Regional and State Resources

Commerce Lexington works with many regional and state partners to ensure our economic development efforts are successful. Below is a description of several regional and state resources. Questions? Call us at 859-225-5005.

Bluegrass Alliance

The Bluegrass Alliance is a partnership of economic development professionals in Central Kentucky, working together to promote progress and preservation for the benefit of the region.  The Bluegrass Alliance consists of the following counties: Fayette, Jessamine, Madison, Clark, Bourbon, Scott, Woodford, and Franklin.  Local utility companies, as well as representatives from the Lexington Fayette Urban County Government and the University of Kentucky, comprise the remainder of the Alliance.

www.bluegrassalliance.com

Downtown Lexington Corporation

The Downtown Lexington Corporation (DLC) has a unique position as a membership organization. The work is an ongoing process and the momentum has been focused on new growth and change.  DLC, with more than 350 members who represent the largest businesses, the smallest proprietors and entrepreneurs, neighborhood associations, churches, educational institutions, and individuals, is a community and business advocacy group founded in 1988. DLC encourages responsible economic development in the downtown business core and in the various neighborhoods surrounding this central area. DLC advocates diversity, communication and leadership in assisting property owners, businesses, employees and residents in making Downtown Lexington a location for retail businesses, restaurants, offices, arts and cultural activities as well as a wonderful place to live and work.

www.downtownlex.com

Kentucky Association for Economic Development

Since 1967, the Kentucky Association for Economic Development, formerly the Kentucky Industrial Development Council, has worked hard to promote economic and industrial development in Kentucky. The way we see it, economic development is about more than just the retention and expansion manufacturing. It’s about improving the business environment and quality of life for every citizen in Kentucky. Our members work together on a local, regional and statewide basis to accomplish these goals.

www.kaedonline.org

Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development

The Cabinet for Economic Development is the primary state agency in Kentucky responsible for creating new jobs and investment in the state. Programs administered by the Cabinet are designed to support and promote economic development within the state, primarily by attracting new industries to the state, assisting in the development of existing industries, and assisting communities in preparing for economic development opportunities.

By statute, the Cabinet is governed by the Kentucky Economic Development Partnership (or the Partnership Board). The Partnership Board is responsible for directing and overseeing the Cabinet and adopting a Strategic Plan. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) is a statutorily created committee under the authority of the Partnership Board. KEDFA is responsible for awarding most of the financial incentives offered by the Cabinet.

www.thinkkentucky.com

Kentucky Science & Technology Corporation

The Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation is a private, nonprofit corporation committed to the advancement of science, technology and innovative economic development founded on Kentucky know-how. KSTC is a fast-paced leader with a reputation for developing and managing creative initiatives in education, economic competitiveness and scientific research. Established in 1987, KSTC is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of leaders from business, education, and government.

www.kstc.com
www.startupkentucky.com

Kentucky State Data Center

The Kentucky State Data Center is located in the Urban Studies Institute at 426 W. Bloom Street, Louisville, KY on the University of Louisville's main campus. Since 1980, KSDC and its 76-member affiliate network has provided training and technical assistance in accessing and using Census data for research, administration, planning, and decision making by the government, the business community, university researchers, and other interested data users. The State Data Center is a cooperative effort among the University of Louisville, the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the U.S. Census Bureau's State Data Center Program.

http://ksdc.louisville.edu/

World Trade Center Kentucky

Doing business beyond Kentucky's borders is one of the greatest challenges your company will face, but it is also one of the greatest opportunities. Whether you are a small company just getting started or a large, well-established corporation, importing and exporting products and services can prove to be some of the most rewarding and exciting projects you will undertake.

That's where the World Trade Center Kentucky (WTC-KY) can help. With offices in Lexington and Louisville, the WTC-KY is a leading provider of trade services across the state. Our unique public-private partnership works to advance the global competitiveness of Kentucky companies. Last year, the WTC-KY responded to more than 500 individual service requests and organized high-profile trade programs featuring business and political leaders from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has emerged as a leader among the 50 states in expanding its international trade, and over the past decade, Kentucky ranked sixth in export growth.

Our relationship with the World Trade Centers Association, which encompasses a global network of over 300 world trade centers in 101 countries, allows our members access to the global marketplace.

http://www.wtcky.org/
 

lexington convention and visitors bureau

The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau offers a variety of services including vacation planning assistance, convention planning assistance, as well as your key to history and facts about Lexington and Central Kentucky.  The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau will help you map out your vacation or convention in the Bluegrass Region.

www.visitlex.com

Lexington Downtown Development Authority

The mission of the Lexington Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) is to promote physical and economic development, land uses, and activities that make Downtown Lexington the lively, thriving, stimulating and diverse economic, cultural, and residential heart of Central Kentucky – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. 

www.lexingtondda.com

Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) is the local municipality for Fayette County and Lexington.  Lexington and Fayette County became a merged government in 1974.  LFUCG’s mission statement is:  Working in partnership with the community to provide a safe and secure environment, excellent customer service, a vibrant organization, and economic opportunity empowering all to thrive.

www.lexingtonky.gov

Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation. We recognize that small business is critical to our economic recovery and strength, to building America's future, and to helping the United States compete in today's global marketplace. Although SBA has grown and evolved in the years since it was established in 1953, the bottom line mission remains the same. The SBA helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Guam.

www.sba.gov

University of Kentucky Office for Commercialization & Economic Development

As the state's flagship institution, the University of Kentucky is a catalyst for economic growth throughout Kentucky. UK President Lee T. Todd Jr. established the Office for Commercialization & Economic Development at the end of 2006 to manage the university's intellectual assets, create jobs for UK graduates and advance economic development initiatives statewide.

The mission of the Office for Commercialization & Economic Development is to grow Kentucky's economy through the commercialization of UK research, university-industry partnerships, the development of new and existing businesses, and the creation of jobs.

Leonard E. "Len" Heller serves as UKCED Vice President. He is part of The National Academies University–Industry Demonstration Partnership, which brings top research universities together with Fortune 500 companies to develop R&D and commercialization relationships, and the APLU Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity.

Heller directs investment in technology-based businesses and UK spin-offs as President / CEO of Kentucky Technology Inc., through the Bluegrass Angels and Bluegrass Angel Venture Funds, and early stage venture capital networking.

The UKCED team of professionals is responsible for the following programs and services:

• The Advanced Science & Technology Commercialization Center/ASTeCC and the Agricultural Technologies
• Commercialization Center/AgTeCC campus incubators
• Intellectual property development
• Commercialization and licensing of university–based intellectual properties and technologies
• Development of the UK Coldstream Research Campus
• Business development for new and existing technology-based companies and small businesses at UK, in the
• Lexington / Bluegrass region and throughout the state through:
• Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship
• UK / Lexington Innovation & Commercialization Center
• Kentucky Small Business Development Center

www.econdev.uky.edu