Annual Washington, DC Fly-In | July 7-8, 2026
PRESENTED BY:
On July 7-8, 2026, more than 50 regional business and community leaders will travel to the nation’s capital for the annual Washington, D.C. Fly-In presented by Columbia Gas of Kentucky.
During the three-day visit, leaders from Greater LEX will meet with members of Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation, administration officials, and their respective staff about priority issues to enhance and support the ongoing Regional Competitiveness Plan. In addition, participants will hear from various leaders and policy experts about key issues such as trade and tariffs, tax and regulatory reform, economic development, transportation infrastructure, Medicaid investments, broadband, housing affordability, energy policies, and workforce issues.
One of the seven key action items of the Regional Competitiveness Plan is increasing state and federal investments within the Bluegrass Region for infrastructure and economic development needs and advocating for policy changes that improve the business climate. This year, our key priorities will focus on advocating for policies that support economic growth and stability for the nine-county region, including making permanent the strongest pro-growth provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, strengthening domestic energy production, critical transportation investments at Bluegrass Airport, securing federal investments to develop shovel-ready sites for job growth, research and innovation grants for the University of Kentucky, and implementing effective solutions to address the housing affordability crisis.
Attendees on the trip represent various sectors of the regional economy such as government, banking, health care, non-profit, education, manufacturing, energy, and professional services. Members of the delegation act as “policy ambassadors” for Greater LEX. They share the issue concerns of the business community with members of Congress and Administration officials, and advocate for policies or projects aimed at making the region a better place to live and work.
The D.C. Fly-In is organized by Commerce Lexington with assistance from the Greater LEX Regional Policy Group in formulating the federal policy agenda. The Regional Policy Group includes business, community, and government leaders within the nine-county region.
During the three-day visit, leaders from Greater LEX will meet with members of Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation, administration officials, and their respective staff about priority issues to enhance and support the ongoing Regional Competitiveness Plan. In addition, participants will hear from various leaders and policy experts about key issues such as trade and tariffs, tax and regulatory reform, economic development, transportation infrastructure, Medicaid investments, broadband, housing affordability, energy policies, and workforce issues.
One of the seven key action items of the Regional Competitiveness Plan is increasing state and federal investments within the Bluegrass Region for infrastructure and economic development needs and advocating for policy changes that improve the business climate. This year, our key priorities will focus on advocating for policies that support economic growth and stability for the nine-county region, including making permanent the strongest pro-growth provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, strengthening domestic energy production, critical transportation investments at Bluegrass Airport, securing federal investments to develop shovel-ready sites for job growth, research and innovation grants for the University of Kentucky, and implementing effective solutions to address the housing affordability crisis.
Attendees on the trip represent various sectors of the regional economy such as government, banking, health care, non-profit, education, manufacturing, energy, and professional services. Members of the delegation act as “policy ambassadors” for Greater LEX. They share the issue concerns of the business community with members of Congress and Administration officials, and advocate for policies or projects aimed at making the region a better place to live and work.
The D.C. Fly-In is organized by Commerce Lexington with assistance from the Greater LEX Regional Policy Group in formulating the federal policy agenda. The Regional Policy Group includes business, community, and government leaders within the nine-county region.
Washington Fly-In sponsorship opportunities available by contacting Lisa Deaton Mahan.