Message from the Board Chair:
STEVE BYARS
“We’re better together.”
Those words have been true throughout our history. They have gotten us through some challenging times here in Lexington. They are even more applicable today as our nine-county economic development area continues to collaborate on a regional economic strategy aimed at making Greater Lexington more competitive for jobs and talent.
Successful companies collaborate across county lines and other markets, and successful regions are doing the same thing to strengthen their position across the country and around the world. We’ve studied regional collaboration time and again as we travel to other places during our intercity Leadership Visits. Collaboration is an absolute must, because the stakes are high, and competition is fierce among the top regions nationwide.
For Commerce Lexington, the Regional Competitiveness Strategy is the single most important initiative our team is working on. The plan has big goals to increase jobs, wages, and our labor force – specifically young professionals – to at least the national average over the next four years. To achieve this, regional leaders agreed on seven specific action items focused on economic development, talent recruitment and retention, and public policy advocacy.
Collaboration among economic development professionals across our region has been going on for decades through the Bluegrass Alliance, which helps ease the expansion or relocation process for companies looking to grow here. The idea is that no matter where a project decides to locate, there are substantial direct and indirect economic impacts for all the communities in the region. The Regional Plan supercharges that collaboration to the next level with business, education, and government leaders all working toward common goals.
In 2024, Commerce Lexington will continue to be an advocate for your business as the 60-day Legislative Session of the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in January. We’ll be working with our regional partners to advocate for things that will help advance the Regional Plan goals, other pro-business policies, and those that help our higher education institutions and specifically the University of Kentucky as our region’s primary economic driver.
We must continue to stay engaged in the discussions about the Comprehensive Plan in Fayette County, land use policy in general, and the urban growth expansion plan. We’ve seen what happens without a proper plan for growth over several decades. It’s led to rapidly rising housing costs, dangerously low housing inventory, and increased inequity across our community. We must utilize all growth strategies available, including infill and redevelopment and when necessary, adding land that can help businesses create more jobs, increase housing stock, and attract much needed talent.
One of the most valuable things Commerce Lexington does each year is lead a delegation to visit and study another city during its Leadership Visit. These community-building trips bring business and community leaders together to make positive changes in our community. This year, we’ll travel to Salt Lake City, Utah (June 5-7) with a primary focus on learning about their ecosystem that helps commercialize intellectual property generated at the University of Utah.
I am very passionate about this organization, and I am excited to serve as your Board Chair for 2024. I encourage you to participate where you can and engage in issues that will help strengthen Greater Lexington for the next generation.
Steve Byars
2024 Commerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair
Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
Moneywatch Advisors, Inc.
Those words have been true throughout our history. They have gotten us through some challenging times here in Lexington. They are even more applicable today as our nine-county economic development area continues to collaborate on a regional economic strategy aimed at making Greater Lexington more competitive for jobs and talent.
Successful companies collaborate across county lines and other markets, and successful regions are doing the same thing to strengthen their position across the country and around the world. We’ve studied regional collaboration time and again as we travel to other places during our intercity Leadership Visits. Collaboration is an absolute must, because the stakes are high, and competition is fierce among the top regions nationwide.
For Commerce Lexington, the Regional Competitiveness Strategy is the single most important initiative our team is working on. The plan has big goals to increase jobs, wages, and our labor force – specifically young professionals – to at least the national average over the next four years. To achieve this, regional leaders agreed on seven specific action items focused on economic development, talent recruitment and retention, and public policy advocacy.
Collaboration among economic development professionals across our region has been going on for decades through the Bluegrass Alliance, which helps ease the expansion or relocation process for companies looking to grow here. The idea is that no matter where a project decides to locate, there are substantial direct and indirect economic impacts for all the communities in the region. The Regional Plan supercharges that collaboration to the next level with business, education, and government leaders all working toward common goals.
In 2024, Commerce Lexington will continue to be an advocate for your business as the 60-day Legislative Session of the Kentucky General Assembly convenes in January. We’ll be working with our regional partners to advocate for things that will help advance the Regional Plan goals, other pro-business policies, and those that help our higher education institutions and specifically the University of Kentucky as our region’s primary economic driver.
We must continue to stay engaged in the discussions about the Comprehensive Plan in Fayette County, land use policy in general, and the urban growth expansion plan. We’ve seen what happens without a proper plan for growth over several decades. It’s led to rapidly rising housing costs, dangerously low housing inventory, and increased inequity across our community. We must utilize all growth strategies available, including infill and redevelopment and when necessary, adding land that can help businesses create more jobs, increase housing stock, and attract much needed talent.
One of the most valuable things Commerce Lexington does each year is lead a delegation to visit and study another city during its Leadership Visit. These community-building trips bring business and community leaders together to make positive changes in our community. This year, we’ll travel to Salt Lake City, Utah (June 5-7) with a primary focus on learning about their ecosystem that helps commercialize intellectual property generated at the University of Utah.
I am very passionate about this organization, and I am excited to serve as your Board Chair for 2024. I encourage you to participate where you can and engage in issues that will help strengthen Greater Lexington for the next generation.
Steve Byars
2024 Commerce Lexington Inc. Board Chair
Vice President & Chief Investment Officer
Moneywatch Advisors, Inc.