OgMentum ARK, a newly formed technology enterprise created through the merger of two innovation-driven firms, has selected Bowling Green, Kentucky, as its headquarters and research hub. The investment positions the city as an emerging center for advanced manufacturing and fiber optics research with applications in data, telecommunications, infrastructure monitoring, and national defense.
The project is expected to generate at least 25 high-wage jobs within three years, spanning scientists, engineers, technicians, and administrators. Over the long term, the company projects an economic impact of more than $195.8 million for South Central Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear said the move highlights the state’s growing technology sector.
“Companies from across the world are investing in Kentucky, creating good jobs for our people and showing that our state is the best place to do business. Today’s announcement from OgMentum ARK is an exciting next step for the commonwealth’s growing technology sector,” Beshear said.
Company President Jake Weise underscored the regional advantages. “This region offers the workforce, partnerships, and vision we need to innovate at scale. We are not just expanding; we are investing in a future built on talent, technology, and trust,” he said.
The enterprise is partnering with Western Kentucky University to build technical expertise in fiber optics. WKU President Timothy C. Caboni called the collaboration central to the university’s mission. “Together, we are building a talent pipeline that benefits students, industry, and the broader community,” he said. CEO Dr. Kent Murphy added that the project reflects strong regional leadership, noting the role of the Chamber of Commerce and WKU in shaping Bowling Green’s vision as a technology hub.
Local officials described the investment as a turning point for the community. Warren County Judge Executive Doug Gorman called it “a powerful endorsement of what our region offers,” while Bowling Green Mayor Todd Alcott said it represents “the kind of transformative growth that defines Bowling Green’s economic future.”
The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, which has secured three projects this year totaling $12.3 million in investment and 65 jobs, noted the city’s consistent recognition as a top-performing metro for economic development. As OgMentum ARK pursues federal grants from agencies including the Department of Defense and NASA, the company aims to position South Central Kentucky as a hub where global innovation and local opportunity converge.
