COVINGTON — Northern Kentucky's high-tech business incubator will have its first public open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Madison, 700 Madison Ave.

        Tours of the Northern Kentucky Tri-County Regional Innovation and Commercialization Center, also known as Madison E-Zone, will take place throughout the evening.

        The E-Zone will use about $1 million from the state, city and other donors to help high-tech businesses get a jump start. Businesses that qualify will be housed in the 21,000-square-foot site at 535 Madison Ave.

        The E-Zone is similar to the Digital Rhine incubator in Over-the-Rhine, except that the nonprofit company in Kentucky is funded by the state and city and Digital Rhine is privately funded.

        Founder Mike Zeigler said the E-Zone is intended to help businesses that will eventually employ 25 to 75 employees and will be on solid footing in three years.

        Mr. Zeigler said while the incubator may host some dot.com businesses, its focus will be on businesses that are creating technology-driven processes, and those in biotech and manufacturing.

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