Commerce Lexington's annual Leadership Visit has helped expose Central Kentucky's leaders to the best ideas of model communities throughout the United States, yielding valuable lessons that have been applied to the improvement of the Bluegrass Region. As one of the longest-running and largest intercity visits in the country, this three-day trip has become the most valuable opportunity to bring community leaders, decision makers and ideas together in order to make positive changes in our community. It's a very unique program that includes the foremost business, education, government and community representatives of Central Kentucky.

Over the years, Lexington leaders have visited such cities as Baltimore (MD), Greenville (SC), Jacksonville (FL), Madison (WI), Minneapolis, Mobile (AL), Portland (OR), Raleigh (NC), and San Antonio and Austin (TX).

Those participating in the annual Leadership Visits have brought back a plethora of ideas for implementation here in Lexington. A sampling of items appears below:

• Baltimore, 2003: Purchasing and procurement initiatives and programs through a Minority Business EXPO in collaboration with UK, FCPS, LFUCG and Ky. State University; Development of the EBO (Emerging Business Opportunities) collaboration leading to two half-day workshops at Blue Grass Airport to assist minority business owners in participating in projects related to airport expansion/initiatives.​
• Nashville, 2000: Commerce Lexington's Access Loan Program and New Century Lexington's Community Livability Report.
• Portland, 1999: Bluegrass Partnership Initiative.
• Mobile, 1998: Formation of AALE (African-American Lexingtonians Emerge)
• Madison, 1997: Coldstream Research Park.
• Richmond, 1996: Commerce Lexington's Business Information Center.
• Greenville, 1995: Commerce Lexington's Minority Business Development program and Thursday Night Live Downtown event.
• Austin, 1992: Lexington Community College's Street MBA Program.
• New Orleans, 1988: World Trade Center downtown.
• Tulsa, 1985: Hope Center (also Charlotte, 1993).
• San Antonio, 1983: Formation of Lexington United.
• Scottsdale, 1981: LFUCG's Herbie and Rosie programs.