Owensboro Locks $5.8 Million to Convert Vacant Turley Building

By Olivia Hart

A $5.8 million renovation that will turn a vacant downtown Owensboro building into a regional entrepreneurship center is fully funded, with construction set to start in early 2027. The Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation announced the commitments on Friday, Oct. 23.

Every dollar is public money. The City of Owensboro is contributing $2 million, the Daviess County Fiscal Court $1.55 million, and the state $2.25 million through Kentucky's 2026-28 biennial budget. Those three commitments cover the full estimated renovation cost of $5.8 million — roughly $1.93 million per floor for the planned three-story facility.

The project will convert the historic Turley Building at 101 Daviess St., owned by the City of Owensboro and connected to the RiverPark Center, into The Landing Entrepreneurship Center. The facility is designed to serve startups, small businesses, entrepreneurs and remote workers.

What will The Landing actually contain?

The plans are concrete on layout, thinner on operating details. The building will offer flexible coworking areas, private startup offices, meeting rooms and collaborative spaces. An office of the Kentucky Small Business Development Center will sit inside, giving entrepreneurs access to business coaching, technical assistance and help securing financing.

An executive director will run daily operations and mentor members. GOEDC also plans pitch competitions, educational workshops, networking events and entrepreneurship training programs. What the announcement does not specify is the center's operating budget, membership pricing, or revenue model — a common gap in publicly funded coworking projects, and the number that will determine whether The Landing sustains itself after the ribbon-cutting.

"I'm proud to stand here today and announce that The Landing renovation estimate of $5,800,000 is fully funded," said Claude Bacon, president and CEO of the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation.

"The Landing will be a true home for entrepreneurs, small business, and innovators. It will be a place where someone with an idea and a laptop can find a desk, a mentor, a network, and a path to building a business right here."

Why public officials are backing it

Bacon framed the facility as an economic development tool aimed at attracting and retaining professionals, particularly remote workers and younger entrepreneurs who can build businesses without relocating to larger metropolitan markets.

"It will offer a modern coworking space for remote workers, freelancers, and growing teams who want a professional home," Bacon said. "And it will be a powerful tool for talent attraction, because today's workforce is rapidly evolving."

The talent-retention argument rests on assumption rather than projection. No job-creation targets, occupancy forecasts or return-on-investment figures appear in the announcement.

City Commissioner Curtis Maglinger emphasized the redevelopment angle — returning a vacant historic property to productive use within an established commercial district.

"One exciting thing about this project is the opportunity to take the historic Turley Building that has been vacant and give it new life and a new purpose," Maglinger said. "We know that a thriving downtown is built one investment at a time. When we give new life to existing buildings and create destinations that give people a reason to come downtown, we build momentum for additional growth, development, and revitalization throughout our community."

The project is expected to increase daily pedestrian traffic downtown, a potential benefit to nearby restaurants, retailers and service businesses.

State Rep. Suzanne Miles cast the spending as investment in people rather than bricks.

"The Landing is about more than creating a physical space. It's about investing in people, ideas, and the next generation of entrepreneurs who will help shape the future of our region," Miles said.

Daviess County Judge/Executive Charlie Castlen tied the county's $1.55 million stake to regional strategy: "We are proud to be a partner in this project and grateful to everyone who has helped bring this vision forward. The Landing is an investment not only in entrepreneurship, but in the long-term economic strength and future of our entire region."

What happens next

Hafer Architectural is handling design and construction planning. The timeline runs from construction start in early 2027 to a scheduled opening in late 2028 — meaning roughly three years will pass between the funding announcement and the first member walking through the door.

The project pools state government, city and county officials, economic development organizations and small business support providers. Whether the $5.8 million public bet produces a self-sustaining entrepreneurial hub will become visible only after the doors open in late 2028.