​[Lexington, Kentucky] – Commerce Lexington’s annual Leadership Visit intercity trip presented by Central Bank & Trust Co. will include a delegation of about 165 regional business, education, government, and nonprofit leaders traveling to Madison, Wisconsin (May 14-16).  The annual intercity visits not only enable leaders to study the best examples of success from benchmark cities across the country, but are also responsible for many programs, initiatives, events and projects occurring in our community and region today.
 
One of the longest-running and largest intercity visits of its kind among chambers of commerce and economic development groups, the Leadership Visits have been responsible for the creation of many great programs and initiatives right here in Central Kentucky. Things like our wildly popular Thursday Night Live (celebrating 30 years in 2025), the successful Courageous Conversations, and the ongoing Regional Competitiveness Plan all resulted from past Leadership Visits, as well as Commerce Lexington’s own EMERGE conference, the Community & Minority Business Development program, the Access Loan Program, and many more.

Commerce Lexington continues to monitor ongoing federal budget cuts, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 extensions, and tariff announcements. On April 2, 2025, the White House imposed a variety of new tariffs, from a universal baseline tariff to nation, product, and commodity specific duties (Executive Order).

What You Need to Know:

• There is a 10% "reciprocal" baseline tariff. These are across-the-board levies on all imports, effective April 5, 2025. 
• On April 9, the Trump Administration announced a 90-day pause on a proposed “discounted reciprocal tariff” set to affect 57 nations. These tariffs, targeting countries identified by the White House as engaging in unfavorable trade practices, included rates such as 24% on Japan and 20% on the European Union. The pause allows for ongoing negotiations between the Administration and the affected countries to address trade concerns.
• Following waves of initial and retaliatory tariffs between the U.S. and China, the rate on most imports from China escalated to 145% when accounting for the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) border security and fentanyl tariffs. China retaliated with their own duties on U.S. imports with a 125% rate effective April 11. On May 12, 2025, the U.S. and China agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs by 115%, setting most Chinese imports to the U.S. at 30% and U.S. exports to China at 10% for a 90-day period. Ongoing negotiations will address non-tariff barriers to Chinese markets, focusing on currency manipulation and the illicit drug trade.
• On May 8, the Trump Administration announced the first major trade deal with the United Kingdom with specific tariff reductions for ease of market access to beef, ethanol, steel, aluminum, and autos. However, the 10% baseline duty remains in effect. 
• Canada and Mexico are exempt from the proposed reciprocal tariff regime. However, most imports from these countries face a 25% tariff due to concerns raised by President Trump regarding their roles in the fentanyl crisis and illegal immigration. Compliant goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) remain eligible for exemptions.
• Trump’s 25% tariffs on foreign-made automobiles took effect April 3, 2025. Auto parts will be included in this 25% rate effective May 3. 
• President Trump’s Administration is considering or discussing the inclusion of copper, lumber, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors in the evolving tariff policies.
• The Tax Foundation maintains a Trump Administration tariff timeline and further details regarding their economic effects.
• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides further context of how broad-based tariffs put U.S. growth at risk.

​Commerce Lexington is proud to announce that it has been named a 2025 Economic Development Organization (EDO) of the Year by Business Facilities, marking its second consecutive year receiving this recognition. The award underscores the organization’s commitment to driving regional growth through innovative programs, strategic collaboration, and a unified vision for the future of the Greater Lexington Region.
 
The Business Facilities EDO Awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate exceptional leadership in fostering economic development, supporting workforce initiatives, and creating impactful projects across the nation. The 2025 award recognizes Commerce Lexington’s efforts leading the Regional Competitiveness Plan, which supports advancing the region’s economic resilience and competitiveness through comprehensive initiatives and regional cooperation strategies.

Last week, the 2025 30-day Regular Session of the Kentucky General Assembly concluded. Lawmakers returned on March 27 and 28 for two final days to strategically override any Gubernatorial vetoes and pass outstanding legislation. During the Session, 148 bills and 14 resolutions were passed into law from over 1,000 filed proposals. Of these, 110 were signed by the Governor, 27 were enacted over the Governor’s veto, and 10 became law without the Governor’s signature. A total of 932 bills failed to pass one or both Chambers or become law, while two bills were enacted with line-item vetoes from the Governor.

During the “short session,” legislative leaders approached policy changes and budget amendments with caution due to uncertainty surrounding federal impacts on the Commonwealth. The General Assembly advanced key business priorities, including reducing state income tax rates, streamlining regulations, and addressing some housing affordability solutions. Additionally, legislators allocated budget surplus funds to support disaster relief efforts. Below are key bills monitored by Commerce Lexington that became law, significantly impacting the Greater Lexington business community.

Commerce Lexington is proud to recognize Gina Greathouse for her 30 years of leading economic development efforts in Lexington and 35 years altogether in the industry. A native of Franklin County, she began her career in business recruitment and retention in 1990 working at the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development.  In 1995, Gina joined Lexington United – the area’s economic development agency – before it merged with the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and the Partnership for Workforce Development to create Commerce Lexington in 2004.
 
Serving as Commerce Lexington’s executive vice president of economic development, Gina has travelled across Kentucky, the country, and internationally to recruit companies to the Greater Lexington region.  During her leadership, the organization has been recognized often as one of the top economic development groups in the country, including a three-time winner of Site Selection’s Mac Conway Award for Excellence in Economic Development, and multiple awards for marketing and initiatives from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Business Facilities, and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE). In 2016, Gina was honored individually with the Kentucky Association for Economic Development’s James J. Coleman Community Professional of the Year Award recognizing practitioners who have made significant and/or innovative contributions to the field and their service area.
 
Commerce Lexington President & CEO, Bob Quick, said, “Gina Greathouse has been instrumental in leading the organization’s economic development efforts, and is well known across the industry as an effective leader. The stability she has provided and partnerships she has built over these many years have been key in helping Greater Lexington put its best foot forward when recruiting new businesses to the area and managing expansion, retention and startup projects right here at home.”
 
Gina is a member of Greater Lexington’s Regional Leadership Council, which includes representatives from nine counties who work together in areas such as economic development, talent attraction, and public policy to improve the region’s competitiveness. She also serves as chair of Bluegrass Alliance, a partnership of economic development professionals working together to ease the process for companies relocating or expanding here and sits on the boards of LexArts and the Kentucky World Trade Center.