“Better in the Bluegrass!”

Major Employers

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington Population 270,789 Lexington MSA Population 436,684 Workforce 152,847 Unemployment Rate 4.0% ACCRA Cost of Living Index 99.2

Rankings Based on the 2006 Forbes Best Places study, when it comes to cost of doing business, Lexington is the second best place in the country to locate a company. Lexington has held the ranking the past three years. Best Places in Terms of Business Costs, 2006 1. Albuquerque, NM 2. Lexington, KY 3. Hickory, NC 4. Oklahoma City, OK 5. Tulsa, OK 48th Best City To Live In The Entire World! By Mercer Consulting

Better in the Bluegrass! Horse Capital of the World Home of the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games Lexington: 48th Best City To Live In Entire World Top 50 Places of a Lifetime: National Geographic Top 10 Recognition: Most Creative Small Cities – Richard Florida Top 10 Most Brainiest City – 2005 U.S. Census One of Five Best Metro Areas in U.S. for Young singles Best Cities for Relocating Families 8th Best Community in North America – Access to Health Care 2nd Best Place In U.S. to Locate a Business (Costs) - Forbes Top 15 Recognition: Top Green Cities – 12th Nationally Smart Places To Live – 13th nationally/Kiplingers Best Cities for Women – Ladies Home Journal

You Asked And We Delivered!!! + + =

What We Do! Commerce Lexington Inc. Business Development Entrepreneurial Development & Growth Expansion of Existing Business New Business Recruitment Community & Minority Business Development (Provide Access to: Opportunity, Capital, Networks) Workforce Development Public Policy & Issue Advocacy (Local/Regional/State/Federal) Networking & Connectivity Leadership Development Leadership Lexington Leadership Central Kentucky Leadership Lexington Youth

Organizational Chart Workforce Development Bluegrass Business Development Partnership Business Development Community & Minority Business Development Local Regional State Federal Membership Marketing Leadership

What Led To Merger? 15+ Years In The Making Concerns: Global Competition Scarce Resources Vs. Our Competing Regions Perceived Duplication of Effort Volunteer Leader Burnout Money Fatigue Lack of Synergy Investor Hold-Out 2003 Economic Development Capital Campaign

Impediments to Merger Key Leader Resistance Public Policy Concerns Will Public Dollars Neutralize Chamber’s Advocacy Efforts? Public Dollars Going To A Membership Based Organization

Post Merger Successes Synergy and Alignment of Efforts Purchased Bluegrass Business Park Purchased Additional Floor In Office Building Economic Performance Enhanced Customer Focused Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (www.ThinkBluegrass.com)*

Bluegrass Business Development Partnership Entrepreneurial Development (www.ThinkBluegrass.com)

Post Merger Successes Economic Outcomes * Regional Cooperation City Investing $662,000 into Economic Development Efforts Public Policy Efforts Membership Increase 2004 to 2007 = 28% Increase ACCE’s Top Ten: # New Members New Member Dollars

New & Expanding Business Investments and Outcomes Since 2003 – One Team, One Vision 5 Year, $3 Million Campaign Year Capital Investment Jobs 2003 $55.9 Million 291 2004 $24.3 Million 1,284 2005 $61.1 Million 888 2006 $16.2 Million 277 2007 $ 57.8 Million 213 Total ~$215 Million ~3,000 For every $1 invested by the private sector, the region earned $78 in New Capital Investment Central KY - $922 Million – 6,127 Jobs (Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development)

A quarter billion in capital investment $5 million in Acce$$ Loans Nearly 3,000 Jobs A quarter billion in capital investment $5 million in Acce$$ Loans

Keys To Success “Open” Communications (Before, During & After) Staff Investors Membership Regional Partners (Initially, Some Were Nervous) Government Officials Separate Accounting of Dollars Economic Development Capital Campaign Dollars Membership Dues/Total Resource Campaign $’s Key Leaders Stay Connected (and Leading!) Patience

Hurdles To Overcome Public Policy Concerns Public Dollars to Membership Based Organization Name Change: Chamber of Commerce to Unknown Name (Commerce Lexington Inc.) Investors Honoring Dollar Commitment to 2003 Economic Development Campaign □ Final Test: Will Business Community Invest in Next Economic Development Capital Campaign (2007)

Thank You!