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By Keller Riede, Commerce Lexington Policy Intern On Wednesday, March 4, nearly 60 business and community leaders from across the nine-county region gathered in Frankfort for Commerce Lexington’s Greater LEX Day at the Capitol in partnership with AT&T. This event provides a vital opportunity for policy experts, elected officials, and regional leaders to further connect during this legislative session and collaborate on key policy issues impacting the Lexington region. Several prominent members of the General Assembly addressed attendees including Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe, and Representative Josh Bray – sharing insights on the status of legislation and updates on the biennium budget planning that are currently underway. Their input provided valuable insight on policy developments that are affecting Lexington and the broader nine-county Greater LEX region. Priority issues for the region include policy and investments impacting housing affordability, childcare, talent attraction marketing, and job site readiness (KY Product Development Initiative). A group of local policy leaders met with Senate President Robert Stivers and House Speaker David Osborne to support one-time investments in projects with significant economic impact for the region such as the Bluegrass Airport Terminal Expansion, public infrastructure for Expansion Area 3 (Athens-Boonesboro Road), a new Lexington Children’s Museum and infrastructure support for the Central Kentucky Regional Business Park Partnership.
Following the morning discussions, participants gathered for the Legislative Luncheon. This served as a central moment of the day, offering all attendees the chance to further conversations with lawmakers about legislative priorities, regional economic development, and topics pertaining to Central Kentucky’s business community. More than 50 members of the Kentucky General Assembly joined business leaders, community stakeholders, and Commerce Lexington members for the luncheon. The strong turnout underscored the importance of collaboration between policy makers and the private sector as the 2026 legislative session progresses. Greater LEX Day at the Capitol served as an important opportunity to strengthen ties between Central Kentucky’s business community and state legislators. By bringing them together during the General Assembly session, the event ensures that the priorities of the Greater Lexington region remain part of ongoing discussions in Frankfort. With strong participation from both local leaders and legislators, this year’s gathering was a tremendous success that reflects growth and a shared commitment to the region. Comments are closed.
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