[♪♪] HELLO AND WELCOME TO INSIDE LOUISVILLE WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKEUP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU TO DOWNTOWN.

DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE IS THE LARGEST BUSINESS DISTRICT IN KENTUCKY.

AND CONSIDERED THE URBAN HUB OF METRO LOUISVILLE.

IT IS A HISTORIC DISTRICT WHERE THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE WAS FOUNDED ON THE BANKS OF THE OHIO RIVER T INCLUDES WHISKEY ROW, MUSEUM ROW, FOURTH STREET AND STRETCHES FROM 9TH STREET TO THE WEST TO THE EAST.

ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE FAMOUS FACADES OF MAIN STREET REMAINED INTACT SINCE THE CITY WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1700'S, DOWNTOWN HAS CHANGED A LOT SINCE THEN.

TODAY WE EXPLORE WHAT IS NEXT FOR DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

WE START WITH THE PLAN TO REIMAGINE 9TH STREET.

>> THIS IS A PROJECT THAT IS ALL ABOUT REUNITING THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF RUSSELL WITH DOWNTOWN AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE 9TH STREET DIVIDE MY ENTIRE LIFE.

THIS IS THE PROJECT THAT DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> LAST MONTH THE CITY ASKED FOR PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO REIMAGINE 9TH STREET TO TRANSFORM THE 9TH STREET CORRIDOR FROM A SIX-LANE THOROUGHFARE TO A STREET WITH A LARGE PEDESTRIAN AREA, BICYCLE FACILITIES, DEDICATED BUS LANES, GREEN SPACE AND MORE.

THE HOPE IS THAT IT WILL BRIDGE THAT 9TH STREET DIVIDE SEPARATING LOUISVILLE'S WEST END FROM DOWNTOWN.

>> YOU'VE HEARD FOR EVERY YEAR THE CONCERN ABOUT THE 9TH STREET DIVIDE AND HOW IT DIVIDES OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF THE RACIAL DYNAMIC YOU COME INTO WEST LOUISVILLE IT'S PREDOMINANTLY BLACK COMMUNITY AND AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT WHEN YOU COME INTO RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD CROSSING 9TH STREET YOU HAPPEN TO COME INTO THE POOREST NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

AND SO REIMAGINING 9TH STREET CERTAINLY SETS A NEW TONE FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES US EXCITED.

CHANGING THAT FABRIC OF THE STREETSCAPE, IMPROVING THE SAFETY, CHOKE TO GO DOWN TO FOUR LANES AND I THINK IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF IT.

JUST THE WHOLE ENVIRONMENT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THAT.

>> FOR MORE ON THE 9TH STREET PROJECT AND THE OVERALL STRATEGY FOR DOWNTOWN, WE WELCOME REBECCA FLEISCHAKER, SHE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LOUISVILLE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP.

SO IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN EFFORT HERE TO REIMAGINE ALL OF DOWNTOWN.

9TH STREET IS ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS.

WHY IS THAT AREA SO IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF DOWNTOWN?

>> FOR SEVERAL REASONS AND THIS IS SIGNIFICANT STREET IN SCOPE AND SIZE ALONE BUT IT IS THE WELCOME FROM THE INTERSTATE AND IT'S WHAT IS CALLED THE DIVIDE BETWEEN WEST LOUISVILLE AND DOWNTOWN HOW DO WE SOFTEN THAT AND MAKE THE BOUNDARIES MORE GRAY AND WELCOMING FOR DOWNTOWN.

I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS REIMAGINE 9TH STREET PROJECT IT WILL HELP OPEN THE GATES ON WHAT WE CONSIDER DOWNTOWN IT'S ALWAYS CHANGING.

AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL LIKE THERE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A HARD BOUNDARY IT IS A FRAME OF MIND.

LET'S WELCOME ANYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME IN AND OPEN THAT GATEWAY.

>> SO THAT IS REIMAGINE 9TH STREET.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER PROJECT REIMAGINE FOURTH STREET.

>> YES.

>> TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> WE ARE WORKING WITH AN INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT FIRM OUT OF NEW YORK.

AND WE ARE LOOKING AT FOURTH STREET AND FIFTH STREET IN TANDEM AS THE NORTH-SOUTH SPINE OF DOWNTOWN.

FIFTH STREET ENDS AT THE BELVIDERE.

AND FOURTH STREET IS THE HISTORIC BUSINESS CENTER OF DOWNTOWN.

TOGETHER THEY REALLY ARE WHAT HOLDS THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN WE CALL IT THE POWER T, THE MARKET FOURTH AND FIFTH AND FOURTH STREET HAS THE PLAZA ON IT WHICH IS A GREAT CENTRAL LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CONVENTION CENTER.

A REALLY NICE GATHERING POINT THAT HASN'T BEEN HEAVILY PROGRAMMED EVER.

WHEN IT WAS FIRST BUILT AS A PLAZA IT WAS GOING TO BE A SECOND TOWER TO MATCH 400 WEST MARKET.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SO THIS IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT HOW DO WE ACTIVATE THIS STREET AND CREATE THE SPINE THAT IS A DESTINATION AND ATTRACTS YOU TO COME TO IT.

IT WILL NOT JUST BE NEW CURBS AND TREES IT WILL BE IMAGINE ALL NEW BUILT SOMETHING.

THIS FIRM DID CENTENNIAL PARK IN CHICAGO WITH THE BEAN.

WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THE BEAN BUT YOU WILL KNOW YOU ARE IN THE CENTER OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

>> THE DISCUSSIONS FOR THAT ARE STILL?

>> JUST STARTING.

>> JUST STARTING.

THAT IS EXCITING.

SO YOU KNOW, DOWNTOWN HAS BEEN IMPACTED OBVIOUSLY FROM COVID, WORK-FROM-HOME TRENDS AND CIVIL UNREST IN 2020 ALL THE 2020 BEIRUT US.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF DOWNTOWN RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, WE ARE A LONG WAY FROM 2020 THANK GOODNESS.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T COME DOWNTOWN AND HAVE IN THEIR MINDS WHAT 2020 WAS ON TV.

OUR JOB IS TO SHOW PEOPLE THERE IS A LOT GOING ON.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BACK TO WORK.

AND WE ARE TRYING TO ACTIVATE SPACES MORE BEAUTIFUL.

WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE PLACES THAT YOU WANT TO COME AND ALSO PUTTING ON EVENTS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AND HIGHLIGHTING DOWNTOWN AS THE CULTURAL CENTER OF OUR CITY THAT IT IS.

AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT.

YOU ARE MISSING OUT IF YOU ARE NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WHAT YOUR DOWNTOWN HAS TO OFFER.

>> WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT HUMANA LEAVING.

THERE IS A LOT OF TALK OF THESE BIG CORPORATIONS LEAVING AND SO WHAT IS NEXT?

WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR THAT?

IS THERE A DIFFERENT -- IS THERE GOING TO BE A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FOR DOWNTOWN?

>> THEY ARE NOT LEAVING.

LET'S START THERE.

SO THEY ARE MOVING.

HUMANA HAS NOT BROUGHT OTHER PEOPLE BACK SINCE COVID THEY WERE LETTING PEOPLE WORK REMOTELY BEFORE COVID BEFORE WE KNEW WHAT REMOTE WORK WAS THEY ARE MOVING TO THE BUILDING LITERALLY THREE BLOCKS DOWN THE STREET.

THEY ARE NOT LEAVING DOWNTOWN THEY ARE LEAVING A BUILDING BUT THEY ARE NOT CHANGING THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW.

THAT BUILDING IS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

I WILL COME BACK TO THAT.

FIFTH THIRD IS LEAVING THEIR BUILDINGS NOT CHANGING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE BUT THEY ARE MOVING TO A DIFFERENT DISTRICT WITHIN DOWNTOWN.

AND LG AND E THE SAME THEY ARE LEAVING THE BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ELM CENTER A PRIME SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN LOCATION TO THEIR BUILDING THEY OWN 8TH AND BROADWAY WHICH IS DOWNTOWN A DIFFERENT EDGE OF DOWNTOWN WHICH WILL BE GOOD FOR EVERYTHING GOING ON AT REIMAGINE 9TH STREET AND THAT SIDE OF DOWNTOWN THAT WEST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN.

HAVING SAID THAT, WE CAN'T DEPEND ON OFFICE ANYMORE LIKE WE HAVE BEFORE.

THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT IS GOING ON.

I'VE REFERRED TO THIS CHANGE IN VERNACULAR WE CAN'T JUST BE A CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT BECAUSE HEALTHY DOWNTOWNS HAVE A THREE-LEGGED STOOL.

YOU NEED HEALTHY TOURISM WHICH WE DON'T HAVE.

WE NEED HEALTHY OFFICE WORKERS WHO I BELIEVE WILL COME BACK AT SOME POINT BUT NOWHERE SOON.

AND THEN YOU NEED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

AND WE WERE BEHIND THE 8 BALL ON THAT PRECOVID.

WHAT A LOT OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE CITY, IS OFFER UP SPACES TO BE REDEVELOPED WITH NEW TOOLS, THE CITY'S GOT THE MAYOR PUT OUT THREE SIGNIFICANT CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES FOR REDEVELOPMENT.

I BELIEVE WE WILL SEE MORE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE NEED PEOPLE ON THE STREET ALL TIMES OF DAY, FOUR REASONS.

YOU NEED THAT DIVERSITY AND DENSITY OF USES.

THAT MAKES AN ACTIVE VIBRANT HEALTHY DOWNTOWN.

>> WHAT YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE THE HUMANA BUILDING?

>> I DO.

I MEAN, I HOPE THAT THAT BUILDING I DON'T FORESEE IT BEING BUSINESS AGAIN BUT IT COULD MAKE A COOL HOTEL WITH RESIDENTIAL RIGHT AT THE FOOT OF THE BELVIDERE.

OVERLOOKING THE RIVER AND BEING IN THE CENTER PART OF DOWNTOWN LOOKING EITHER WAY DOWN WHISKEY ROW, IS COOL.

>> YOU DID MENTION TOURISM.

AND WITH THE BOURBONISM AND EVERYTHING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS GROWING AND HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN.

BUT IS THAT THE NEW DIRECTION?

I MEAN IS IT MORE LEANING TOWARDS TOURISTS THAN RESIDENTIAL?

>> RIGHT NOW, THAT IS WHAT WE SEE MORE OF.

AND I WOULD SAY THANK GOODNESS FOR TOURISM BECAUSE IT IS KEEPING PEOPLE ON THE STREET AND BUSINESSES AFLOAT WITH BUSINESS.

BUT IT'S NOT THE FUTURE.

IT CAN'T BE THE FUTURE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A NICE SPREAD AMONG THE THREE THINGS.

IF IT WERE JUST ONE YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN OTHER THINGS GOING ON ALL THE TIME.

IF YOU WANT YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES YOUR STRUNTS AND BARS TO EXIST FOR WHEN YOU DECIDE TO COME DOWNTOWN FOR A DRINK, THEY HAVE TO HAVE BUSINESS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

TOURISM DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT.

SO YOU WANT TO HAVE OFFICE WORKERS AND RESIDENTIAL.

YOU NEED TO HAVE ALL THREE.

>> LOUISVILLE IS NOT THE ONLY CITY DEALING WITH REIMAGINING THEIR DOWNTOWN AREA.

ARE THERE ANY CITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE STUDIED THAT ARE DOING IT RIGHT WE CAN LEARN FROM?

>> YES.

COVID CHANGED THE WORLD.

THERE'S NOT ONE DOWNTOWN THAT WAS LIKE I STILL GOT IT AND WE'RE GREAT AND WE'VE HAD TO PIVOT AND LEARN.

WE KNOW IT'S A SENSE OF PLACE THAT IS MAKING EVERYBODY WANT TO GO TO A PLACE.

SO BOURBONISM IS GREAT IT IS ATTRACTING PEOPLE HERE BUT MORE TO THAT, YOU WANT TO HAVE DESTINATIONS AND COOL PLACES LIGHTING, ART, COLOR, WHATEVER IT IS, PLANTS A COOL SCULPTURE THINGS MAKE YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN LOUISVILLE YOU WILL TAKE A PICTURE AND POST IT ON-LINE AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND IT WILL BRING OTHER PEOPLE DOWNTOWN.

I'M ON A TOUR OF DOWNTOWNS TO VISIT MY COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER CITIES.

AND THERE ARE THINGS I REALLY LIKE IN OTHER CITIES AND THINGS I DON'T LIKE.

WE ARE NOT THAT FAR BEHIND.

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL GET US TO A PLACE WHERE WE WANT TO BE THAT WILL HELP A LOT.

BUT WE NEED MORE CARE OF OUR PUBLIC SPACES.

BECAUSE WE'VE TAKEN THAT FOR GRANTED IN OUR PAST AND WE NEED TO PUT MORE COLOR, WHIMSY, BEAUTY ON THE STREET THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO ATTEND AND BE THERE.

LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THERE AND ENJOY YOUR TIME.

ATMOSPHERE IS EVERYTHING.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RESIDENTIAL AND ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO WANT TO MOVE DOWNTOWN, PEOPLE IN LOUISVILLE DON'T WANT TO VISIT DOWNTOWN.

HOW DO YOU -- WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT DOWNTOWN?

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO THINK ABOUT LIVING DOWNTOWN?

>> THE BIGGEST THING I TALK ABOUT I AM A CHEERLEADER FOR IS YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING UNTIL YOU COME AND SEE IT.

IF YOU ARE HEARING YOUR NEIGHBORS SAY SOMETHING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AND YOU ARE BELIEVING IT, I WANT YOUR EYEBALLS ON THE STREET TO GET A FIRSTHAND IMPRESSION.

THERE IS SO MUCH TO DO IN DOWNTOWN.

WE JUST HAD DOWNTOWN HOMETOWN TOURIST WEEK 11 DAYS WITH 14 ATTRACTIONS GIVE HALF OFF DISCOUNT TO ADMISSION AND HOTELS PARTICIPATED.

WE ARE NOT DONE DOING THE TALLY HOW MANY CAME BUT WE BELIEVE WE WILL BE AT 1500 PEOPLE LOUISVILLIANS WHO CAME TO SAY LOOK AT MY DOWNTOWN.

WE HAVE TOURISTS WHO LOVE IT.

WE DO NOT HEAR THE SAME COMPLAINTS FROM TOURIST AS PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.

AND PEOPLE WHO DECIDE TO MOVE HERE, THE PEOPLE WHO MOVED FROM ANOTHER CITY THAT LOVE IT AND THEY ARE OUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS IT IS OUR HOMEGROWN PEOPLE THAT FIND IT THE EASIEST TO SAY I DON'T NEED IT OR WANT DOWNTOWN.

>> WHY IS THAT?

>> I THINK IT'S HUMAN NATURE.

I HEAR IT FROM OTHER CITIES TOO, IT MAKES ME SAD BUT THAT IS OUR FIGHT.

YOU CHOOSE TO LIVE IN A CITY WHETHER OR NOT YOU MOVED HERE OR NOT, YOU CHOOSE TO STAY HERE.

SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT EXISTS IN YOUR CITY AND YOUR TAX MONEY DOES PAY FOR THE THINGS THAT SUPPORTS THESE AMAZING THINGS.

WE HAVE A LOT OF THINGS YOU CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

ALL OF OUR EVENTS ARE FREE.

THE CITY'S EVENTS ARE FREE.

I BELIEVE THERE'S SAFETY IN NUMBERS IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A BIG EVENT, WORLD FEST, AND COME DOWN.

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH DOWNTOWN, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED WHAT IS HERE.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DO HEAR FROM PEOPLE IS THAT THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE THEY DON'T THINK IT'S SAFE.

AND THERE IS HOMELESS PROBLEM.

WHAT DO YOU TELL PEOPLE ABOUT THAT?

>> WE'RE WORKING WITH THE CITY AND PD ON THE MENTAL HEALTH WHAT I CALL CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND DRUG ADDICTION.

HOMELESS IS VISIBLE IN DOWNTOWN MORE SO THAN BEFORE COVID BUT THERE ARE NOT AS MANY PEOPLE DOWNTOWN AND THERE IS A REAL ISSUE.

BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THEY ARE UNSAFE.

IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE.

IF YOU ARE NOT USED TO BEING IN A DOWNTOWN SETTING ALL DOWNTOWNS ARE DEALING WITH IT, TOO.

AND OURS IS PRETTY GOOD COMPARED TO OTHER DOWNTOWNS ESPECIALLY THE BIGGER CITIES.

BUT WE WANT TO HELP THEM.

WE WANT TO GET PEOPLE TO A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN FIND CARE AND SERVICES.

AND ALSO HELP OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND POTENTIAL RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY FIGURE OUT HOW TO BE ABLE TO JUST KNOW THAT THAT'S GOING TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AND SAFE.

CHIEF AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES.

THEY ARE TRYING TO HIRE OFFICERS EVERYDAY THAT IS SOMETHING THEY ARE ADDING.

I'M ADVOCATING FOR A DOWNTOWN DISTRICT THAT IS ITS OWN DISTRICT THEREFORE YOU HAVE PEOPLE MEN AND WOMEN OFFICERS COMMITTED TO ONLY SERVING DOWNTOWN THAT VISIBILITY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> IF YOU COULD GET OUT YOUR CRYSTAL BALL HERE AND TELL US WHAT DOWNTOWN IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

>> 10 YEARS?

I THINK WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER 5,000 RESIDENTS IN DOWNTOWN WHICH PEENS THAT IS DOUBLE, THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND ALL THE TIME.

I THINK OFFICE WILL BE BACK THREE TO FOUR DAYS A WEEK.

NOT SURE IF WE'LL GET BACK TO FIVE.

AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MORE BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFIED, DESIGNED PUBLIC SPACES IN DOWNTOWN.

THAT WILL BE INTERESTING THAT YOU WANT TO COME TO AND SHARE.

>> HOPEFULLY WE GET YOU SEE YOU AGAIN IN 10 YEARS.

ALL RIGHT.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE ARE GOING TO TALK WITH LEADERS FROM GREATER LOUISVILLE INC., THE METRO CLAIMER WITH OF COMMERCE ABOUT THEIR NEW STRATEGY TO BRING NEW BUSINESS TO LOUISVILLE.

A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE IS ENCOURAGING NEW BUSINESSES TO LOCATE TO LOUISVILLE.

LAUNCH A TARGETED NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO DO JUST THAT.

CLARK WELCH IS THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WITH GLI, THE METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

TELL US THE IDEA BEHIND THIS CAMPAIGN AND WHAT GLI IS HOPING TO GET FROM IT?

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GLI IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THIS NEW TARGETED MARKETING CAMPAIGN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOUISVILLE METRO.

BECAUSE A LOT OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORK THAT WE DO ACROSS OUR 15-COUNTY REGION IS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE BUSINESSES OUTSIDE OF OUR MARKET TO CONSIDER EITHER A RELOCATION OR AN EXPANSION WITHIN OUR 15-COUNTY REGION.

AND IN OUR ENGAGEMENT WITH NATIONAL REAL ESTATE BROKERS AND SITE SELECTTORS AND OTHER BUSINESS EXECUTIVES OUTSIDE OF THIS MARKET ONE OF THE COMMON COMMENTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THEM IS THAT THEY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THE LOUISVILLE REGION.

AND SO WE'RE DESIGNING THIS MARKETING CAMPAIGN TO BE VERY SPECIFIC AND TARGETED ACROSS KEY GEOGRAPHIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY THAT WILL HELP US MAKE LOUISVILLE TOP OF MIND AS THE COMPANIES ARE CONSIDERING LOUISVILLE FOR EITHER A RELOCATION OR EXPANSION OPPORTUNITY.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE ASSETS YOU SEE IN LOUISVILLE AT THAT TIME YOU ARE PROMOTING TO SOME OTHER CORPORATIONS?

>> SURE.

I THINK ONE OF OUR MAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES IS OUR BEING A HUB OF LOGISTICS.

THE LOUISVILLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE FIFTH BUSIEST CARGO AIRPORT IN THE WORLD.

WHICH SETS US ASIDE FROM OTHER MIDWEST AND CENTRALLY LOCATED GEOGRAPHIES, BECAUSE IT GIVES US THAT ABILITY TO PROVIDE NEXT DAY AIR SERVICE TO ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

WHEN WE LOOK AT SOME OF OUR KEY INDUSTRIES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO TARGET, MOST OF THOSE ARE IN MORE EXPENSIVE MARKETS COMPARED TO LOUISVILLE.

SO WE LOOK AT OUR CENTRAL LOCATION COUPLED WITH OUR LOW COST OF LIVING IS BEING OUR TWO MAIN COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES.

>> YOU MENTIONED KEY INDUSTRIES WHAT ARE THE KEY INDUSTRIES YOU ARE TARGETING?

>> SURE.

SO I THINK IT'S RELEVANT LET ME FIRST START BY TALKING ABOUT THE KEY MARKET AND THOSE INDUSTRIES LOCATED IN THOSE MARKETS.

SO SAN FRANCISCO ON THE WEST COAST, CHICAGO, BOSTON AND WASHINGTON D.C. ARE GOING TO BE THE MAIN CITIES THAT THE ARE FOCUSED FOR THIS MARKETING EFFORT.

AND SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES THAT WE ARE TRYING TO INCUBATE AND GROW AND CAPITALIZE ON HERE LOCALLY ARE A PRESENCE IN THOSE MARKETS.

SO THOSE INCLUDE THINGS LIKE LIFE SCIENCES, LOW JISSIC ITS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF U.P.S.

AND THEIR PRESENCE HERE.

THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT IN HARDEN COUNTY WITH BLUE OVAL SK JOINT VENTURE THAT WILL RESULT IN INCREASED CAPPY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY MANUFACTURING.

WE SEE THAT AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE.

I THINK ALREADY A NUMBER OF SECTORS THOSE ARE PROBABLY TWO OF THE MAIN ONES WE ARE LEANING IN ON.

>> WHO ARE OUR MAIN COMPETITORS WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER CITIES?

>> SO LOUISVILLE DOES A GOOD JOB OF BENCHMARKING ITSELF AGAINST A SLATE OF OTHER PEER MARKETS.

SO THOSE INCLUDE CITIES THAT ARE BIGGER THAN LOUISVILLE, CITIES THAT ARE SMALLER THAN LOUISVILLE.

BUT TO NAME A FEW OF THOSE IT WOULD BE CINCINNATI, INDIANAPOLIS, NASHVILLE ARE THE MOST OFTEN COMPARED MARKETS REGIONALLY.

BUT THEN IF YOU GO ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE WOULD INCLUDE CITIES LIKE OMAHA, AND GRAND RAPIDS IN MICHIGAN.

WE LOOK TO THE CAROLINAS WITH GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA AS WELL AS CHARLOTTE.

AND I THINK RICHMOND IS OFTEN COMPARED TO LOUISVILLE AS WELL.

>> WHAT DOES A MARKETING CAMPAIGN LIKE THIS LOOK LIKE?

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THOSE TARGETS AND THAT YOU ARE FOCUSING ON?

>> YEAH.

SO THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN ITSELF WILL BE LARGELY DIGITAL ABOUT 10% OF THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE ALLOCATED TO THIS EFFORT IS GOING TO BE FOR PRINT ADVERTISING IN A SITE SELECTION TRADE MAGAZINE.

THE REMAINING 90% IS TARGETED ADVERTISING THAT WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS SITE SELECTTORS OUT OF MARKET AS WELL AS CORPORATE EXECUTIVES WITHIN THESE KEY INDUSTRIES THAT WE'RE HOPING MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN EITHER EXPANDING OR RELOCATING TO THIS MARKET.

>> SO FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHAT DO YOU SEE IS THE FUTURE FOR DOWNTOWN AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF HUMANA AND FIFTH THIRD AND SO MANY BUSINESSES IT SEEMS TO BE LEAVING AND IT SEEMS LIKE A CHANGE IN THE TRAJECTORY OF DOWNTOWN.

WHERE DO YOU ALL SEE IT GOING FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

>> IT IS A GOOD QUESTION AND IT IS NOT A QUESTION THAT IS UNIQUE TO LOUISVILLE.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY DOWNTOWNS IN GENERAL ARE HAVING TO GET CREATIVE ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT CHAPTER LOOKS LIKE.

I WILL SAY AS IT RELATES TO RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS PERTAINING TO HUMANA AND FIFTH THIRD I THINK IT'S 0 MORE OF A REALLOCATION OF EXISTING ASSETS THAN IT IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE MARKET.

AND THOSE ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

HUMANA'S CASE, THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE WILL BE COMING DOWNTOWN TO THE WATER SIDE BUILDING.

IT'S JUST THAT THOSE PEOPLE WILL BE CONSOLIDATED IN A DIFFERENT PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT.

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR FIFTH THIRD WHICH IS MOVING JUST ADJACENT TO DOWNTOWN.

SO I THINK FROM AN EMPLOYMENT STANDPOINT IT'S SORT OF A ENCOURAGING THAT THAT BASE REMAINS IN THE DOWNTOWN GENERAL AREA.

BUT YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HOW WE RETHINK AND LOOK AT DOWNTOWN GENERALLY IT'S GOING TO RESULT IN A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS AND A THE LOW OF CREATIVE THINKING ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH EXISTING OFFICE SPACE AND HOW TO READAPT THAT TO MAKE IT RELEVANT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

>> YEAH, AND THAT IS THE CONVERSATION THAT IS GOING ON.

AS YOU MENTIONED IT'S NOT JUST UNIQUE TO LOUISVILLE.

A LOT OF PLACES DEALING WITH THIS PARTICULARLY AFTER COVID AND WORK-FROM-HOME.

BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF VACANT SPACES IN DOWNTOWN.

WHAT ARE YOU ALL HEARING FROM CORPORATIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY WANT TO LOCATE?

AND IT'S NOT IN A DOWNTOWN AREA, RIGHT?

>> WELL, SORT OF DEPENDS ON THE INDUSTRY AND THE COMPANY YOU ARE ENGAGING WITH.

I THINK IN SOME CASES A PHYSICAL OFFICE PRESENCE IS IMPORTANT.

BUT IN MANY CASES IN PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING TIGHT LABOR MARKET THAT WE HAVE, COMPANIES ARE HAVING TO GET CREATIVE HOW THEY RETAIN EMPLOYEES.

AND ONE OF THE WAYS THEY ARE DOING THAT IS THROUGH THE OFFERING OF HYBRID WORK.

AS MORE TIME GOES ALONG WE'LL SEE A FLUCTUATION WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THE CASES I THINK, OUT THERE IN FUTURE YEARS THAT THE PHYSICAL INTERACTION THAT YOU HAVE WITH COWORKERS, WATERCOOLER DISCUSSIONS, BRAINSTORMING THAT HAPPENS MUCH MORE OR BEGANNICLY WHEN YOU ARE IN THE SAME PHYSICAL SPACE.

BE IT DOWNTOWN OR ANY OFFICE.

>> SURE.

SO WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN TERMS OF THE STATE OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY TODAY AND WHERE DO YOU SEE THAT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR?

>> SURE.

GENERALLY THE REGION HAS FARED VERY WELL SINCE THE PANDEMIC ENDED A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

WE CONTINUE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE 15-COUNTY REGION THAT GLI FOCUSES ON HOW IT COMPARES TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY TIGHT LABOR MARKET AT THE MOMENT.

LAST MONTH, THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS CONTINUED TO SHOW THAT WE ARE MAINTAINING OUR HIGHEST EMPLOYMENT LEVEL AT ANY POINT OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS.

SO I THINK THAT IS A STRONG INDICATOR OF HOW WE'VE RECOVERED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

AND I THINK WE'RE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHERE WE'RE HEADED IN THE FUTURE.

SPEAKING FROM GLI'S PERSPECTIVE ONE OF THE WAYS WE GAUGE ECONOMIC HEALTH IS BY HOW MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN EXISTENCE IN OUR PIPELINE OF POTENTIAL PROJECTS.

AND OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, WE'VE SEEN OVER 100% INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT ARE CONSIDERING THE GREATER LOUISVILLE REGION.

WE HAVE JUST AS OF LAST WEEK, SLIGHTLY MORE THAN 60 PROJECTS CONSIDERING OUR REGION.

>> WOW.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> VERY ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO THAT MARKETING CAMPAIGN WHAT IS THE MEASURE OF SUCCESS?

WHAT IS YOUR GOAL HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN WILL ENHANCE THE EFFORTS THAT ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY BY OUR GROWING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS WE HAVE ADDED THREE MEMBERS TO OUR TEAM TO HELP FURTHER THE WORK WE'RE DOING AND THE MARKETING CAMPAIGN WHEN WE LOOK HOW WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IS NOT SIMPLY THE NUMBER OF IMPRESSIONS AND THE CLICK THROUGH RATE THAT WE HAVE ON OUR NEW REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE.

BUT IT REALLY IS GOING TO PAN OUT OVER THE FOLLOWING SIX TO 12 MONTHS WHEN WE SEE HOW THOSE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS WITH SITE SELECTTORS AND BUSINESSES MATERIALIZE AND THEY WILL LAND IN OUR PIPELINE AND THEN THROUGH OUR PROCESS, THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THOSE BUSINESSES LAND IN OUR REGION.

>> SO IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

>> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

YOU CAN WATCH AND SHARE THIS EPISODE ANYTIME WE'RE STREAMING AT KEB KEB/INKET.ORG/INSIDE LOUISVILLE.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

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