Construction to begin on first building at onMain

A rendering of onMain's first proposed building on the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds property in southern Dayton. CONTRIBUTED BY NBBJ

A rendering of onMain's first proposed building on the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds property in southern Dayton. CONTRIBUTED BY NBBJ

onMain, a partnership between Premier Health and the University of Dayton, is breaking ground on its first building Friday at the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds on Main Street.

The groundbreaking is set for a five-story, 120,000-square foot building that will be called Think Dayton. It will be the first commercial structure in the onMain Innovation District.

The milestone marks the beginning of physical development on the 38-acre site across the street from Premier Health’s Miami Valley Hospital. onMain was established in 2017 as a partnership between UD and Premier Health.

More than $70 million has been invested in the project from multiple sources, including $35 million from Ohio’s Innovation Hub Program.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s administration developed a $125 million Innovation Hubs Program in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly to spur investment outside of Ohio’s major metro areas. Other investments included the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace and Defense, Greater Akron’s Polymer Innovation Hub and Northwest Ohio’s Glass Innovation Hub, according to the state.

Two craftsmen work on the Roundhouse at the former Montgomery County Fairgrounds on South Main Street in Dayton on Monday, Aug. 25. The structure is being renovated as part of a larger project by onMain, which is expected to create a new facility focused on research and innovation, along with about 170 new housing units on the property. BRYANT BILLING / STAFF

Credit: Bryant Billing

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Credit: Bryant Billing

The roundhouse located on the property also is being renovated. Workers have been repainting the large barn structure across from Miami Valley.