♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" -- WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU TO LOUISVILLE'S WEST END FOR THE STORY BEHIND THE NORTON HEALTHCARE SPORTS AND LEARNING CENTER.

THIS STATE-OF-THE-ART TRACK FACILITY IS MUCH MORE THAN A SPORTS COMPLEX.

IT HAS SERVED AS A BEAK ONOF HOPE TO BUFL'S LONG NEGLECTED RUSSELL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS PREDOMINANTLY BLACK NEIGHBORHOOD OF ABOUT 9,000 RESIDENTS HAS A POVERTY RATE MORE THAN THREE TIMES HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE CITY.

WHAT WOOS ONCE A BUSTLING VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOOD FULL OF ELEGANT VICTORIAN HOMES, NIGHT CLUBS AND BUSINESSES BECAME A VICTIM OF RED LINING IN THE 1930S WHERE PROPERTY VALUES PLUMMETED AND HOME LOANS DENIED.

IN THE 80sS MOST OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED IN THE NAME OF URBAN RENEWAL.

THERE HAS BEEN TALK OF REVITALIZING LOUISVILLE'S WEST END WITH THE PROMISE OF BUSINESS INVESTMENT GROCERY STORES AND MORE, BUT FEW PROJECTS HAVE ACTUALLY COME TO FRUITION UNTIL 2021 WHEN THE NORTON HEALTHCARE SPORTS AND LEARNING CENTER FINALLY OPENED ITS DOORS.

IT BROUGHT MORE THAN SPORTS TO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

BUT IT ALMOST DIDN'T HAPPEN.

HERE'S THE STORY.

>> SO THIS IS OUR 200-METER INDOOR TRACK FACILITY, TWO POLE VAULT PITS, JUMP PITS, TWO HIGH JUMP PITS.

WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED TO PERFORM ANYTHING FROM YOUTH MEETS TO COLLEGE MEETS TO OLYMPIC TRIALS HERE.

SO HERE IN THE MAIN LOBBY THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT OUTLETS THAT PEOPLE GO TO.

WHETHER THEY'RE COMING IN THE DOORS FOR AN EVENT OR THEY'RE COMING TO OUR AMAZING CONCESSIONS THAT HAPPENS HERE.

OR THEY ARE GOING FOR VARIOUS PROGRAMS, YOUTH PROGRAMS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND WHAT I CONSIDER ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES, THE FUN ZONE.

THIS AMAZING PART OF THE FACILITY ALWAYS GIVES YOU GOOD SWEAT.

MAINLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THE VIRTUAL ROCK WALL AS WELL AS THE BOWLING ALLEY.

WE HOST A LOT OF BIRTHDAY PARTIES HERE.

WE HOST VARIOUS STAFF RETREATS, CHURCH RETREATS.

BUT IT IS A GOOD TIME FOR BOTH KIDS AND ADULTS.

SO UP HERE IS WHERE A LOT OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES ACTION USUALLY HAPPENS.

SO ANYWHERE FROM THE MEDIA JOURNALISM THAT OCCURS TO GET THOSE ARTICLES IN, TO OUR TIMERS, AUDIO VISUAL, I.T.

WORK IS ALL IN THESE BOOTHS AND HONESTLY GIVES THEM THE BEST VIEW OF THE HOUSE.

REALLY ON ANY GIVEN DAY, WE CAN HAVE A TRACK MEET GOING ON.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM GOING ON.

ALL WHILE THE NEXT DAY WE ARE HAVING ACT PREP ACADEMY HAPPENING.

SO WE SEE IT ALL WITHIN THIS FACILITY ON THIS CAMPUS AS A WHOLE.

>> GETTING SITE CONTROL AND THEN RAISING ALL THE MONEY THROUGH A COMBINATION OF CITY MONEY, PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY, NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS, BANK DEBT, THERE IS A VERY, VERY COMPLICATED FINANCIAL PROCESS.

AND THEN THERE IS THE WHOLE ASPECT OF FIGURING OUT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BUILD.

IT HAD NEVER BEEN BUILT IN THIS CITY BEFORE OR IN KENTUCKY.

THIS IS AN OLYMPIC NCAA LEVEL SPORTS FACILITY.

CENTERS LIKE THIS, BIG SPORTS FACILITIES BRING PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY TO SPEND MONEY.

NOT ONLY FROM OUTSIDE THE WEST END, FROM OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE, FROM OUTSIDE THE STATE OF KENTUCKY ACTUALLY OUTSIDE OF OUR REGION.

PEOPLE ARE COMING, IT IS HAPPENING PEOPLE ARE COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY TO LOUISVILLE, TO THE WEST END OF LOUISVILLE WHICH HAS SEEN DECADES AND GENERATIONS OF DISINVESTMENT.

IT SAYS TO THE COMMUNITY YOU ARE WORTHY OF THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT.

YOU ARE WORTHY OF $53 MILLION OF PHILANTHROPY THAT YOU ARE NOT ONLY WORTHY OF INVESTMENT BUT YOU ARE WORTHY OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL, OF SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T EXIST ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE STATE.

>> WELL, SADIQA REYNOLDSINGS THE POWERFUL FORCE BEHIND THE COMPLEX.

THIS WAS YOUR VISION AND WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO SEE NOW WHAT IT HAS TURNED INTO?

>> IT IS AMAZING.

IT IS AMAZING TO HEAR THE WAY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE FACILITY, TO HAVE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO SAY WE WALK EVERY MORNING, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANKS FOR BRINGING LIGHT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, THANKS FOR NOT BUILDING FENCES.

JUST IT'S ALMOST LIKE THIS IS SORT OF MORBID BUT SOMETIMES IT CAN BE LIKE LIVING THROUGH YOUR OWN FUNERAL.

I MEAN YOU JUST IT IS WONDERFUL AND WHEN I WALK IN AND SEE A TRACK MEET GOING ON OR IF I TURN ON THE TELEVISION AND SEE A TRACK MEET OR SEE WRESTLING HAPPENING AT THE FACILITY, I'M JUST BLOWN AWAY 678 BLOWN AWAY.

I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS REAL.

IT IS SO EXCITING AND IT IS STILL EMOTIONAL FOR ME TO BE IN THAT FACILITY AND I'M THERE A LOT.

AND IT IS STILL EMOTIONAL EVERY TIME.

>> I'M SURE IT IS.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

WHAT LED YOU-- MOST PEOPLE KNOW YOU AS THE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE BUT YOU DID MANY THINGS PRIOR TO THAT, INCLUDING BEING THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO CLERK FOR THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT, DISTRICT JUDGE, ATTORNEY.

WE COULD GO ON AND ON.

TELL US WHAT LED YOU TO THE URBAN LEAGUE TO BEGIN WITH?

>> TO BE HONEST, IT WAS A DREAM JOB.

I MEAN I THINK EVERYTHING I HAD DONE LEADING UP TO THE URBAN LEAGUE PREPARED ME FOR THE URBAN LEAGUE.

THE ISSUE AN LEAGUE IS AN ADVOCACY ROLE, IT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE COUNTRY.

EVERY I'VE DONE IN MY PREPARED ME FOR THAT.

MY PARENTS PREPARED ME FOR THAT JOB.

IT WAS ABSOLUTELY A DREAM.

AND SO WHEN BEN RICHMOND, MY PREDECESSOR DECIDED TO RETIRE AFTER 29 YEARS, I KNEW IN MY SOUL THAT IT WAS THE JOB FOR ME.

SO I WENT FOR IT.

>> WHEN YOU TOOK OVER THAT, THIS PROJECT IS ABSOLUTELY FAR OUTSIDE THE REALM OF ANYTHING ATTEMPTED BY THE URBAN LEAGUE OR PROBABLY ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION FOR THAT MATTER.

WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT WAS ON YOUR RADAR TO BEGIN WITH OR HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN?

>> NO, THIS WAS NOTHING THAT WAS ON MY RADAR TO BEGIN WITH.

HONESTLY, THE LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE ACTUALLY DOES DO HOUSING.

THERE IS A SEPARATE 501c3 REBOUND WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE URBAN LEAGUE, AFFILIATED ORGANIZATION.

AND THEY BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

BUT THE URBAN LEAGUE HAD NOT DONE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, NONE OF THAT HAD HAPPENED.

I DID NOT WANT TO WORK IN MY DREAM ROLE AT 15th AND BROADWAY AND KNOW THAT THERE WERE 24 ACRES OF CONTAMINATED LAND 15 BLOCKS AWAY.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.

THAT'S REALLY WHAT HAPPENED WHEN I STARTED IN THE ROLE AT THE URBAN LEAGUE, THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOME OTHER DEVELOPMENT THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN AT 18th STREET FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

AND THEN THERE WAS THE FOOD PORT PROJECT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AT 30th AND MUHAMMAD ALI AND THAT FOOD PORT PROJECT WAS NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.

AND SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.

PEOPLE IN THE WEST END DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.

EVERYBODY DESERVES BETTER THAN TO LIVE ACROSS THE STREET AROUND THE CORNER, TWO BLOCKS AWAY FROM CONTAMINATED LAND.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE 24 ACRES VACANT AND ABAN ONED-- ABANDONED IN THIS CITY AND I DON'T WANT TO BE 15 BLOCKS AWAY.

I NEED TO THINK OF SOMETHING.

TRUTHFULLY, I HAD BEEN-- YOU SAID ALL THE JOBS I'VE HAD.

I HAVE BEEN IN PLENTY OF JOBS WHERE COACHES HAVE TOLD ME WE NEED AN INDOOR TRACK FACILITY.

THE FAIRGROUNDS USED TO DO INDOOR TRACK AND WHEN IT WORE OUT, THEY GOT RID OF IT THERE WAS NO PLACE FOR US TO HAVE INDOOR TRACK.

AND SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THIS IS THE PLACE.

AND AND IT WAS.

>> THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO COME OR THEY'RE COMING AND THIS AND THEY FALL THROUGH AND FALL THROUGH AND SO YOU DID HAVE A LOT OF NAYSAYERS.

WHEN YOU PUT THIS OUT THERE, AND YOU PITCHED THIS IDEA, AND THE CITY GIVES YOU $10 MILLION BUT THEN WHAT?

IT'S GOING TO COST 58 MILLION.

>> YEAH, IT'S A $ 53 MILLION-DOLLAR PROJECT AND THE CITY GAVE THE FIRST 10 MILLION.

I'M ALWAYS PROUD OF THAT BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATION AT THE TIME WAS THE FISHER ADMINISTRATION AND THEY AGREED, AND THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS ON THE METRO COUNCIL AGREED TO SUPPORT THE PROJECT AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD WE HAD BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT.

>> YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THAT OFTEN.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT REALLY WAS THE BEGINNING OF HOW WE WERE ABLE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> BUT WHEN YOU HEARD THAT, WERE YOU STILL LIKE-- IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?

I MEAN YOU JUMPED IN THOUGH HEAD FIRST.

TELL US HOW YOU RAISED THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN?

>> SO, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS I GET THE 10 MILLION-DOLLAR COMMITMENT FROM THE CITY AND ONCE WE HAD ALL THE DETAILS LINED UP, EVERYBODY SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED I IMMEDIATELY STARTED SPENDING THAT MONEY BECAUSE I FIGURED IT'S BIPARTISAN, RIGHT?

WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS?

WHAT IF THE MAYOR CHANGES OR-- I WASN'T SURE HOW LONG THE PROJECT WOULD TAKE.

SO WE HAD A PROJECT MANAGER ON BOARD.

WE HAD DESIGN CREW.

WE HAD THE ARCHITECTURAL IF YOU REMEMBER ALL OF THOSE FOLKS AND WE STARTED REALLY WORKING AND SPENDING THAT DOWN; WHICH IS THE WRONG WAY TO DO ANY PROJECT LIKE THIS AS BANKS WILL TELL YOU.

DO NOT START SPENDING UNTIL YOU HAVE ALL OF THE MONEY BECAUSE THAT MAKES IT RIGHT, A SURE BET.

IF YOU'VE GOT THE MONEY, YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT I DIDN'T WANT THE MONEY TO GO AWAY SO I KNEW WE HAD CONTAMINATED LAND, THINGS WOULD HAVE TO BE CLEANED.

I KNEW WE NEEDED DESIGN WORK.

I KNEW WE NEEDED A PROJECT MANAGER, OWNERS REP AND ALL THAT.

SO WE JUST DID WHAT WE HAD TO DO AND WE STARTED WITH THAT.

WHAT I HAD TO DO IS FIGURE OUT HOW TO FUND RAISE.

SO THE FIRST PERSON-- I PUT TOGETHER A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND WITH THE PROJECT LIKE THIS, THE FIRST-- THE GROUP YOU START WITH MIGHT NOT BE THE GROUP YOU END WITH.

SO INITIALLY I WAS JUST TRYING TO REMEMBER WHO IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING HONESTLY.

ANTHONY, THE CFO OF THE URBAN LEAGUE WENT WITH ME TO MEET WITH TIM MALLOY AND DOW-- VAL JONES CALLED ME ONE NIGHT AND THE MESSAGE SAID HELP ME.

THAT'S ALL.

IT SAID HELP ME.

SO VAL, WHO I DID NOT KNOW VERY WELL BUT I KNEW SHE WAS A DEVELOPER.

SHE CALLED AND SAID WHAT'S WRONG WHEN SHE CALLED I HAPPENED TO BE IN THE GROCERY STORE AND JUST HEARING HER VOICE, I STARTED CRYING.

I SAID I KNOW THIS PROJECT IS GOOD.

I KNOW IT CAN WORK BUT I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO BELIEVE ME.

I CAN'T GET ANYBODY TO HELP ME.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT WERE GOING TO HELP HAVE ABANDONED ME AND I NEED TO PUT TOGETHER A DEVELOPMENT TEAM.

I GOT TO DO THIS, PLEASE.

AND SHE SAID CALM DOWN I THINK YOU SHOULD TALK WITH TIM 345 LOY.

SO ANTHONY LEACHMAN AND I SPOKE WITH TIM MALLOY.

TIM WAS SO POSITIVE ABOUT THE PROJECT, I THOUGHT THAT HE WAS PRANKING ME.

I THOUGHT HE WAS MAYBE PAYING LIKE CONDESCENDING BECAUSE HE WAS SO POSITIVE.

AND COMPARED TO HOW OTHERS HAD TREATED ME, I JUST THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS HE ABOUT?

WHY IS HE DOING THIS?

WHY IS HE SO NICE?

I REALLY DIDN'T BELIEVE SOMEONE WOULD BE THAT POSITIVE ABOUT THIS PROJECT AND THAT POSITIVE ABOUT ME WORKING ON IT.

AND HE SAID YEAH, LISTEN, MY KID RUNS, AND I THINK IT'S GREAT.

WE NEED A TRACK.

WE NEED AN INDOOR TRACK.

SO I SAID OKAY.

WILL YOU HELP?

WILL YOU BE ON THIS COMMITTEE I'M PUTTING TOGETHER BECAUSE I HAD TO PAY FOR A COMMITTEE TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO REPLY TO THE CITY'S RFP.

AND SO HE SAID SURE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I'LL SUPPORT YOU AND HE WAS AT THE TIME, I THINK TRYING TO BUILD OR GETTING STARTED ON THE SOCCER FIELD AND SO RATHER THAN BEING IN COMPETITION LIKE I THINK PEOPLE THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE BEEN.

HE TURNED OUT TO BE AN AMAZING ALLY AND AMAZING SUPPORTER AND SO WE ALL STARTED, ME, TIM, VAL, ANTHONY SOMETIMES, AND THEN I WAS IN A MEETING ABOUT WORKFORCE STUFF AND I WAS IN RELATIONSHIP WITH JIM HOSE BECAUSE JIM HAD DONE A LOT OF WORK WITH THE LOUISVILLE URBAN LEAGUE'S WORKFORCE DEPARTMENT AND THE STATE PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL AT THE URBAN LEAGUE I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING.

I DID NOT KNOW JIM HAD ANY INVOLVEMENT WITH SPORTS.

SO WHEN I TALKED WITH THE SPORTS COMMISSION ABOUT THE BUILDING THE FACILITY, AND THEY SAID, CARL SCHMIDT AT THE TIME IS THE HEAD OF THE SPORTS COMMISSION, HE SAID DO YOU KNOW JIM HOST.

AND I SAID YEAH, I KNOW HIM.

HE SAID WELL YOU SHOULD CALL HIM.

I SAID FOR WHAT?

WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO DO WITH THIS?

HE SAID DO YOU KNOW JIM HOST?

I SAID I MET HIM.

HELPED US WITH WORKFORCE STUFF.

AND HE SAID JIM HOST BUILT THE YOUNG CENTER.

HE IS THE MAN.

I SAID OH WELL I'LL CALL HIM THEN.

[LAUGHTER] SO I SAID, HEY, JIM, JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW YOUR NAME CAME UP AND I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD GIVE ME SOME ADVICE AND HE LISTENED AND SAID I'LL BE RIGHT THERE.

JIM DROVE TO LOUISVILLE AND HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO LOUISVILLE PERIODICALLY FOR THE ENTIRE BREADTH OF THE PROJECT.

I MEAN HE WAS WONDERFUL.

HE WAS A WONDERFUL ADVISER.

JIM OPENED DOORS.

JIM FORCED PEOPLE TO TAKE THE PROJECT SERIOUSLY.

I THINK WHEN YOU SAY JIM HOST'S NAME, PEOPLE SAY OH OKAY.

THIS IS SOMETHING SERIOUS.

>> CARRIES A LOT OF WEIGHT.

YOU ARE NOT JUST BUILDING A COMMUNITY CENTER AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH COMMUNITY CENTERS BUT I NEEDED PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND I WASN'T BUILDING A 53 MILLION-DOLLAR COMMUNITY CENTER.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO AT THAT POINT, YOU HAVE THESE PEOPLE, A GROUP BEHIND YOU.

YOU GET NORTON TO SIGN ON, WHICH HAS GOT TO BE HUGE AND YOU ARE THINKING THIS IS REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THEN 2020 HAPPENS, WHICH FIRST OF ALL, A PANDEMIC THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT AND QUICKLY FOLLOWED BY BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH.

TELL US ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.

>> WE, UP UNTIL MARCH OF 2020, WE PRETTY MUCH LINED UP A 10 MILLION-DOLLAR GIFT TO COME FROM CHICAGO.

IT WAS GOING TO BE A 10 MILLION-DOLLAR INTEREST FREE LOAN FOR 10 YEARS THAT WE WOULD PAY BACK OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD AND THAT WAS GREAT.

WE WERE WORKING ON NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS FOR THE PROJECT.

AND ONE THING ABOUT NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS, YOU HAVE TO BE READY WHEN THEY DEPLOY THEM, YOU HAVE TO BE READY WITH EVERY OTHER DOLLAR IT HAS TO BE FIGURED OUT.

SO WE WERE THERE, RIGHT?

I WAS GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER.

PEOPLE STARTED GETTING SICK AND WE WERE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE RUN A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION FROM HOYME, HOW DO WE KEEP OUR STAFF SAFE HOW DO WE PROTECT THE PUBLIC WHO WILL NEED US MORE THAN EVER BECAUSE WE ARE RUNNING A SIMPLES ORGANIZATION AND-- A CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATION AND IF PEOPLE WITH MEANS ARE GETTING SICK THEN WHEN IT HITS OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DIE AND SO HOW DO WE MANAGE?

WE DON'T CLOSE OUR DOORS, WE CAN'T.

BUT HOW DO WE DO THIS?

AND IN THE MOMENTS THAT WE ARE TALKING, THE TELEPHONE RINGS, AND THEY TELL ME A BLACK WOMAN HAS BEEN KILLED IN THE CROSS FIRE WITH POLICE AND SO WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH ALL OF THAT, BUT FOR ME, THE PANDEMIC, BREONNA TAYLOR, IT'S LIKE THE SAME DAY.

THERE IS A COLLISION.

TO SAY THAT I WAS UNDER A LOT OF STRESS THAT WAY WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT AND I'M TRYING TO BUILD A SPORTS COMPLEX IN THE MEANTIME.

BUT AS I SAID, WE THOUGHT WE HAD ALL THE MONEY WORKED OUT.

AND MY DEAL FALLS THROUGH.

THE $10 MILLION ISN'T COMING.

THE NEW MARKET TAX CREDITS CAN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT IT.

AND I'M HAVING THESE PHONE CALLS WITH BANKS AND LIKE 15, 20 POEM ON THE LINE ONCE A WEEK TRYING TO GET THROUGH THE CLOSING AND I'M SHORT AND WE DON'T HAVE CASH.

AND NOW I HAVE SOME ADVISERS SAYING YOU'VE GOT TO STOP THIS PROJECT.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

AND WE HAD THE HIGHEST BLACK SPEND OF ANY PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF KENTUCKY.

I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO LOSE THEIR JOBS BECAUSE I MAKE A DECISION TO SHUT THE PROJECT DOWN.

AND I CALLED THE GOVERNOR AND SAID ARE YOU GOING TO STOP CONSTRUCTION?

I THOUGHT MAYBE I CAN BLAME THE GOVERNOR.

LET ME JUST BE HONEST.

I WAS LIKE MAYBE I CAN BLAME SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE IF THEY SHUT DOWN CONSTRUCTION, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

I CAN'T BREAK THE LAW.

THEY SAID NO, CONSTRUCTION IS OUTSIDE.

CONSTRUCTION CAN GO ON.

>> IT'S IN YOUR HANDS, IT'S YOUR DECISION COMPLETELY.

AND I LOOKED AT THE BANK ACCOUNT AND I LOOKED AT THE PEOPLE AND I THOUGHT LET'S ROLL.

AND JUST KEPT GOING.

AND CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE PREVIOUSLY SAID NO SAID YES.

HUMANA GAVE US $3 MILLION CASH INFLUX INTO THAT PROJECT.

ULTIMATELY THEY INVESTED $6.5 MILLION FOR NAMING RIGHTS.

WE ALREADY KNOW NORTON HEALTHCARE WAS IN ALREADY FOR $5 MILLION FOR THE MAIN NAMING RIGHTS.

IT WAS THOUGH KINDS OF THINGS THAT KEPT ME GOING.

BUT THERE WAS A DAY WHEN I THOUGHT THIS IS REALLY MAYBE NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND I'M GOING TO BE ANOTHER PERSON WHOSE PROMISED THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT WE WOULD HAVE THIS AND THIS AND WE WON'T.

AND I SPECIFICALLY REMEMBER TALKING TO GOD, AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, I PRAYED.

I ASKED YOU.

YOU PLANTED THIS SEED.

WHY WOULD YOU BRING THEE ME THIS FAR AND ABANDON ME.

WHY WOULD YOU NOT ALLOW THIS PROJECT?

I DON'T MED.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

I DID EVERYTHING YOU SAID TO DO.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU SEE THIS THROUGH?

AND THAT SAME DAY I CALLED THREE PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM LIKE, I JUST SAID WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF MONEY.

THE PROJECT IS GOING TO HAVE TO STOP.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND THE LAST PERSON I CALLED WAS JIM HOST.

AND JIM SAID WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO, BUT I KNOW YOU AND I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO GET IT DONE.

AND ANOTHER THING, DON'T YOU CALL ANYBODY ELSE TODAY BECAUSE YOU SOUND HORRIBLE AND YOU-- NOBODY WILL BE INSPIRED BY HEARING YOU SOUND LIKE THIS.

SO YOU JUST GET OFF THE PHONE AND YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

>> AND THEN YOU KEPT PUSHING THROUGH.

YOU ACTUALLY SEE IT OPEN AND YOUR VISION WAS NOT ONLY THAT YOU WOULD OPEN THIS COMPLEX, BUT THAT IT WOULD BRING MORE BUSINESSES TO THIS AREA.

AND THAT'S WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW.

>> IT IS-- NO ONE HAS EVER SAID I'M GOING TO DO THIS THING AND HAVE THE THING HAPPEN EXACTLY AS THEY SAID IN A WAY MORE THAN LIKE THIS FACILITY HAS. '

CLEANED UP THE LAND.

WE ARE AT A 90% BOOK RATE DURING TRACK SEASON.

WRESTLING AT THAT FACILITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS AND TELEVISED.

THERE IS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FREE A.C.T.

PREP AT THE FACILITY FOR KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

CHANGING THE GAME FOR THEM ALL KINDS OF WONDERFUL EVENTS.

THE BACKPACK GIVEAWAYS, THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL HAS DONE THEIR FIRST TIME EVER COMING WEST OF NINTH STREET AT THE SPORTS COMPLEX.

THEY BOOKED US AGAIN.

THEY LOVE THE FACILITY AND IT IS STATE-OF-THE-ART.

THIS IS THE SAME FLOOR THE TOKYO OLYMPICS WERE RUN ON.

I MEAN THIS IS REMARKABLE INDOOR-OUTDOOR TRACK.

THE OTHER BUSINESSES.

THERE WAS A FOOD TRUCK THAT STARTED IN OUR DRIVEWAY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE OUR CONCESSIONS OPENED YET.

THAT GUY IS AND HAS BEEN ACROSS THE STREET FOR TWO OR THREE YEARS NOW.

HIS BUSINESS IS THRIVING.

WE BUILT-- THE URBAN LEAGUE HAS BUILT A CLINIC NEXT DOOR TO THE SPORTS COMPLEX.

SENIOR CLINIC.

A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT KIND OF INSURANCE THEY HAVE, CAN GO AND BE TAKEN CARE OF.

IT'S A STATE-OF-THE-ART BUILDING.

THE NUMBER OF LOANS THAT HAVE BEEN GIVEN, BUSINESS LOANS, INCREDIBLE!

LIKE EVERYTHING IS GROWING AROUND THIS!

AND NOW WE ARE GETTING READY TO GO A HIGHWAY SIGN LIKE A SIGN OFF THE HIGHWAY THAT SAYS NORTON HEALTHCARE SPORTS AND LEARNING CENTER.

SO IT'S EVERYTHING I PROMISED THE COMMUNITY AND I'M NOT A SUPER RELIGIOUS PERSON SO I DON'T WANT TO MISLEAD YOU.

BUT I WANT TO TELL YOU IT'S EVERYTHING GOD PROMISED ME IT WOULD BE IT'S EVERYTHING.

AND IT IS-- WHEN WE HAVE EVENTS, AND YOU SEE THE NUMBER OF JOBS CREATED, WHEN YOU GO TO A TRACK MEET OR A DINNER OR LEADERSHIP LOUISVILLE HAS HAD THEIR LUNCHEON THERE.

AND YOU SEE ALL OF THESE PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY WORKING AND HAPPY, LIKE THIS IS A PLACE WHERE, IN THE MIDST OF THE HELL WE WERE LIVING THROUGH IN THIS PANDEMIC, AND WITH THE CIVIL UNREST, WE FOUND LIKE THIS SPACE TO COME TOGETHER.

>> SO, LOOKING BACK NOW AND SEEING-- AND WE SHOULD MENTION, TOO, NORTON IS BUILDING A HOSPITAL NOW IN THE WEST END, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THIS CENTER.

>> THE C.E.O.

OF NORTON HEALTHCARE, RUSS COX HAS SAID IT.

I MEAN HE HAS BEEN HIGHLY COMPLIMENTARY OF THE NORTON HEALTHCARE SPORTS AND LEARNING CENTER AND SAYING IT LED TO THE HOSPITAL.

AND THE WEST END HASN'T HAD A BRAND NEW HOSPITAL IN 100 YEARS.

HASN'T HAD A HOSPITAL IN 100 YEARS.

IT IS REMARKABLE WHAT IS HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.

AND THE HOPE IT HAS INSPIRED.

I THINK IT HAS REALLY CHANGED HOW PEOPLE SEE THE WEST END.

BUT ONE THING THAT I DON'T KNOW IF WE TALK ENOUGH ABOUT IS HOW IT CHANGED CERTAIN LEADERS AND WHAT THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN DO AS A RESULT OF SEEING THE SUCCESS.

IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE TO YOU.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK I HAVE DONE, AND I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT, BUT SHOW PEOPLE THAT THEY CAN DREAM BIGGER.

THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK WITH THE LITTLE BOX THAT YOU HAVE.

BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY THINK ABOUT THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

THOSE WERE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HELPED TO GET THIS PROJECT DONE.

THE PEOPLE AND THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE THAT'S WHAT DID IT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WHAT A STORY, WELL, YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE AND SHARE IT ANY TIME.

IT'S ONLINE AT KET.ORG/"INSIDE LOUISVILLE."

PLUS, IF YOU WANT TO SEE MORE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES - CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM.

YOU CAN SEE INSIDE THE SPORTSCENTER AND THE ENFROM I WAY.

THE FIRST THING YOU SEE WHEN YOU WALK IN AND WE'LL EXPLAIN WHY ON INSTAGRAM.

THANKS FOR SPENDING TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME.

UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪