Bowling Green's September 2026 ribbon cuttings and openings: The Food School, Storage Sense, Embody Dance, Equity Medical and more, plus new chamber partners.

Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. This page is rebuilt each month. Sources: the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce’s partner celebrations and new partners lists (270-781-3200) and the City of Bowling Green’s Office of Occupational License (270-393-3000). A listing here is not an endorsement.

Each month we gather the ribbon cuttings, grand openings and new business registrations we can confirm from public sources. This roundup covers September 2026. Have an opening to add? Tell us.

Starting a business in Bowling Green?

  • Register with the city first: Office of Occupational License, 1017 College St., 270-393-3000. Every business must register before operating in the city or the City Annex.
  • Occupational license tax: 2% (since Jan. 1, 2024)
  • Form your company with the state: Kentucky Secretary of State business filings
  • Building, sign and zoning approvals: see our permits and zoning guide

September 2026 ribbon cuttings and partner celebrations

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce held these celebrations in September. The chamber’s list covers grand openings, ribbon cuttings and business milestones, so not every entry is a brand-new business.

Date Business
Tuesday, Sept. 1 Optimize U Bowling Green
Thursday, Sept. 3 The Food School
Wednesday, Sept. 9 Storage Sense
Thursday, Sept. 10 SKY Soccer Club
Friday, Sept. 11 Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Program
Tuesday, Sept. 15 Jackson’s Orchard and Nursery Inc.
Tuesday, Sept. 15 Embody Dance
Wednesday, Sept. 16 Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, Laura Goad Turner Charitable Foundation Art Gallery
Thursday, Sept. 17 Equity Medical
Tuesday, Sept. 22 German American Bank
Thursday, Sept. 24 Benefits Resource Group
Tuesday, Sept. 29 The Robert E. Spiller Bowling Green Veterans Center
Tuesday, Sept. 29 Stock Yards Bank and Trust

New chamber partners in September

The chamber also welcomed these new partners in September. Joining the chamber does not mean a business is new to the area.

How to open a business in Bowling Green

The city’s Office of Occupational License says any person, partnership, corporation or other entity must register with the city before doing business inside the city limits, including nonprofits recognized by the IRS. The office also:

  • bills the occupational license tax, now 2% after the Board of Commissioners raised it from 1.85% effective Jan. 1, 2024;
  • registers transient businesses, contractors, professional services and peddlers, with fees based on days and number of workers;
  • handles alcoholic beverage licenses, which need both city and state applications and normally take about five weeks. Call 270-393-3000 for an appointment.

Restaurants and food trucks also need a food permit and plan review from the health department; see our restaurant inspections guide.

How we build this page

We list openings from the chamber’s monthly partner celebrations, city announcements and businesses that contact us with a date, an address and a link. We do not list businesses from social media rumors. The October roundup will be posted in early November.

Frequently asked questions

What new businesses opened in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in September 2026?

The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce held partner celebrations in September 2026 for businesses including Optimize U Bowling Green, The Food School, Storage Sense, Embody Dance, Equity Medical and Benefits Resource Group.

Do I need a business license in Bowling Green, Ky.?

Yes. Any person or business must register with the City of Bowling Green’s Office of Occupational License before doing business in the city or the City Annex. Call 270-393-3000.

What is the occupational tax rate in Bowling Green?

The city’s occupational license tax rate is 2%, up from 1.85% since Jan. 1, 2024.

How do I get my business’s opening listed?

Send the opening date, address and a link to the business through our contact page. We also list ribbon cuttings published by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce.