By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Four Corners Center has a new, permanent home.
Katie Thompson, executive director for Bowling Green Economic Development, celebrated the renovated space at 248 S. Main St., during the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday afternoon.
The move of the Four Corners Center marked an important milestone for the four organizations that work together to support Bowling Green: the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, Visit BG Ohio, Downtown Bowling Green and Bowling Green Economic Development.
A familiar downtown Bowling Green building is beginning a new chapter,
A large crowd of community members, local officials, project partners, business representatives and media filled the space that starts a new chapter, bringing renewed energy, business opportunities and housing to the heart of the community.
“This project provides a permanent home for the Four Corners Center, so, the Four Corners Center can stay together forever,” Thompson said, referencing the multiple moves in downtown spaces over the past several years.
The new location represents more than a change of address. It is the result of an ambitious redevelopment project led by Bowling Green Economic Development, which purchased the former downtown building and undertook its renovation.
Thompson described the project as a first-of-its-kind effort for the organization, which traditionally had not taken on building acquisition and redevelopment projects.
The renovated space now serves as a shared home for the Four Corners organizations while also welcoming private businesses through a coworking model. Office space, cubicles and conference rooms provide opportunities for entrepreneurs and established businesses to work in a collaborative downtown environment.
Several businesses have already joined the coworking community, including Energy Land and Infrastructure, Progress Point, H2O Church and Art Collective.
For Troy Sonner of Energy Land and Infrastructure, the move was a natural one. The company had been a tenant in the Four Corners’ previous space and followed the organization to its new location.
Energy Land and Infrastructure, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, established its Ohio operation in 2022 and now has more than 90 employees, approximately one-quarter of whom are in Ohio, Sonner said. The company works in natural gas, land development and civil infrastructure.
Other tenants are finding different advantages in the shared space.
Adam Skaff, a partner with local home-building company Progress Point, said the new office provides a professional place to meet and conduct business. The company has built approximately 25 homes in the Bowling Green area over the past three years.
H2O Church, which has been part of the Bowling Green community for 40 years, was particularly interested in the building’s conference rooms, which sit next to the church’s downtown facility. Pastor Bryan Wiles said the additional meeting and training space has already been valuable for church programs, membership classes and work with college students.
Art Collective, a creative agency operated by Jack Klaholz and Drew Mann, also joined the coworking community. The business provides marketing and media services, including online marketing, video production and editing.
Thompson said the opportunity to bring different businesses together has created an exciting atmosphere of collaboration. Additional office and coworking spaces remain available for lease.
Preserving the past while building for the future
The redevelopment also gives new life to a building with a long history in Bowling Green.
Mayor Mike Aspacher recalled seeing the building as a child and said he was impressed by its transformation.
“It’s never looked this good,” he said.
He praised Thompson and the Bowling Green Economic Development team for their vision and hard work, noting that the project supports several community priorities, including downtown revitalization and expanding housing opportunities.
The renovation was completed with the help of local contractors and tradespeople. Thompson acknowledged that working with an older building brought its share of unexpected challenges, but said the care and effort invested in the project made the finished space possible.
Financial support was also essential, she stressed.
The project received a Meta Community Action Grant, which helped furnish the building and provide technology. Additional assistance came through an Efficiency Smart program rebate.
A major contribution came from JobsOhio through its Vibrant Community Grant program. The project received $487,000, which “was the difference-maker” in bringing the redevelopment to completion, Thompson csaid.
Terry Slaybaugh of JobsOhio said the Four Corners project is the organization’s 43rd Vibrant Community project in Ohio. Across those projects, JobsOhio has deployed approximately $30 million, helping generate $189 million in total development, 1,500 jobs and approximately $89 million in payroll.
Slaybaugh said projects like this help smaller communities preserve their heritage while creating opportunities for future generations.
He noted that the building had once housed a bicycle shop, giving longtime residents an opportunity to remember the community’s past while seeing a new purpose for the property.
Adding housing to downtown
Beyond office and coworking space, the redevelopment created four new one-bedroom apartments on the building’s second floor.
The apartments add housing options in downtown Bowling Green, addressing another important community need, Thompson said.
One apartment has already been rented by a coworking tenant, creating the opportunity to work downstairs during the day and live upstairs.
Thompson said creating four housing units that previously did not exist in the community was another meaningful accomplishment of the project.
The combination of business space, community organizations and residential units brings activity to the building throughout the day and evening.
For Aspacher, the project represents exactly the kind of investment that can make a difference in a community Bowling Green’s size.
The new Four Corners Center provides a permanent home for organizations that work together to promote the community, while giving other businesses a place to grow and adding residents to the downtown neighborhood.
As the ribbon was cut and visitors toured the renovated building, the celebration marked not simply the opening of a new office, but a renewed investment in downtown Bowling Green.
The goal, Thompson said, is to continue building partnerships, welcoming businesses and creating a space where collaboration can flourish.
