1. “Better in the Bluegrass!”

2. Major Employers

4. Lexington, Kentucky Lexington Population 270,789
Lexington MSA Population
436,684
Workforce
152,847
Unemployment Rate
4.0%
ACCRA Cost of Living Index
99.2

5. Rankings
Based on the 2006 Forbes Best Places study, when it comes to cost of doing business, Lexington is the second best place in the country to locate a company. Lexington has held the ranking the past three years.
Best Places in Terms of Business Costs, 2006
1. Albuquerque, NM
2. Lexington, KY
3. Hickory, NC
4. Oklahoma City, OK
5. Tulsa, OK
48th Best City To Live In The Entire World! By Mercer Consulting

6. Better in the Bluegrass!
Horse Capital of the World
Home of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games
Lexington: 48th Best City To Live In Entire World
Top 50 Places of a Lifetime: National Geographic
Top 10 Recognition:
Most Creative Small Cities – Richard Florida
Top 10 Most Brainiest City – 2005 U.S. Census
One of Five Best Metro Areas in U.S. for Young singles
Best Cities for Relocating Families
8th Best Community in North America – Access to Health Care
2nd Best Place In U.S. to Locate a Business (Costs) - Forbes
Top 15 Recognition:
Top Green Cities – 12th Nationally
Smart Places To Live – 13th nationally/Kiplingers
Best Cities for Women – Ladies Home Journal

7. You Asked And We Delivered!!!+ + =

8. What We Do! Commerce Lexington Inc.
Business Development
Entrepreneurial Development & Growth
Expansion of Existing Business
New Business Recruitment
Community & Minority Business Development
(Provide Access to: Opportunity, Capital, Networks)
Workforce Development
Public Policy & Issue Advocacy
(Local/Regional/State/Federal)
Networking & Connectivity
Leadership Development
Leadership Lexington
Leadership Central Kentucky
Leadership Lexington Youth

9. Organizational Chart Workforce Development
Bluegrass Business Development Partnership
Business Development
Community & Minority Business Development
Local
Regional
State
Federal
Membership
Marketing
Leadership

10. What Led To Merger? 15+ Years In The Making Concerns:
Global Competition
Scarce Resources Vs. Our Competing Regions
Perceived Duplication of Effort
Volunteer Leader Burnout
Money Fatigue
Lack of Synergy
Investor Hold-Out
2003 Economic Development Capital Campaign

11. Impediments to Merger Key Leader Resistance Public Policy Concerns
Will Public Dollars Neutralize Chamber’s Advocacy Efforts?
Public Dollars Going To A Membership Based Organization

12. Post Merger Successes Synergy and Alignment of Efforts
Purchased Bluegrass Business Park
Purchased Additional Floor In Office Building
Economic Performance Enhanced
Customer Focused
Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (

13. Bluegrass Business Development Partnership
Entrepreneurial Development (

14. Post Merger Successes Economic Outcomes * Regional Cooperation
City Investing $662,000 into Economic Development Efforts
Public Policy Efforts
Membership Increase
2004 to 2007 = 28% Increase
ACCE’s Top Ten:
# New Members
New Member Dollars

15. New & Expanding Business Investments and Outcomes
Since 2003 – One Team, One Vision
5 Year, $3 Million Campaign
Year Capital Investment Jobs
$55.9 Million 291
$24.3 Million 1,284
$61.1 Million 888
$16.2 Million 277
$ 57.8 Million 213
Total ~$215 Million ~3,000
For every $1 invested by the private sector, the region earned $78 in New Capital Investment
Central KY - $922 Million – 6,127 Jobs (Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development)

16. A quarter billion in capital investment $5 million in Acce$$ Loans
Nearly
3,000 Jobs
A quarter billion in capital investment
$5 million in Acce$$ Loans

17. Keys To Success “Open” Communications (Before, During & After)
Staff
Investors
Membership
Regional Partners (Initially, Some Were Nervous)
Government Officials
Separate Accounting of Dollars
Economic Development Capital Campaign Dollars
Membership Dues/Total Resource Campaign $’s
Key Leaders Stay Connected (and Leading!)
Patience

18. Hurdles To Overcome Public Policy Concerns
Public Dollars to Membership Based Organization
Name Change: Chamber of Commerce to Unknown Name (Commerce Lexington Inc.)
Investors Honoring Dollar Commitment to 2003 Economic Development Campaign
□ Final Test: Will Business Community Invest in Next Economic Development Capital Campaign (2007)

19. Thank You!