By Charles Bailey
Founder and CEO, True North
When a 1930s-era JCPenney department store in downtown East Liverpool reopens as a modern, high-tech corporate headquarters, it sends a clear message: reinvention is possible – and it can be driven by private companies working alongside public partners.
That transformation is now complete, as True North officially anchors its headquarters in the former BOSS Building, bringing high-skill jobs and renewed momentum back to one of Ohio’s historic river communities.
True North, a technology-enabled professional services company serving clients in 43 states, made our move with intention. The decision was never about proximity to customers but about building a place where people could work and grow together.
We relocated 55 high-tech jobs into downtown East Liverpool and are committed to adding at least 25 more in the coming years. While job creation was an important outcome, the move was equally about strengthening operations. The headquarters now serves as a centralized hub for collaboration, leadership development, and training – capabilities that are difficult to replicate in fragmented or fully remote environments.
The building itself carries symbolic weight. Once a retail anchor, it sat underutilized for years despite its prime downtown location. The structure has incredible bones, making it an ideal candidate for adaptive reuse. True North preserved its historic character while transforming the interior into a modern workspace designed to support how the company operates today and into the future.
This wasn’t a short-term real estate decision. It was a long-term commitment to build something that supports our team, strengthens our culture, and positions the company for the future while also helping bring new energy back to downtown East Liverpool.
That commitment was reinforced through strong public and private sector partnerships. Support from the JobsOhio Vibrant Communities Program, along with Lake to River Economic Development and state, county and local leaders, played a critical role in making the project possible and gave the company confidence to invest for the long term.
Since opening, the headquarters has begun to influence activity beyond its walls. By placing professional jobs in the downtown area, True North has helped generate daily foot traffic and renewed interest in surrounding properties. One early sign of that momentum is the opening of The Fresh Cafe & Bakery on the building’s first floor, creating an everyday destination for employees and residents alike.
True North sees its role as a catalyst, not the finish line. By bringing professional, high-tech jobs downtown, the company helps create energy that supports other businesses and encourages additional investment. With more redevelopment activity underway nearby, East Liverpool appears to be entering a new phase of revitalization driven by aligned public and private efforts.
Looking ahead, True North has made it clear that Ohio and East Liverpool will serve as a long-term base for continued growth, offering a clear example of how legacy assets can be transformed into engines of opportunity for the next generation.
Pictured at top: True North opened in the former BOSS building in East Liverpool.
