It's a renovation of the historic Durner Building, which was vacant for years before Mortar saw its potential. It will be a space for Mortar's programs, including its 15-week entrepreneurial class, but also serve as a co-working space.

Mortar, a national program founded in Cincinnati in 2014, introduces minority residents and people living in urban areas to entrepreneurship and provides people an opportunity to launch or expand businesses.

It takes its name from the mortar that holds bricks together. Like mortar, Allen sees his program as bringing people and community together to make the city strong.

Almost 500 entrepreneurs have graduated from the Cincinnati program since its start and the program now operates in 11 other cities.

The opening of the building, nestled among several other buildings under renovation, is the dream of one of Mortar's three founders, Allen Woods, who is Mortar's CEO.

Woods, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, made many of the design decisions himself. "For so long, this community has been neglected; its people, its buildings, its businesses," Allen said. "This building represents a monumental shift. It's like a Phoenix rising, and we refuse to stay in the ashes and rubble."

There will be a first-floor co-working space free to anyone and then membership fees for additional amenities and space, Allen said. A discount will be offered to people who live in the neighborhood.

The project, referred to internally as "Building the Dream," cost $8.7 million, which Mortar raised from the community. Of that, there was $500,000 in help from the city of Cincinnati and two grants totaling $57,500 from two foundations supported by basketball superstar Michael Jordan.

How to join Mortar's co-working space: