BE NKY Growth grant to help fully reopen Purple People Bridge

The BE NKY Growth Partnership has committed an additional $62,500 toward necessary repairs and updates needed to fully reopen the beloved Purple People Bridge.

BE NKY Growth Partnership – an economic development company for the region – agreed to transfer the funds to the City of Newport, through the Northern Kentucky Port Authority. These new funds match those previously committed by Newport city officials.

The combined $125,000 will go toward repair work to the pedestrian bridge connecting Northern Kentucky to Cincinnati. Officials partially closed the span May 19 after a piece of sandstone broke off on the Cincinnati side.

“The Purple People Bridge is an integral connector in the Cincinnati region, allowing nearly one million people a year to cross the Ohio river,” said Jim Dressman, chair of the BE NKY Growth Partnership board. “With Labor Day, Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, and BLINK quickly approaching, BE NKY is proud to provide the funding for this important regional icon to get reopened as quickly as possible.”

An investment in a regional economic asset

A timeline for these immediate repairs wasn’t provided. However, Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. did stress that this work is only the first step in a much bigger bridge revitalization effort.

Guidugli thanked BE NKY Growth Partnership and the NKY Port Authority for stepping up as it takes on new economic development projects in the region. BE NKY Growth Partnership provides businesses with the expertise they need to build opportunity in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties. The Northern Kentucky Port Authority is a managed entity of BE NKY Growth Partnership.

Guidugli described Purple People Bridge as an important economic driver for Newport and Campbell County. He views the regional asset as something that merits support from not just Newport but the broader community as well.

“I truly appreciate the NKY Port joining with the City of Newport on this important, albeit temporary, fix to get the bridge fully reopened. But we also need others to join this effort to unleash the full potential of the Purple People Bridge,” he said.