Covington city officials, members of the Economic Development Council and the Covington Chamber of Commerce discussed steps to strengthen the city’s downtown business district on a joint study session, focusing on wayfinding, business outreach and a proposed health-district partnership with Valley Medical Center.

The Covington Development and Investment Support group (CDIS) told the council it will continue business-to-business outreach, run a biannual open house and support exploring a town-center health district. Josh Lyons, Co-chair of CITUS and a presenter at the meeting, said, “I feel pretty strongly that a biannual event like this is probably in order.” He added that CDIS will “support the designation of that town center area into a health district” and work with Valley Medical Center on programming and facility planning.

Why it matters: council members and business leaders framed the package of ideas as a coordinated approach to make Covington feel like a defined, walkable business district that can attract foot traffic and local spending. Speakers said wayfinding and branding — from monument signs to directional maps and kiosks at Town Center Lawn — are intended to present a unified image of the commercial core and encourage visits to nearby small businesses as well as larger retailers.

Most important facts
- CDIS reported it will continue its business-to-business outreach program (quarterly or as needed), which assigns zones of downtown businesses to members for in-person visits and distribution of materials and CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) guidance. The group said the outreach has had “mild” success but faces staff-time constraints and high manager turnover among larger retailers.
- CDIS and the Chamber said downtown businesses are beginning to report a drop in retail theft; the meeting referenced a police presentation of annual crime data as context for that perception.
- CDIS said it will pursue a biannual open house and has distributed small CPTED grants; the Chamber and others can contribute modest funds for targeted work.
- CDIS is working with Valley Medical Center on a proposed health district and an indoor aquatic/recreation concept located adjacent to Valley’s south building near Costco; participants said funding would likely be a cost-share and that Valley would contribute services, though no commitments or dollar amounts were adopted at the meeting.
- The Covington Chamber reported the most recent makers market at Town Center Lawn hosted about 65 vendors across roughly 80 spaces. Dana (Covington Chamber) said, “It was our most successful one yet.”

Discussion and next steps
Participants discussed a range of wayfinding and place-branding tactics: monument entrance signs; directional signage that uses the city logo or color variations to indicate shopping categories; printed maps or kiosks at City Hall or Town Center Lawn; and potential use of banner poles and roundabout landscaping as branded locations. Speakers noted constraints on signage along state routes and the need for permits for banners and large signs; they also discussed cost options such as sponsored signs paid for by businesses.

Council members asked staff to return with a more detailed program and budget options. At the meeting Josh Lyons and other presenters said they would bring proposals back for the council’s budget process; participants also proposed periodic brainstorming sessions with the arts council and other community groups to develop creative activation plans.

What was not decided
No formal motions or votes were taken. The meeting produced direction to staff and partners to prepare budget-level proposals and program plans; no funding commitments or ordinance changes were adopted.

Ending
Speakers closed by asking staff to return with cost estimates and by reiterating a desire to “think big” about how wayfinding, arts activations and targeted events can be scaled over time to increase local retail activity and community identity.