LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Nia Center, a vital community hub and incubator for small businesses and nonprofits in west Louisville, is set to be sold, prompting concerns among tenants about their future operations.
Owned by the Transit Authority of River City (TARC), the building on Broadway has long provided affordable space for organizations working to support youth, small business owners, and families in the area. However, TARC announced plans to sell the property to Goodwill Kentucky, which intends to repurpose the space for temporary housing.
TARC officials cited the building’s need for extensive repairs and changing organizational priorities as reasons behind the sale. “As TARC prepares to redesign its transit network, the facilities at the Nia Center will no longer be needed,” said Alex Posorske, Director of Marketing and Communications for TARC. He added that the agency’s priority remains providing quality transit service to its daily riders.
Current tenants were informed that they may remain rent-free until the end of 2025, but many are already confronting the difficult prospect of relocating.
Angela Hollingsworth, executive director of the Shawnee Transformation Youth Coalition, expressed her concerns. Her organization rents four rooms at the center for $419 a month — a rare and affordable option in a city with limited low-cost office space. “We don’t know what comes next,” Hollingsworth said. “We would probably have to work from home, which is becoming acceptable, but we work with kids. We need a central location to engage with them.”
Hollingsworth’s team provides educational programs aimed at preventing drug use and gambling among youth. The loss of the Nia Center’s space could pose a significant challenge to continuing their work.
The Nia Center has served as a small business incubator since the late 1990s, originally funded by a federal grant in partnership with the city and TARC. The facility has housed diverse services, including job training, mental health support with sliding scale payments, and assistance with obtaining driver’s licenses.
Shaun Spencer, owner of My HUB Print Center, is another tenant feeling the impact of the impending sale. Having recently invested in costly new printing equipment, Spencer had planned to remain at the center long term. “Printing equipment is really expensive,” she said. “I’m still paying off personal business loans.”
Community leaders and current tenants have begun urging residents to speak out against the closure and sale of the Nia Center. They encourage supporters to contact city officials and TARC representatives to advocate for the preservation of the space.
Those interested in helping can learn more by emailing [email protected] or visiting the dedicated support webpage.
As the Nia Center prepares to close its doors under TARC’s ownership, the west Louisville community faces uncertainty about where small businesses, nonprofits, and vital social services will find affordable and accessible space in the future.
