the City’s Manager of Analytics and Intelligence, to launch a quirky green alien chatbot to provide information and boost economic development. "And while Clive can seamlessly field questions about zoning and economic development, it does so with some personality — offering details about its backstory, and how it came to Kentucky from the “vibrant galaxy of Artalon” on a journey zooming through the cosmos on a rainbow racer, now “interning” as a virtual assistant in the shimmering city of Covington." #AI #artificialintelligence #governmenttechnology #chatbot #alienchatbot #virtualassistant #leveragingai #CovingtonKY #CovingtonNKY #CliveTheAlien https://lnkd.in/gepcznsV

CONGRATULATIONS TO AVIATRA ACCELERATORS ON ITS NEW EXPANSION: AVIATRA INCUBATOR! At a ribbon cutting ceremony this morning, Mayor Joe Meyer joined Aviatra Accelerators CEO Jill Morenz and Marketing Strategist and Program Coordinator Jasmine Hughes to celebrate the opening of the organization’s new expanded incubator space. The Aviatra Incubator, which is adjacent to the organization’s current offices at 112 W. Pike St, is designed to provide early-stage women entrepreneurs in the region with the resources, mentorship, and community they need to accelerate their businesses, furthering Aviatra’s mission to empower women to start and grow their companies. The Aviatra Incubator goes beyond traditional startup support by offering a safe, comfortable, and collaborative space where women can connect, share knowledge, and grow alongside fellow female entrepreneurs. Meyer thanked Morenz and Hughes for the outstanding work they do, providing education and tools to help women start and grow their own business, then spoke to the impact Covington’s small businesses have on the city’s overall success. “It’s the small businesses that create the vibrancy, that create the neighborhoods – the places where people want to go and hang out, and really add to the quality of life,” said Meyer. “It’s small businesses that are the backbone of our Covington community. Its why our city government has been so aggressive in supporting small businesses. I mean micro businesses – businesses with one two three employees, just starting out, where we give them a rent subsidy to help them get through the first year, with $500 a month for their rent, or a fa?ade subsidy so they can fix up the front of their building to make it more appealing.” “So, It’s with delight that we’re here today to help Aviatra celebrate their expansion. “Aviatra has been in the business of helping women entrepreneurs since 2015. They’ve got a great track record. Now the incubator is going to be an inspiring place, where women can work their business and be surrounded by other like minded women. It will be a pathway to success and there’s no better place than Covington to do this. “I’ve watched Jill’s work for several years now and have been very impressed with her creativity, her skills, and her commitment. She’s lived the life of an entrepreneur. She understands the challenges and the struggle of what it is to make a small business successful, she is an all-in, hands-on, leader, she pays attention to the details. No detail is too insignificant. That’s the kind of leadership a great organization needs, so I’m confident that under Jill’s leadership, Aviatra, the incubator, will continue to make wonderful contributions.” ?? #aviatraaccelerators #womenentrepreneurs #womenownedbusinesses #smallbiz #womenownedsmallbusiness #mentorship #womenmentorship

OPPORTUNITY FOR COVINGTON’S VETERAN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. The U.S. Small Business Administration’s SBA Kentucky District Office will host “Contracts & Capital for Veterans” on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at the Kentucky Career Center at 1324 Madison Ave., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is free, and no registration is required. Veterans will hear from procurement and SBA representatives on how to secure federal and state contracts and SBA-backed lending for their veteran-owned small business. The event will also feature networking opportunities with speakers and exhibitors, which include: SBA Kentucky District Office Department of Veterans Affairs US Army Corps of Engineers DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Kentucky Valor University of Kentucky SBDC Kentucky Small Business Development Center SCORE Veterans Business Outreach Center Apex Accelerator City of Covington Aviatra Accelerators And other small business focused organizations Free parking is available in the lot next to the Kentucky Career Center. #veterans #veteranownedsmallbusinesses #veteranownedsmallbiz #veteranownedbusinesses #CovingtonKY #CovingtonNKY

OUR CITY VETERANS: Whether it was taking a beach under mortar and machine-gun fire … enduring the never-ending horrors of a frigid mountainside or a humid jungle … walking a minefield … landing on a bobbing deck in a turbulent sea … living in a rat-infested trench … fighting panic in claustrophobic quarters as a submarine submerged and slid into the depths … or just enduring the mind- and body-numbing stress of endless training and physical tests, Covington’s military sons and daughters have throughout history demonstrated courage galore. Monday is Veterans Day. City Hall will be closed, so today we take a moment to honor all our veterans in Covington and especially those working here at the City. Their names (with self-provided photographs). https://bit.ly/4hJbDaP

WELCOME TO 124 W. PIKE ST., SOHZA SISTER BOUTIQUE! Mayor Pro Tem/Commissioner Ron Washington welcomed SoHza Sister Boutique to its new location this morning in a ribbon cutting ceremony. SoHza Sister Boutique was launched on April 13, 2013, by three sisters who had a belief in the power of women, and an idea that they could help bring them together for change. The goal was to create a social enterprise dedicated to helping women both locally and globally. Not only can you buy fair trade jewelry, purses and clothing at the boutique, it’s also a place to be inspired by women from around the world who are making a difference with their lives. If you buy and share one of their products, you’ll help the woman that made it globally, and in return SoHza Sister will donate to a local non-profit for women, putting its customers at the center of change. SoHza sister has partnered with 22 different fair trade co-ops in more than 11 countries, offering these empowered women opportunities that change lives. Each piece of handmade jewelry and ethical clothing has a powerful story. Formerly located in MainStrasse, SoHza sister's new location expands the business's space for women empowering workshops and events. They're hosting a weekend long Women's Fest tonight, so be sure to stop in!