Message from the Board Chair:
NICK NICHOLSON
Like you, I am very passionate about Lexington and our region. I want to see our people provided with every opportunity to have a job, a nice place to live, and raise a family right here in the Bluegrass. Although we’ve made great progress in a number of areas related to quality of place, we mustn’t rest on our past successes and declare victory. We should always be asking, ‘How can we do better and what’s next?’ We can be proud of our past, but we should never be content with our present.
A crowning achievement for economic development in Lexington came in mid-2025 with the groundbreaking of the Legacy Business Park. Located near the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Park, the 200-acre park is expected to bring almost 1,700 jobs to the community. It is not only a testament to the power of partnerships between public and private sector leaders, but also great determination by those leaders. It took eight years from the time of the initial discussions about the need for more shovel-ready land to when ground was broken, and it will be even longer until the first employees are on site. Now is the time to identify the next business park location.
As we try to make progress on our housing crisis here in Lexington and regionally, a recent collaboration between Transylvania University, local banks and developers, and several community organizations – including Commerce Lexington – led to the creation of what will be a 12.5-acre affordable housing development on the former Transy baseball field. Again, this project will add much needed housing to our community, and it has been recognized as a successful model that can be replicated across our state. We must look for the next opportunity where this collaboration can help our residents find quality housing options. We have the model, and we have the partners. We just need to find the next location.
Increasing jobs and talent is the bread and butter of what a Chamber should be doing for its city and region, and that’s what Commerce Lexington has done for more than 140 years. We will continue to support and advance the Regional Competitiveness Plan, a collaborative effort that includes public and private sector leaders across nine counties working to increase jobs and talent in the Greater Lexington region. Regionalism is a cornerstone of this organization and is absolutely necessary when it comes to competing with our benchmark metros. The collective attributes of our nine counties make us more attractive to businesses looking to relocate here.
I’m really looking forward to leading our 2026 Leadership Visit to Des Moines, Iowa, from June 10-12. This important community-building trip has helped expose Central Kentucky leaders to the best ideas of model communities throughout the country. Des Moines is vibrant, growing, and experiencing tremendous momentum. I recently spent time there and met with many of their leaders. The city’s priorities mirror those of Lexington: talent development, affordable housing, a strong downtown identity, while focusing on regional collaboration. A key industry sector for Des Moines is Ag-Tech, which will provide rich content ideas for the trip and enable us to explore more in this important area related to our own region. I encourage you to consider joining our delegation in 2026.
To have continued success in the future, we must have a business community that is engaged and involved in our city’s most pressing issues. Too often, we get distracted by the next problem before we put maximum effort into solving the last one. There are 70 boards and commissions available through local government, and I encourage you to consider applying for one that you’re interested in. There are hundreds of examples of what happens when we get involved to help solve issues, and we need your expertise working alongside our public officials to find solutions to our community’s toughest challenges. I am excited to serve as your Board Chair this year and look forward to working with you to strengthen our community and region for the next generation.
Nick Nicholson
2026 Commerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair
Member
Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC
A crowning achievement for economic development in Lexington came in mid-2025 with the groundbreaking of the Legacy Business Park. Located near the University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Park, the 200-acre park is expected to bring almost 1,700 jobs to the community. It is not only a testament to the power of partnerships between public and private sector leaders, but also great determination by those leaders. It took eight years from the time of the initial discussions about the need for more shovel-ready land to when ground was broken, and it will be even longer until the first employees are on site. Now is the time to identify the next business park location.
As we try to make progress on our housing crisis here in Lexington and regionally, a recent collaboration between Transylvania University, local banks and developers, and several community organizations – including Commerce Lexington – led to the creation of what will be a 12.5-acre affordable housing development on the former Transy baseball field. Again, this project will add much needed housing to our community, and it has been recognized as a successful model that can be replicated across our state. We must look for the next opportunity where this collaboration can help our residents find quality housing options. We have the model, and we have the partners. We just need to find the next location.
Increasing jobs and talent is the bread and butter of what a Chamber should be doing for its city and region, and that’s what Commerce Lexington has done for more than 140 years. We will continue to support and advance the Regional Competitiveness Plan, a collaborative effort that includes public and private sector leaders across nine counties working to increase jobs and talent in the Greater Lexington region. Regionalism is a cornerstone of this organization and is absolutely necessary when it comes to competing with our benchmark metros. The collective attributes of our nine counties make us more attractive to businesses looking to relocate here.
I’m really looking forward to leading our 2026 Leadership Visit to Des Moines, Iowa, from June 10-12. This important community-building trip has helped expose Central Kentucky leaders to the best ideas of model communities throughout the country. Des Moines is vibrant, growing, and experiencing tremendous momentum. I recently spent time there and met with many of their leaders. The city’s priorities mirror those of Lexington: talent development, affordable housing, a strong downtown identity, while focusing on regional collaboration. A key industry sector for Des Moines is Ag-Tech, which will provide rich content ideas for the trip and enable us to explore more in this important area related to our own region. I encourage you to consider joining our delegation in 2026.
To have continued success in the future, we must have a business community that is engaged and involved in our city’s most pressing issues. Too often, we get distracted by the next problem before we put maximum effort into solving the last one. There are 70 boards and commissions available through local government, and I encourage you to consider applying for one that you’re interested in. There are hundreds of examples of what happens when we get involved to help solve issues, and we need your expertise working alongside our public officials to find solutions to our community’s toughest challenges. I am excited to serve as your Board Chair this year and look forward to working with you to strengthen our community and region for the next generation.
Nick Nicholson
2026 Commerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair
Member
Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC