♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL ON THE ROAD EDITION OF KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

WE ARE JOINING YOU FROM THE GEORGE AND ELLEN RIEVESCHL DIGITORIUM INSIDE GRIFFIN HALL ON THE CAMPUS OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

WE WRAP UP OUR SUMMER ROAD TOUR OF 2024 RIGHT HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND AT THE UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT TIME BEING ALL ACROSS THE STATE AND CAPPING IT OFF HERE AT NKY.

SO TO TALK ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, LET'S GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND.

THERE WAS A RECENT NATIONAL SIS THAT CONFIRMS THE REGION'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS AND THE STRENGTH THAT THEY HAVE WITH ROBUST JOB GROWTH, WAGE INCREASES, PRIME GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION AND GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE AMONG THE OTHER NUMEROUS ADVANTAGES.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME WARNINGS FROM THIS REPORT ABOUT MAINTAINING THAT MOMENTUM AND NOT GIVING IN TO COMPLACENCY.

THERE ARE WORKFORCE SHIFTS AND DYNAMICS THAT ARE AT PLAY, FUTURE DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFTS IN TERMS OF AN AGING WORKFORCE.

THE EVOLVE VO EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY WE ARE ALL TRYING TO KEEP PACE WITH AND THE GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY AND COMPETITION.

THIS EVENING WE'LL TALK ABOUT THE SUCCESS, THE PROGRESS, THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

IT'S REALLY A PROGRAM FOR THE REST OF THE STATE TO GET TO KNOW THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT THIS FABULOUS REGION.

AND WE HAVE ASSEMBLED A PANEL THAT IS OF THE TOP REGIONAL LEADERS HERE.

JOIN JOINING US OR GARY MOORE, JUDGE EXECUTIVE OF BOONE COUNTY.

LEE CRUME, PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF THE BNKY GROWTH PARTNERSHIP.

KEVIN SCAN FACTION, VICE PRESIDENT OF REGIONAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT FIDELITY INVESTMENTS.

CADY SHORT-THOMPSON, PRESIDENT OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND STATE SENATOR CHRIS McDANIEL, CHAIR OF THE KENTUCKY SENATE APPROPRIATIONS AND REVENUE COMMITTEE AND A REPUBLICAN FROM RYLAND HEIGHTS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN GIVING OUR PANELISTS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] SO, Mr. CRUME, I WANT TO START WITH YOU FIRST.

JUST TO GIVE SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT THIS REGION FOR THOSE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF THE REGION.

IN THE MEDIA WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND WE CONFINE IT TO THREE COUNTIES, BOOT, KIT AND CAMPBELL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ONE COUNTY WE SAY IT SO FAST.

IS SHAT SHORT RANGING THE COUNTY?

IS THERE MORE THAT WE SHOULD KNOW.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE QUESTION AND SHOULD HAVE A SIMPLE ANSWER BUT IT IS DEFINED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

THERE ARE EIGHT COUNTIES.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE PART OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY AS SEVEN COUNTIES, AND OUR ORGANIZATION, WE WORK WITH JUST, AS YOU SAID, I WILL TRY TO SAY IT QUICKLY AS WELL.

BOONE KIT AND CAMPBELL.

THEY ALL WORK WELL FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THE ASSETS WE HAVE HERE.

>> Renee: I ALSO WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE SPRING OF THIS YEAR, YOUR GROUP RELEASED AN ANALYSIS OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY'S COMPETITIVENESS.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THAT REPORT SPECIFICALLY, I DO WANT TO KIND OF HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE REGION'S MAJOR INDUSTRIES THAT YOU ARE REALLY PROUD OF AND THAT ARE GROWING EVEN STILL?

>> SURE.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE REGION TODAY, CVG IS A MAJOR, MAJOR DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY.

>> Renee: THIS IS THE CINCINNATI NORTHERN KENTUCKY AIRPORT.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, THANK YOU.

A MAJOR DRIVER OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

AIRPORTS TODAY ARE NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE FOLKS LIKE OURSELVES JUMP ON A PLANE AND GO FOR VACATION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF CARGO COMING IN AND OUT OF THE AIRPORT, SUPPORT SERVICES AROUND THE AIRPORT WHETHER IT'S REPAIRING PLANES OR MAKING PARTS FOR PLANES SO CVG AN ENORMOUS DRIVER OF THE ECONOMY.

AND FOUR OTHER BUCKETS.

WE LOOK AT THE TECHNOLOGY IN MANUFACTURING AROUND THE LOGISTICS INDUSTRY IS A BIG DRIVER.

THE EQUIPMENT THAT MOVES THINGS.

YOU LOOK AT THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, WHETHER IT'S MAKING FOOD AND FLAVORINGS INDREADBLY STRONG IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE GOOD WATER ACCESS, GOOD COMMUNITY ACCESS.

TRADITIONAL MANUFACTURING AND SUPPLY CHAIN AND AUTONOTIFY IS VERY STRONG.

AUTOMOTIVE.

WE HAVE A VERY STRONG LIFE SCIENCE INDUSTRY.

BIG THANK YOU TO OUR LEGISLATIVE DELEGATES IN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO HELP PROMOTE THAT AND THEN CORPORATE AND BACK OFFICE FUNCTIONS LIKE A FIDELITY OR A A SITI OR SCTI THAT SPANS THE OFFICE AND LIFE SPY SCIENCE SPACE.

THESE ARE ALL BIG DRIVERS OF OUR ECONOMY.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS REPORT.

WHAT DID IT FIND AND WHAT WILL COME FROM IT?

>> SO HERE IS THE KEY TAKE AWAY FROM THAT REPORT.

AND THAT IS WE ARE A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY.

WE ARE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO BE A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY.

AND THE CONCEPT IS WHAT DO WE NEED TO ADDRESS TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON THAT PATH OF PROSPERITY?

AND SO WHAT WE IDENTIFIED REALLY THERE ARE FIVE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON TO CONTINUE, IF YOU WILL, TO STAY HEALTHY.

FIRST IS COLLABORATION.

MAKING SURE THAT AS A COMMUNITY WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER BETWEEN OUR LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS, FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS.

WORKING IN FRANKFORT, I MENTIONED IN PART OF THE CINCINNATI METRO.

WORKING IN CINCINNATI, INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR US.

YOUR LEADING QUESTION STARTS WITH-- ADDRESSES THE SECOND ONE.

WHAT IS A NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

WHAT IS THE BRAND AND IMAGE OF OUR COMMUNITY?

HOW IS IT THAT WE ARE KNOWN?

AND GETTING THAT MESSAGE OUT SO PEOPLE CAN COME AND VISIT A NORTHERN KENTUCKY WAS A SECOND.

THIRD IS WORKFORCE.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE AMATEUR DEMOGRAPHERS.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT POPULATION IS GETTING OLDER, BIRTH RATES HAVE DECLINED OVER THE LAST GENERATION.

IT'S REALLY HOW DO WE RAISE THE QUALITY LEVEL OF OUR WORKFORCE, HOW DO WE OPTIMIZE THE WORKFORCE THAT WE HAVE?

HOW DO WE RECRUIT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY?

THAT IS A KEY ELEMENT.

AND THEN THE FOURTH ONE IS AROUND INFRASTRUCTURE AND THINGS THAT REALLY HELP OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE.

SO YOU THINK ABOUT THE BRIDGE, CRITICAL PROJECT THAT HOPEFULLY WILL GO LIVE LAST YEAR, BUILDING ROADS, ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER, SEWERS, THIS COMMUNITY DID A GREAT JOB EXPANDING BROADBAND ACCESS THROUGH COVID, ALL OF THOSE PLAY INTO THAT INFRASTRUCTURE SPACE.

WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD THAT OUT.

AND THEN LAST AND DEFINITELY NOT LEAST IS A FOCUS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

HOW DO WE CONTINUE TO GROW OUR ECONOMY LOCALLY WITH BUSINESS START-UPS, BUSINESS GROWTH, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE HAVING THAT KIND OF JOB AND REALLY IMPORTANTLY WEALTH CREATION IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND SO WHAT THE REPORT SAID IS, HEY, WE ARE A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY TODAY.

THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO TO MAKE SURE WE STAY ON A PROSPEROUS PATH AND THESE ARE FIVE THINGS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS.

>> Renee: BOONE COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE GARY MOORE, WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING FOR MANY YEARS AND AS YOUR TENURE AS JUDGE EXECUTIVE, HAVE YOU SEEN TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN BOONE COUNTY.

IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO BRAG ON YOU A LITTLE BIT.

POPULATION INCREASE OF ALMOST 50,000 IN 20 YEARS.

OVER 150 ECONOMIC PROJECTS TOTALING $3.6 BILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT THAT CREATED MORE THAN 16,000 NEW JOBS.

NOT BAD, SIR.

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT SUCCESS TO AND WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD Mr. CRUME SAY IS THE NEXT STEP FOR BOONE COUNTY TO HELP DRIVE THIS REGIONAL ECONOMY?

>> WELL, I ALWAYS START WITH GREAT LEADERSHIP.

SO, BUT IT REALLY IS THE TEAM.

IT'S THE REGIONAL APPROACH.

WE, AS A COUNTY, ARE VERY SMALL NATIONALLY COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTIES.

BUT WHEN WE LOCK ARM WITH KENTON AND CAMPBELL AND SOMETIMES OTHER GROUPS, WE BECOME A REGION OF FORCE.

WE KNOW THAT CVG, CINCINNATI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE BUT THERE IS SO MUCH MORE.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WORK SO HARD.

COMPANIES COME HERE BECAUSE OF THAT.

WE HAVE WORK TO DO IN THAT AREA AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE GEOGRAPHIC PROXIMITY TO THE NATION.

WE KNOW THAT MUCH OF OUR E-COMMERCE IS BECAUSE WE ARE CENTRAL.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AIRPORT, BUT ONCE YOU ARE ON THE GROUND, YOU CAN REACH SO MUCH OF THE NATION'S POPULATION WITHIN A 24-HOUR DRIVE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AS A REGION, IS REALLY WHAT HAS CATAPULTED US TO SUCCESS.

WE HAVE HAD GREAT POLITICAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LITTLE DELEGATIONS AND WORKING WITH OUR NEIGHBORS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, OBVIOUSLY.

>> Renee: WHAT DO YOU SEE AS SOME OF THE GREATEST CHALLENGES YOU ARE FACING?

>> OUR GREATEST CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW IS WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE OUR WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS IN THE MID 65 TO 67%.

WE ARE 5 POINTS HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, 10 POINTS HIGHER THAN THE REST OF KENTUCKY WHEN IT COMES TO WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION.

THAT'S A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD BECAUSE THAT ALSO MEANS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO IMPORT PEOPLE.

WE ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO CONNECT OUR DISCONNECTED YOUTH AND REENTRY PROGRAMS TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE TO BE ABLE TO SUPPLY THE JOBS FOR THE COMPANIES THAT ARE GROWING HERE AND WANTING TO COME HERE.

>> Renee: AND ANOTHER ISSUE I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT FAIRLY RECENTLY, IN FRANKFORT, IS ABOUT HOUSING.

WE'LL HAVE MORE OF A CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.

SO I WANT TO GO NOW TO SENATE BUDGET CHAIRMAN CHRIS McDANIEL.

THANK YOU.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

GOOD TO BE ON YOUR TURF THIS TIME AROUND.

ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES-- AND WE'VE MENTIONED IT.

YOU HAVE HEARD IT ALREADY-- ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND AGING POPULATION OF THE BOOMERS, WHO ARE RETIRING AND EXITING THE LABOR FORCE BUT YET THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OF GENERATIONS BEHIND THEM TO FILL THOSE SLOTS.

WHAT POLICIES, PAST AND PRESENT, IS FRANKFORT EMPLOYED TO HELP ADDRESS THAT WORKFORCE DEFICIT?

>> YEAH, SO FIRST OF ALL, RENEE, IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE NEW NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND TO BE ABLE TO SHOW OFF OUR AREA OF THE STATE AND THE CROWN JEWEL UP HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE HAVE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT AND DEAL WITH EVERYTHING LIKE JUDGE MOORE TALKED ABOUT.

FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE BECOME DRUG ADDICTED, TRYING TO GET THEM OFF OF THAT AND REEMPLOYED, FOLKS WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED, INCARCERATED, GETTING THEM REEMPLOYED.

PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, MAKING SURE THEY'RE JOB OR CAREER READY.

THOSE WHO ARE IN THE COLLEGIATE RANKS ACROSS THE SPECTRUM DOING THINGS, TRYING TO KEEP THEM IN KENTUCKY WHEN THEY GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.

AND ALSO DOING THINGS TO MAKE OURSELVES IMMIGRANT FRIENDLY.

TRYING TO HAVE POLICIES THAT ATTRACT PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING TO THE UNITED STATES LEGALLY TO MAKE THEM PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY AS WELL.

THERE IS NO ONE MAGIC BULLET THAT WILL NECESSARILY GET US OUT OF THE PROBLEM WE ARE IN BUT IF WE CONTINUE TO INVEST IN EACH COMMUNITY AS APPROPRIATE, WE WILL WORK TOWARD THE GOAL.

JUDGE MOORE IDENTIFIED A VERY GOOD POINT.

VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND HIGH PARTICIPATION RATE.

THE NEED MORE FOR PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY TO STAFF THE JOBS AS WE CONTINUE THE GROWTH IS ESSENTIAL.

>> Renee: HOW DO YOU ATTRACT THOSE PEOPLE?

>> WE INVESTED THIS PAST YEAR THROUGH THE KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND MANY OF THE LOCAL CHAMBERS IN A TALENT ATTRACTION INITIATIVE THAT THEY'RE GOING TO WORK ON STANDING UP.

ALSO SOME THINGS RELATED TO REMOTE WORKERS.

TRYING TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO DO REMOTE WORK.

SO THOSE INITIATIVES ARE ALL UNDER WAY IN THE ONGOING ATTEMPT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THAT TALENTED HERE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> Renee: I REMEMBER THE CONVERSATION ABOUT THE REMOTE WORKERS.

AN IDEA THAT SURFACED AROUND THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A COUPLE OF SESSIONS.

DO YOU THINK THAT 2025 WHEN IT'S NOT A BUDGET YEAR QUOTE UNQUOTE, THAT THERE WILL BE ROOM TO MAYBE EXPLORE THAT A LITTLE DEEPER?

>> I THINK IT'S AN ONGOING CONVERSATION IN KENTUCKY AS WELL AS SOCIETY AROUND THE NATION.

I THINK 2025 IT WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO THE SURFACE.

COMPANIES ARE BEGINNING TO SETTLE IN TO WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE WITH REMOTE WORK, I THINK.

ORIGINALLY EVERYBODY THOUGHT PEOPLE WILL NEVER COME BACK TO THE OFFICE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE BECAME A HYBRID AND A VARIETY OF THOUGHTS.

BUT AS THOSE HAVE EVOLVED, SO HAS LEGISLATIVE ACTION.

I THINK YOU WILL BEGIN TO SEE MORE AND MORE OF THOSE THINGS TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE THOSE FOLKS WHO, YOU KNOW, OTHERWISE WOULD BE EMPLOYED OUTSIDE OF THE COMMONWEALTH TO AT LEAST RESIDE HERE AND SPEND THEIR MONEY HERE AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES HERE.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE RACHEL ROBERTS, GOOD TO SEE YOU AND TO BE IN YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS AS WELL.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHETHER KENTUCKY IS TAKING THE RIGHT APPROACH ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL TO HELP A REGION LIKE NORTHERN KENTUCKY THRIVE.

>> FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS SO CLOSE TO MY HOUSE.

I USUALLY HAVE TO TO LEXINGTON TO SEE YOU SO IT'S APPRECIATED.

MANY OF THE STEPS THAT SENATOR McDONE YELL HAVE MENTIONED HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS THE CRUX GETTING PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE IS QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.

GOOD MONEY IN THE BUDGET FOR EXPANDING PARKS IN OUR RIVERFRONT AREA AREA HERE.

THE PURPLE PEOPLE BRIDGE IS OPEN.

PEOPLE LIVE HERE AND GO TO CINCINNATI RECREATE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THERE IS A PLACE YOU WANT TO LIVE WORK AND RAISE YOUR FAMILY AND A LOT OF THAT ARE THE PUBLIC SPACES WE ARE STARTING TO SEE OURSELVES BE ABLE TO INVEST IN BECAUSE WE WERE BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY RESOURCES IN THE LAST FEW YEARS THROUGH OUR BUDGET PROCESS AND THROUGH SOME OF THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT CAME IN.

I THINK OUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW ARE GOING TO BE BECOME INCOME ALIGNED HOUSING AND CHILD CARE.

WE HAVE TWO REAL ISSUES THAT ARE MAKING IT VERY HARD TO RECRUIT PEOPLE HERE.

SENATOR McDANIEL SAID, WE ARE SUFFERING FROM OUR OWN SUCCESS.

IN THAT WE HAVE MORE JOBS THAN WE HAVE BODIES.

IF WE COULD CONVINCE PEOPLE TO MOVE HERE, WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE HOUSING FOR THEM OR WAYS FOR THEM TO RAISE THEIR CHILDREN HERE WITH CHILD CARE.

I HOPE THAT'S SOMETHING OUR COLLEAGUES WILL CONTINUE TO CHAMPION ESPECIALLY WHERE IT CONCERNS NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

THESE ARE NATIONAL ISSUES.

BUT IT FEELS EXACERBATED HERE BECAUSE WE IS SUCH UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH RIGHT NOW.

>> Renee: BEING SO CLOSE TO CINCINNATI, IS THAT A BLESSING OR A CURSE?

>> WELL, IT'S A BLESSING.

WE ARE THE GREATER CINCINNATI AREA.

I GREW UP IN CINCINNATI.

FOR A LOT OF US GROWING UP IN CINCINNATI, THE OHIO RIVER IS WIDER THAN THE GRAND CANYON BUT I THINK OF THIS AS A TRUE REGION.

THE WAY WE GROW AND PROSPER IS THE REGIONAL IDEA.

WE HAVE CVG, THE ABBREVIATION FOR COVINGTON.

OUR COMMUNITIES DO NOT THRIVE WITHOUT ONE ANOTHER.

BRIDGE IS OF THE MOST PALPABLE THING THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT PULLS OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.

WE HAVE THE BLESSING.

MY HUSBAND CALLS WHERE WE LIVE IN NEWPORT, WE LIVE ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF CINCINNATI.

WE HAVE THE VIEW.

CINCINNATI, THEY HAVE BLOCKED A LOT OF THEIR SKYLINE BUT WE CAN STILL LOOK ACROSS AND SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL SKYLINE WE HAVE THE BENEFIT OF THAT.

I MOVED OVER HERE FROM OVER THE RHINE AND MY HUSBAND AND I SAY ALL THE TIME WE MOVED HERE TO LIVE IN NEWPORT BECAUSE WE WANTED TREES AND PARKING.

AND WE HAVE THOSE BEAUTIFUL THINGS BUT THE SAME ACCESS TO DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI AND WHILE THEY MAY HAVE SOME OTHER JOBS THAT WE DON'T HAVE HERE, SOME OF THOSE CORPORATE LEVEL JOBS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN AS MUCH GROWTH NECESSARILY ON THIS SIDE OF THE RIVER, WE ARE THE BEDROOM COMMUNITY FOR A LOT OF THOSE PEOPLE.

SO I DON'T THINK IN THIS DAY AND AGE, YOU CAN SEPARATE US.

I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD.

I THINK WE LIVE AND THRIVE TOGETHER.

>> Renee: SYNERGISTIC RELATIONSHIP, RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LEADERS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ARE DOUBLING DOWN THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ON WHAT IS CALLED THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY WORKS, THE NEW REGION'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

AND AACCOUNT TRAING AND RETAINING THAT TALENT OF COURSE IS CRITICAL.

WE HAVE SAID THAT PLENTY ALREADY.

WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT THIS OFFICE CAN DO AND HOW DOES FIDELITY INVESTMENTS SEE ITS ROLE IN HELPING THE REGION THRIVE?

>> WELL, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY WORKS, WHICH WAS BORN FROM ONE NORTHERN KENTUCKY ALLIANCE ORGANIZATION, WHICH CADY AND I SIT ON THE BOARD, IT'S REALLY TO ADDRESS THE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES FACING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THERE IS NO SINGLE ANSWER OR STRATEGY OR INITIATIVE THAT WILL ADDRESS THAT.

THAT DEFINITELY IS VERY SYSTEMIC BUT AS JUDGE MOORE AND SENATOR McDANIEL POINTED OUT, IN TERMS OF US COMING TOGETHER AND ADDRESSING THIS REGIONAL, WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

THAT'S A RALLY CRY THAT HAS REALLY BECOME MUCH MORE ROBUST AND REALISTIC IN THE LAST, YOU KNOW, SEVERAL MONTHS, COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS THAT IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US COLLECTIVELY TO BE THINKING ABOUT THIS AS A BIG PICTURE.

SO IN ADDITION TO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, YOU HAVE EDUCATE NORTHERN KENTUCKY, WHICH IS ALSO A SYSTEMIC REVIEW OF OUR EDUCATION PROGRAMS BECAUSE WE HAVE MULTIPLE SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH PRESENT CHALLENGES IN AND OF THEMSELVES.

BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN STREAMLINE THAT AND MAKE THAT MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

IT GETS TO REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS POINTS ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE AND WHAT CAN COMPANIES AND INDIVIDUALS DO TO SUPPORT THAT.

FIDELITY HAS BEEN HERE IN COVINGTON FOR 30 YEARS.

IT'S A BOSTON-BASED COMPANY THAT MADE A DECISION IN 1992 TO BEGIN TO BUILD REGIONAL CENTER OUTPOSTS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE 11 OF THEM TO DATE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE PORTFOLIO.

IN FACT, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AT FIDELITY, OUR EMPLOYEE POPULATION HAS GROWN 10% IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WE HAVE THE LARGEST EMPLOYEE POPULATION WE HAVE HAD IN OUR HISTORY OF 5500 PETE.

WE ATTRACT PEOPLE FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER.

60% OF OUR ASSOCIATES ARE LIVING IN KENTUCKY, 40% IN SOUTHWEST OHIO.

SOME EVEN SOUTHEAST INDIANA.

SO I THINK WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE A COLLECTIVE VIEW OF WHERE THE WORKFORCE RESIDES, HOW WE ATTRACT THEM, LIVEABILITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, WE HAVE TREMENDOUS ASSETS AND ATTRIBUTES UP HERE.

AND IF YOU ARE BORN AND RAISED HERE LIKE ME, WE ARE OUR OWN WORST CRITICS HERE.

WE LOOK AT THE DOWNSIDE OF WHAT OUR STRENGTHS AND ASSETS ARE.

AND I THINK WE NEED TO, AGAIN, COLLECTIVELY START TO EMBRACE THESE ASSETS THAT WE HAVE, CVG, NKY, GO DOWN THE LINE.

IN-- NKU AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE CORRIDOR THAT EXISTS AND CANDACE WILL ELABORATE ON THIS, IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THIS CORRIDOR OF COMMERCE, WHICH IS A CHANCE SOME VISION AS GATEWAY CAPITAL.

IT'S LEVERAGING ALL THE ASSETS AT THAT TIME WE HAVE IN PLACE AND REALLY MAXIMIZING THOSE.

AND NOT BUILDING SOMETHING OUT OF WHOLE CLOTH, BUT ACTUALLY TAKING THOSE ASSETS AND CATALYZE THEM IN A WAY THAT IS INFORMATIVE.

FOR FIDELITY AND COMPANIES THERE IS AN INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.

CAREER VITALITY.

WHEN YOU BRING PEOPLE INTO THE ORGANIZATION.

IT'S ABOUT CAREER DEVELOPMENT BENEFITS, SO WE HAVE A STUDENT LOAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE OFFERING VERY ATTRACTIVE INCENTIVES AND PROGRAMS TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN ASSOCIATES AND WE HAVE THE NATURAL ASSETS OF THIS REGION TO AMPLIFY THAT AND I THINK WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO EMBRACE THAT AND REALLY EXPLORE AT A REALLY HIGH LEVEL WITH A GREAT COMMITMENT TO TAKE THAT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

>> WHEN IT COMES TO REMOTE WORK BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THAT IS, YOU KNOW, AN ATTRACTIVE ENTICEMENT FOR WORKER RETENTION AND RETAINMENT AND RECRUITMENT.

WHAT IS FIDELITY'S POLICY ON THAT?

>> SO, SENATOR McDANIEL REFERENCED THIS WITH THIS REMOTE WORKFORCE INITIATIVE.

SO WE WERE LIKE MANY OTHER COMPANIES COMING OUT OF COVID.

WE BASICALLY WERE MORE OF A 50-50 PROPOSITION, PROBABLY INTO THE SECOND YEAR OUT OF COVID WITH PEOPLE WORKING ON CAMPUS AND PEOPLE WORKING REMOTELY.

BUT JUST THIS MONTH, IN FACT, WE ARE NOW REQUIRING OUR ASSOCIATES TO BE ON CAMPUS TWO FULL WEEKS A MONTH.

WHERE PREVIOUSLY IT WAS ONE WEEK.

NOW OF COURSE SOME ASSOCIATES DECIDE TO COME IN TO WORK MULTIPLE DAYS OR A FULL WEEK, BUT NOW WE ARE AT TWO WEEKS A MONTH AND WE UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES THAT THAT PRESENTS TO OUR ASSOCIATES BECAUSE THEY BECOME CONDITIONED IN THIS NEW WORLD TO WORK REMOTELY.

BUT WHAT DOES AN EMPLOYER DO TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN ASSOCIATES?

YOU CREATE THE ON CAMPUS EXPERIENCE TO BE SO DYNAMIC AND REWARDING AND THAT YOU WANT TO BE THERE AROUND PEOPLE, NOT OWE ON A ZOOM CALL BUT CASUAL COLLISIONS, HAVING CONVERSATIONS THAT ENHANCES CREATIVITY.

IN MY OPINION MOMENTUM BEGETS MOMENTUM AND AS WE GET MORE PEOPLE BACK ON THE CAMPUS-- AND I WITNESS AS I SPEND MORE TIME ON CAMPUS, THE ENERGY, THE INTEREST, AND I THINK A LOT OF EMPLOYERS ARE MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION.

WILL WE EVER GO BACK TO PEOPLE BEING IN THE WORKPLACE FIVE DAYS A WEEK?

NO.

I DON'T ENVISION THAT HAPPENING.

I THINK YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS HYBRID.

BUT IT IS DEFINITELY TRENDING MORE TOWARD HAVING PEOPLE IN THE WORKPLACE MORE OFTEN.

>> Renee: CAN YOU QUANTIFY THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF FIDELITY TO THIS REGION?

>> I WOULD SAY THAT IN THE 30-YEAR HISTORY IN WHICH WE HAVE HAD A PRESENCE, IT'S BEEN VERY SIGNIFICANT.

I MEAN THAT WOULD BE A GENERAL STATEMENT, BUT I THINK ABOUT THE 5500 ASSOCIATES THAT WE PRESENTLY EMPLOY.

THE TENURE RATE AT THAT TIME WE HAVE AT FIDELITY IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

THAT ALSO SPEAKS TO OUR PEOPLE.

IT SPEAKS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE DEDICATED AND COMMITTED TO THEIR WORK.

I MEAN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT FIDELITY DOES.

I MEAN WE HELP PEOPLE PLAN FOR THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURE.

IT'S A VERY NOBLE PROFESSION.

IT'S A VERY REWARDING PROFESSION.

SO WE, IN THAT REGARD, I THINK, HAVE CREATED A GREAT LEGACY IN THIS PART OF THE STATE AND IN THIS REGION, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE COMING TO WORK HERE.

AND THAT IS NOT JUST SERVICING OUR CLIENTS AND OUR CUSTOMERS.

BY THE WAY, FIDELITY IS CUSTOMER OBSESSED, WHICH I LOVE IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR CLIENTS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT OUR CUSTOMERS WHETHER YOU HAVE A BROKERAGE ACCOUNT OR YOU ARE A PLAN PARTICIPANT IN A 401 K PLAN.

WE CARE DEEPBLY THAT CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE WITH FIMENT.

OUR ASSOCIATES LIVE THAT EVERY DAY WITH FIDELITY.

AND WHAT THEY DO IS TAKE THAT, AN EXTENSION INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THROUGH FIDELITY CARES, WE HAD 9,000 ASSOCIATES VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL EDUCATION TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN SCHOOLS IN THE REGION ALONE JUST LAST YEAR.

SO I THINK THAT SPEAKS VOLUMES TO NOT JUST THE FIDELITY BUT ANY MAJOR COMPANY AND EVEN SMALL COMPANIES THAT HAVE A PRESENCE HERE THROUGH THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THEY ALL ARE ABOUT GIVING BACK.

THAT'S ONE THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS REGION AND I HEAR THIS FROM PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAT COME TO WORK HERE FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR FIDELITY OR OTHER COMPANIES, AND THAT IS THE MIND SET THAT PEOPLE HAVE HERE ABOUT GIVING BACK AND TAKING CARE OF THEIR NEIGHBOR.

WE ARE VERY PASSIONATE.

WE ARE VERY COMMITTED TO THAT.

I THINK THASES A QUALITY-- I THINK THAT'S A QUALITY THAT IS VERY ADMIRABLE AND ONE THAT, AGAIN, I WAS REFERENCING EARLIER ABOUT CELEBRATING OUR STRINDZS.

THAT'S ANOTHER ONE.

>> Renee: ANOTHER STRENGTH OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, MADAM PRESIDENT.

AND IT'S NICE TO OFFICIALLY MEET YOU AND TO HAVE YOU A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT EDUCATION IS THE CORNERSTONE TO A THRIVING ECONOMY, RIGHT?

AND TALK TO US ABOUT HOW NKU IS PREPARING THE NEXT GENERATION OF WORKERS AND IN WHAT AREAS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY HAS BEEN HERE FOR 56 YEARS AND OUR WHOLE MISSION IS CENTER ADD ROUND BROADENING THE DOOR TO ACCESS TO EDUCATION AND PREPARING OUR STUDENTS FOR THE WORKFORCE.

THE WORKFORCE THAT THE REGION NEEDS IN PARTICULAR.

AND WE ARE GOOD AT IT.

WE HAVE 15, 324 STUDENTS UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE LEVELS WE ARE PREPARING FOR LIFE IN OUR REGION.

WE ARE DOING IT IN THE COLLEGE WHERE WE ARE SITTING RIGHT NOW AND THE COLLEGE OF LAW, BUSINESS, HEALTH, EDUCATION AND ARTS AND SCIENCES.

WE DO A GREAT JOB OF PREPARING OUR STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY FOR THE WORKFORCE THAT IS AHEAD OF THEM AND IT'S CHANGING FASTER THAN EVER MUCH AND WE ARE MORE ATTUNED AND MORE ALIGNED THAN WE HAVE EVER BEEN.

>> Renee: SO IT'S INTERESTING WHEN WE CAME HERE YESTERDAY BECAUSE WE WERE IN THE COLLEGE OF INFORMATICS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M IN THE ATRIUM IN THE LOBBY AND I SEE THIS ROBOTIC DOG WALKING UP THE STEPS.

AND I THOUGHT WHAT IS HAPPENING?

AND WHO IS CONTROLLING THAT DOG?

AND IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE 1 THE CURIOSITY OF ALL THE STUDENTS WHO WERE JUST AWED BY THIS.

AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE A PART OF THE MAKING OF THIS THING , RIGHT?

THE CUTTING EDGE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING HERE WHEN IT COMES TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, CYBER SECURITY, I MEAN TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT A.I.

AS SOMETHING THAT IS COMING.

YOU ARE ADDRESSING IT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT NOW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE FIRST MINORS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND REALLY ALLOWS ANY OF OUR MAJORS TO COMBINE THAT WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST.

IT'S IN EVERYTHING NOW.

OUR STUDENTS HAVE AN ABILITY TO TAKE COURSES, CERTIFICATES AND MINORS THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THIS CHANGING WORLD THAT WE ARE LIVING IN.

IT'S CHANGING SO QUICKLY.

AND THIS IS ALLOWING THEM TO REALLY PREPARE FOR THAT FULLY.

OUR FACULTY ARE TEACHING USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

WE ARE USING TECHNOLOGIES OF ALL SORTS.

BUT WHAT IS REALLY GREAT IS WE HAVE THESE REALLY UNIQUELY CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS, OUR FACULTY AND OUR STUDENTS, NOT ONLY ARE THEY TEACHING AND LEARNING TOGETHER BUT THEY'RE DOING RESEARCH TOGETHER.

THEY'RE CREATING TOGETHER.

THEY'RE BUILDING ROBOTIC DOGS TOGETHER.

AND THEY'RE HAVING FUN DOING IT AND THEY HAVE CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST A LIFETIME.

>> Renee: TALK TO US.

YOU MENTIONED 15,000 PLUS STUDENT POPULATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Renee: WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

>> 65% OF OUR STUDENTS COME FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY MUCH AND THEN WE HAVE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO COME FROM OHIO AND INDIANA.

BUT THEN WE HAVE STUDENTS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

AND YET IF YOU REALLY LOOK, WE ARE A REGIONAL COMPREHENSIVE UNIVERSITY, THE VAST MAJORITY COME FROM KENTUCKY, OHIO AND INDIANA.

>> Renee: SO OF THE PROGRAMS THAT YOU OFFER, IS IT REALLY FOCUSED ON TECHNOLOGY, HEALTH SCIENCES, TELL US ABOUT WHAT THE MAJOR MAJORS ARE?

>> SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MAJORS THAT ARE VERY POPULAR.

BUSINESS IS OFTEN TIMES A VERY POPULAR MAJOR.

CERTAINLY HEALTHCARE IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR IN GREAT DEMAND.

INFO MATICS BECAUSE-- INFORMATICS, CYBER SECURITY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT FIELDS THAT WE CAN'T CRANK OUT GRADUATE IS QUICKLY ENOUGH TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR REGION.

THERE ARE A WHOLE HOST OF DEGREES THAT IF WE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES, OUR REGION WOULD BE PLEASED FOR IT.

>> Renee: NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE CREDITED FOR THE RESEARCH THAT STARTED THE NEW NORTHERN KENTUCKY WORKS, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THAT WAS BASED OFF OF A STUDY DONE IN THE ECONOMICS DEPARTMENT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> Renee: AND SO TALK TO US ABOUT HOW YOU ARE REALLY WORKING WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO BE RESPONSIVE TO THE CURRENT WORKFORCE NEEDS AND THE EMERGING NEEDS IN THE FUTURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO ONE OF THE HALLMARK QUALITIES OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IS ENGAGEMENT.

WE ARE ENGAGED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

WE ARE DOING RESEARCH AND SERVING ALL SORTS OF WAYS IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT WE ARE ALSO ENGAGED IN CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT OUR CORPORATE AND NON-PROFIT COMMUNITIES NEED FOR THE WORKFORCE ITSELF.

WE CAN NO LONGER THINK ABOUT OURSELVES AND WHAT LEARNING AND EDUCATION LOOKS LIKE ALONE.

WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE IN CONVERSATION WITH THOSE WHO ARE HIRING OUR GRADUATES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE IT JUST RIGHT.

AND SO WE ARE RIGHT NOW BUILDING A NEW WAY TO ENGAGE WITH OUR CORPORATE COMMUNITY THROUGH A NORS NETWORK HUB THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO ACCESS NKU'S TALENT BECAUSE WE ARE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ENGINE OF THIS REGION.

82% OF OUR 84,000 ALUMNI LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY IN THIS REGION WHEN THEY GRADUATE.

THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER.

>> Renee: CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

>> MAY I AMPLIFY THAT BECAUSE I THINK THIS IS A POINT WORTH SHARING.

SO FIDELITY INVESTMENTS IS A GLOBAL ECONOMY.

AND BECAUSE OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING LEER AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY WITH THE COLLEGE OF INFORMATICS LED BY KEVIN KIRBY AND HIS FACULTY AND THE STUDENTS STAFF, I HAVE PERSONALLY INTRODUCED THEMSELVES TO THEM TO OUR CENTER FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY, NO THE JUST DOMESTICALLY BUT GLOBALLY.

THEY'RE HERE, WE ARE WORKING WITH STUDENTS, CYBER SECURITY IN PARTICULAR AS YOU MENTIONED.

THESE ARE CRITICAL AREAS OF NEED AND OFTEN TIMES WITH ALL DUE RESPECT TO WHERE WE ARE HEADQUARTERED WHICH IS BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS, THEY TEND NOT TO THINK OF THIS COUNTRY AS THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY BUT ONCE THEIR EYES ARE OPEN AND THEY WALK IN HERE AND SIT DOWN AND HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS AND THESE EXPERIENCES AND WE ARE DOING ALL THESE LEARNING PODS AND IT'S INCREDIBLE.

AND I ALWAYS SAY MOMENTUM BEGETS MOMENTUM.

IT'S REALLY OPENED THE EYES OF OUR COMPANY IN TERMS OF TALENT.

AND THAT GETS BACK TO THE WORKFORCE QUESTION, RIGHT?

THERE IS AN UNTAPPED MARKET HERE FOR TALENT WHERE OFTEN TIMES YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE EAST COAST OR THE WEST COAST BUT YOU ARE NOT LOOKING AT THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY AND THAT'S WHERE I THINK NKU AND THE COLLEGE OF INFORMATICS IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO BE VERY, VERY IMPACTFUL IN THAT REGARD.

>> THERE IS YOUR COMMERCIAL RIGHT THERE.

>> Renee: YOU HAVE HEARD US MENTION A LOT ABOUT THE CINCINNATI NORTHERN KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND RECENTLY OUR LAURA ROGERS MADE A FIELD TRIP FROM BOWLING GREEN HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT, THE JOBS AND WHAT IT'S DOING FOR THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY REGION.

>> OUR AIRPORT IS AN ASSET AND CONVENIENCE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THAT COMPROMISE PRICES NOT JUST CINCINNATI OHIO BUT NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT VCG IS HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

>> IT IS REFLECTIST OF THE LOCAL FLAIR AND FLAVOR THAT MAKE THE REGION SPECIAL.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FIRST TASTE, THEIR FIRST SIGHTS WITH THAN THE AIRPORT ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ENTIRE REGION.

>> THAT MEANS LOCAL ART AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

>> BOARD THIS TRAIN.

>> AND EXHIBITS FROM THE CINCINNATI MUSEUM CENTER.

>> WE TRY TO BRING THAT ALSO INTO THE AIRPORT.

SO TRAVELERS GET A SENSE OF WHAT OUR COMMUNITY IS LIKE.

>> WE ARE REALLY PROUD TO BRING NOT ONLY A SENSE OF PLACE AND HISTORY, BUT ALSO INNOVATION.

>> CVG AIRPORT HAS SEEN MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE PAST 10 TO 15 YEARS TO ACCOMMODATE THE 30,000 PASSENGERSS ARRIVING AND DEPARTING DAILY.

>> OUR CORE SERVICE OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE GET WHERE THEY NEED TO BE, WHETHER THAT IS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, RELATIVES, OR CONDUCTING EVEN NEW BUSINESS OR NEW TRIPS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> IT'S ALSO A BIG BOOST TO BUSINESS.

AS THE SIXTH LARGEST CARGO AIRPORT IN NORTH AMERICA, PLAYING A VITAL ROLE IN THE GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN.

>> DHL HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNER OVER THE YEARS AND HAVE EXPANDED A GREAT DEAL LEER AND AMAZON AIR CAME ON BOARD A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

YOU CAN GET ONE OF YOUR SHIPMENTS ON A PLANE AND IT CAN BE HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

>> PASSENGERS CAN FIND THEMSELVES ON A TRANSATLANTIC JOURNEY ON A NEW BRITISH AIRWAYS FLIGHT TO LONDON, SUPPORT SUPPORTING TOURISM AND BUSINESS TRAVEL.

>> THAT FLIGHT IS OFFERED ON A BOEING 787 DREAM LINER.

A GREAT AIRCRAFT.

YOU LEAVE HERE AT CVG AT 9:30, 10 P.M. AT NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING YOU ARRIVE IN LONDON.

>> HAVING A MIX OF CARRIERS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US.

>> CVG HAS EXPANDED ITS OFFERINGS TO INCLUDE 14 AIRLINE CARRIERS TO OFFER TRAVELERS MORE OPTIONS AT DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS.

>> THAT CHOICE THAT CUSTOMERS HAVE, THE VARIETY OF PLACES THEY CAN GO, BUT ALSO THE WAYS THEY CAN GET THERE, HAS HELPED MAKE TRAVEL MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> AND ACCESSIBLE.

INSPIRING A SENSE OF ADVENTURE NOW SERVING MORE LOCAL TRAVELERS THAN EVER.

>> PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT THERE AND EXPERIENCING NEW THINGS, GETTING TO SEE THE WORLD AND GETTING TO GO TO PLACES THEY HAVE NEVER MAYBE BEEN BEFORE.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING TO EAT, SOMETHING TO BUY, SOMETHING TO DO, EDUCATES, ENTERTAINS, AND MAKES YOUR EXPERIENCE AT THE AIRPORT A MEMORABLE ONE.

>> MEMORABLE FOR MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.

CVG SAYS TRAFFIC AT THE AIRPORT IS GROWING BY A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND PASSENGERS A YEAR.

>> FOR KET, I'M LAURA ROGERS.

>> Renee: SENATOR, I WANT TO COME TO YOU AND WE APPRECIATE LAURA ROGERS FOR TALKING TO US ABOUT HOW THE CVG AIRPORT IS REALLY A MAJOR ECONOMIC DRIVER FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

I WANT YOU TO SHARE MORE ABOUT THAT AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY IN THE LAST BUDGET.

BUT IF YOU CAN JUST GIVE US MORE ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE CVG AIRPORT HERE.

>> THE IMPACT CAN'T BE OVERSTATED AS TO WHAT CVG MEANS IN THIS REGION AND UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CANDACE SOME GRAW, THE AIRPORT HAS GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY HAD ALWAYS DONE FAIRLY WELL IN CARGO BUT THEY HAVE REALLY EXPLODED IN CARGO AND AT THE SAME TIME, BUILT UPON THAT STRENGTH AND BEGUN BRINGING IN PASSENGER FLIGHTS.

I MEAN 15 YEARS AGO IT WAS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PRICED AIRPORTS OUT OF THE NATION TO FLY OUT OF.

PEOPLE WOULD FLY TO DAYTON, LEXINGTON OR LOUISVILLE TO FLY.

AND NOW THEY COME HERE BECAUSE IT'S MORE AFFORDABLE TO FLY OUT OF AND WITH REGULAR FLIGHTS THAT THEY HAVE TO EVERY CITY IN THIS NATION, AND SEVERAL INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS, IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE WHEN LEE IS OUT THERE RECRUITING BIG COMPANIES TO THE REGION TO SAY WE CAN GET YOU DIRECTLY TO AND FROM HERE ON A DAILY OR WEEKLY BASIS.

AND SO THE MOMENTUM THEY HAVE AT CVG IS ABSOLUTELY TREMENDOUS.

AND THEY'RE JUST A HUGE ASSET TO THIS REGION AND COULDN'T BE PROUD OF FOR WORKING WITH THEM.

TO TALK ABOUT NKU, IT'S NOT WHAT WE DID FOR THEM BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING FOR US AND THE COMMONWEALTH.

CERTAINLY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOME REINVESTMENT HERE.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF Dr. SHORT-THOMPSON, THEY WERE RECENTLY RANKED ONE OF THE BEST VALUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, NOT IN KENTUCKY BUT IN THE NATION.

YOU KNOW, RIGHT UP THERE, I BELIEVE, OVER EVEN HARVARD IN THIS.

AND SO CERTAINLY WE'VE GOT A LOT TO BRAG ABOUT HERE.

AND SO IT'S EASY TO MAKE THE CASE TO INVEST IN A PLACE THAT IS DELIVERING THAT KIND OF SUCCESS FOR THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND REALLY FOR THE NATION AS A WHOLE AND THE TYPES OF GRADUATES THEY PUT OUT HERE BUT CERTAINLY ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THEY WILL BE DOING IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

GOING DOWN TO THE NEW COMMONWEALTH CENTER FOR BIO MEDICAL EXCELLENCE, WE WILL HAVE A LAW SCHOOL AND I MEDICAL SCHOOL DOWN THERE ON THE RIVER.

IDEALLY THAT WILL HELP SPAWN MORE RESEARCH.

IF YOU ARE A WORLD CLASS RESEARCHER, WE'VE ALREADY GOT A BUNCH OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HERE, WHY DON'T YOU COME JOIN THEM AND IF YOU WANT TO FINANCE WORLD CLASS RESEARCH, WE HAVE A BUNCH GOING ON HERE, COME PUT YOUR MONEY UP HERE.

BUT IT'S AN ENVIRONMENT.

IT'S AN ECOSYSTEM AND ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE, EXECUTING WITH EXCELLENCE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY.

I MEAN YOU CAN LOOK AT EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT IS SITTING UP HERE AND THEIR JOB KEEPS THEM BUSIER THAN IT PROBABLY SHOULD.

BUT EVERY ONE OF THEM IS SITTING ON A NON-PROFIT BOARD OF SOME TYPE.

EVERY ONE IS GIVING TIME THAT NOBODY EVEN KNOWS ABOUT.

AND IT'S JUST EMBLEMATIC OF THE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN THIS REGION COMMITTED TO THEIR TRADE AND ALSO COMMITTED TO THEIR COMMUNITY AND NKU OBVIOUSLY BEING AT THE TOP OF THE EDUCATIONAL HIERARCHY AROUND HERE IS AN EASY PLACE TO INVEST IN AND CERTAINLY CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER FOR THE REFUGEE REGION.

>> Renee: Dr. SHORT-THOMPSON, I HAVE TO LET YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

>> I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER TO BE HERE AND BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SENATOR McDANIEL.

TO BE IN THE CENTER OF A PLACE WHERE THERE ARE FIVE MAJOR COURTHOUSES, 25 MAJOR LAW FIRPS, AND FIRMS AND TO BE IN THE USUAL THAN CORP AND SERVE SO MANY DIFFERENT PURPOSES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SO MANY SMART PROFESSIONALS.

THIS IS GOING TO ELEVATE OUR ALREADY AMAZING CHASE COLLEGE OF LAW.

SO IT'S JUST GOING TO TAKE IT UP LIKE 15 NOTCHES, RENEE.

IT'S GOING TO BE EXCITING.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I'LL GO BACK TO CVG TO CONTINUE TO BRAG ON THEM TO.

YOUR POINT, THEY'RE SIXTH IN THE NATION NOW FOR FREIGHT AND THEY JUST CONTINUE TO EXPAND THAT WAY.

AND WHAT I THINK SINCE CANDACE McGRAW IS LEAVING US HERE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE KUDOS TO HER.

UNDER HER TENURE SHE HAS GROWN THAT TO BE SUCH A HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENT, RIGHT.

SO WE HAVE THE FREIGHT.

WE HAVE THE COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, ATLAS AIR AND PROGRAMS THERE FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN TO BE AIRPLANE MECHANICS AND SO IT'S REALLY AN AMAZING HOLISTIC ENVIRONMENT.

AND THEN OF COURSE THAT'S BEGETTING ALL THE WAY FAIRS AND THE OTHER BUSINESSES FORMING OUT THERE SO THAT HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT.

NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH GREAT ABOUT.

MY MOTHER IS AN ALUMNI AND I'M ALUMNA OF CHASE LAW SCHOOL.

IT IS IN MY DISTRICT.

I'M VERY PROUD TO GET TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME UP HERE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE DRIVER FOR THIS REGION AND AS THE REGION CONTINUES TO GROW, NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ALWAYS STEPS UP WITH THE PROGRAMS WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WORKFORCE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE IS TRAINED AND READY AT A PRICE POINT THAT IS STILL ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE TO STUDENTS AND THEY WILL WORK WITH STUDENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS TRUE FOR THEM AND THAT THEY PROVIDE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROGRAMS SO THAT THE UNIVERSITY CAN MEET YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE.

ONE OF THE BIG INVESTMENTS WE MADE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS YEAR WAS TO GROW THE I.T.

PROGRAM HERE SO THE CONDITIONAL PUSS CAN REALLY EVOLVE INTO THE HYBRID LEARNING SUBMISSION THAT MOST STUDENTS ARE NEEDING AND WANTING NOW AND THAT SITUATION MAKES IT EASIER FOR SINGLE PARENTS TO COME TO SCHOOL OR FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING SWITCHING CAREERS RETRAINING IN A DIFFERENT SKILL.

I'M THRILLED WITH EVERYTHING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE AND VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE UNDER OUR NEW LEADERSHIP AND, YEAH, I WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF YOUR BIGGEST CHEERLEADERS.

>> Renee: GO AHEAD, LEE.

>> >> TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THIS, GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION.

WHAT IS A NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND HOW DO THESE THINGS WORK TOGETHER.

WE TALKED ABOUT CVG.

NOT JUST A PLACE WHERE WE FLY IN AND OUT OF.

IT'S OFTEN TIMES THE FIRST IMPRESSION AND LAST IMPRESSION THAT PEOPLE VISITING THE COMMUNITY HAVE.

AND THE THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP OF THAT AIRPORT, THEY BUILT A NEW RENTAL CAR FACILITY A FEW YEARS AGO.

YOU THINK, OKAY, IT'S A RENTAL CAR FACILITY BUT IT'S OFTEN TIMES THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WILL SEE OF THIS SINCE COMMUNITY NOT JUST NORTHERN COMMUNITY BUT THE CINCINNATI NORTHERN KENTUCKY COMMUNITY.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU COME THROUGH THE AIRPORT.

THE SAME THING WHEN YOU LEAVE.

HAVING THE RIGHT AMENITIES WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE HELPS US TELL OUR STORY AND THINKING ABOUT THE SENATOR AND THE UNIVERSITY AND THAT INVESTMENT THAT'S GOING TO BE DOWN IN COVINGTON WITH THE BIO MEDICAL CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOOTBALL SEASON IN CINCINNATI AND I IMAGINE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS WE WILL PLAY ON A MONDAY NIGHT AND I THINK ABOUT IN THE FUTURE WHEN THE BLIMP GOES BY AND THEY SHOW THE HIGHLIGHT SHOT OF KENTUCKY AND THERE IS U.K. AND THERE IS NKU, AND IT SAYS SCIENCE AND MEDICINE AND IT HELPS OUR STATE TELL OUR STORY OF THE KIND OF LIFE YOU CAN LIVE HERE.

TO ME, IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

AND THEN IT'S INCUMBENT UPON US.

YOU START WEAVING THE REST OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER.

CAN I COME TO KENTUCKY AND INNOVATE, COME TO KENTUCKY AND GET AN EDUCATION.

CALM TO KENTUCKY AND WORK REMOTELY, COME TO KENTUCKY AND ENJOY THE AMAZING AMENITIES, MOUNTAIN BIKE, TRAIL RIDING NORTHERN KENTUCKY, THE GORGE, MAMMOTH CAVE, LAND BETWEEN THE LAND BETWEEN THE LAKES.

HELPS US TELL OUR STORY WHICH GOES BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION, WHAT IS NORTHERN KENTUCKY?

THIS IS WHAT NORTHERN KENTUCKY IS.

>> Renee: AND AS YOU GET ALL OF THESE PEOPLE IN WE GO BACK TO JUDGE MOORE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE MENTIONED MOMENTS AGO, HOUSING.

WHERE WILL THEY LIVE.

WHEN YOU TESTIFIED ABOUT BOONE COUNTY, 6,000 SOME UNITS SHORTER THAN WHAT IS NEEDED.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE SHORTAGE AND WHAT YOU ARE RECOMMENDING TO THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> WELL, AS WE LEAD INTO THAT, NKU HAS BEEN OUR SOURCE OF ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY.

YOU MENTION THAT IT WAS THE WORK OF NKU THAT LED TO THE CREATION OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY WORKS.

WE ARE CURRENTLY DOING A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY OF OUR RESIDENTS OF HOW WE ARE PERFORMING FOR THEM AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NKU.

SO THESE PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN NKU, WITH CVG, WE ARE USING PART OF THE 7,000 ACRES THAT CVG OWNS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR NEW INDUSTRIAL PARKS, FOR SITES FOR HANGAR ROW AND CARGO; THOSE TYPES THINGS TO CREATE JOBS SO THAT WE WILL NOT USE LAND OUTSIDE OF THE AIRPORT PROPER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THAT WAY.

BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO NEED THOSE ACRES FOR HOUSING.

PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO COME TO OUR AREA.

YOU KNOW, WE HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY OFFER MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS.

WE HAVE THE REDS, THE BENGALS, FC CINCINNATI, THE ARTS, THE ZOO.

WE LOVE BEING KENTUCKIANS AND WE CAN OFFER A LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE HERE FOR OUR RESIDENTS THAT SOMETIMES THE REST OF THE COMMONWEALTH MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO.

SO IF WE ARE GOING TO SELL THAT, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE THEM COME HERE, WE NEED TO PROVIDE INCOME ALIGNED HOUSING.

WE ARE PARTNERING WITH RIGHT NOW WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROJECTS TO LOOK AT NEW WAYS TO INCLUDE DENSITY, TO LOOK AT OUR ZONING REGULATIONS, OUR BUILDING CODES, ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY, STREAMLINE THE EFFORT TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE AND ATTAINABLE.

THE HOUSING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS NOT JUST LOW INCOME HOUSING.

IT'S INCOME ALIGNED HOUSING.

WE ARE FUND FINDING THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE COLLEGE GRADUATES ENTERING THE WORKFORCE MAKING 60,000-$70,000 A YEAR CANNOT FIND HOUSING TO BUY.

SO WE ARE SEEING A PROLIFERATION OF APARTMENTS BEING BUILT.

NOW THEY'RE LUXURY APARTMENTS, 2,000, 2500 A MONTH, NOT AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

BUT IT'S ALL THAT PEOPLE CAN FIND RIGHT NOW.

SO THERE IS A MARKET FOR IT AND IT'S BEING BUILT.

SO WE ARE TRYING TO BRING SMARTER MINDS TOGETHER TO USE OUR RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.

WE KNOW IF PEOPLE WANT AN URBAN EXPERIENCE, THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK TO THE RIVERFRONT.

THEY'RE GOING TO LOOK TO THE RIVER CITIES IN KENTON AND CAMPBELL.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT IN BOONE.

BUT WE DO HAVE OTHER AMENITIES THAT MANY RESIDENTS MIGHT LOOK FOR SO THIS IS A REGIONAL SOLUTION, ONCE AGAIN, NOT JUST BOON, KENTON AND CAMPBELL.

OUR COUNTIES TO THE SOUTH.

GRANT, PEND WILL PENDLETON, OWEN, HAVE LAND.

THEY WANT POPULATION GROWTH BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IT.

HOW DO WE PARTNER WITH THOSE COUNTIES AND THEIR LEADERSHIP TO BE A PART OF THIS SOLUTION?

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ONLY COMMUTE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME FOR A CERTAIN LEVEL OF INCOME.

BUT THOSE AREAS OF NORTHERN COUNTIES TO THE SOUTH OF US ARE WITHIN THE COMMUTE TIME THAT IS REASONABLE.

SO AGAIN, WE ARE LOOKING FOR REGIONAL SOLUTIONS.

AND DON'T FORGET MASS TRANSIT.

SOMETIMES THE ANSWER TO GETTING WORKERS HERE AND EVENTUALLY RESIDENTS WILL DEPEND ON TRANSIT FROM CINCINNATI.

WE DO KNOW THAT TAN PARTNERING WITH CINCINNATI METRO IS A KEY INGREDIENT TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THESE CHALLENGES.

WORKING WITH OUR CHAMBER, WORKING WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, SMART MINDS ARE COMTOGETHER TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.

WE DO NEED THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO UNDERSTAND THIS AND HELP US WHERE THEY CAN.

>> Renee: HAVE YOU COME UP WITH ANY SOLUTIONS AT THIS POINT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO PROPOSE?

OR THINKING OF PROPOSING TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?

>> IT'S A BIT EARLY.

THERE ARE IDEAS BOUNCING AROUND, BUT NOT THAT WE CAN DISCLOSE QUITE QET.

>> Renee: OKAY.

I REMEMBER DURING THE MEETING IN WHICH YOU TESTIFIED THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT NOT HIGH RISES, THAT WE RECALL BACK IN THE 60S THAT WERE CRIME RIDDEN AND DIDN'T WORK AS THEY WERE PERHAPS INTENDED BUT THINKING ABOUT DUPLEXES AND TRIPLEXES AND QUAD PLEXES, BUILDING UP, RIGHT?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE CONSIDERING?

>> IT IS.

THERE ARE SOME LOCATIONS WHERE THAT IS BART OF THE SOLUTION.

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

I WAS DRIVING THROUGH A NEW COMMUNITY IN BOONE COUNTY JUST RECENTLY AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE IS A SEGMENT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET OF WHAT IS CALLED ATTACHED PATIO HOMES.

AND THESE PATIO HOMES, I MEAN THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL, BUT THEY HAVE COMMON WALLS.

RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING, IT IS PLANNED AND STRATEGIZED IN A WAY THAT YOU CAN INSERT SOME AFFORDABLE HOUSING MORE ATTAINABLE HOUSING IN COMMUNITIES THAT MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCEPTED IT YEARS AGO AND THEY'RE SOLD OUT.

THERE IS A WAITING LIST FOR THOSE HOMES.

SO I THINK THOSE KINDS OF CREATIVE SOLUTIONS BY OUR DEVELOPERS AS WELL, IN HELPING US FIND OUT WHAT IS WORKING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT WE MIGHT BRING HERE.

>> Renee: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE MEDIAN INCOME OF BOONE COUNTY AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES, WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> WHAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING?

>> Renee: WHAT IS THE NUMBER?

>> I REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO TALK ABOUT $170,000.

TODAY IT'S AROUND $290,000.

AND WE HAVE SOME DEVELOPERS TELLING US THEY CAN'T BUILD A HOME FOR THAT.

SO WE ARE SHOOTING FOR THE $270 TO $290,000 RANGE AND IT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE.

>> Renee: SO WHEN YOU HEAR THIS, SENATOR McDANIEL, WHAT COMES TO MIND.

>> I WAIT WITH BAITED BREATH FOR THESE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE COMING FIRST OFF.

FIRST THING THAT COMES ON MIND IS YOU HEAR WHY WE ARE SO MESSED UP HERE.

WE HAVE GOOD, SMART LEADERS, THINKING ABOUT HARD PROBLEMS AND NOT JUST COMING DOWN TO FRANKFORT AND DUMPING A PROBLEM BUT SAYING, HERE IS THE SOLUTION AND HERE IS WHERE YOU CAN BE HELPFUL AND CERTAINLY THAT IS A GREAT SPACE TO BE IN AS A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT IN EVERY SINGLE SEGMENT OF THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY MARKET.

WHAT I HEAR OBVIOUSLY IS SOMETHING I KNOW.

I'M IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

I HAVE BEEN HIGH WHOLE LIFE.

AND CERTAINLY HAVE SEEN THESE PRICES ON THE RISE.

THE ONE THING THAT CAN I TELL YOU IS THAT PUTTING MORE DIRECT GOVERNMENT DOLLARS INTO THIS PARTICULAR INDUSTRY AT THIS POINT IN TIME WILL BE PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS IN THE INDUSTRY.

THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF SUPPLIES IN THE INDUSTRY.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT, ALL YOU WILL DO IS EXACERBATE THE EXISTING PROBLEM BY TAKING THE HOUSES THAT ARE ALREADY THERE AND DRIVING THE PRICES UP.

BUT AS THE JUDGE MENTIONED, THERE ARE PROBABLY THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ON ZONING OR CONSTRUCTION REGULATIONS PROBABLY THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE ON THE TAX SIDE THAT MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE AND WE STAND OPEN TO WORK ON THOSE TYPES OF THINGS THAT ARE VERY REAL SOLUTIONS THAT MAKE HOUSING AFFORDABLE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO LIVE HERE.

I MEAN AS SOMEBODY WHO HAS SIX CHILDREN, I'M HOPING ALL OF THEM WILL BE HOMEOWNERS HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AT SOME POINT.

HAVE I TO MAKE SURE WE GET THEM AT THE RIGHT PRICE POINT.

>> Renee: REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS HOW DO YOU SEE IT WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOUSING CRISIS OR ISSUE?

>> THERE WAS A GROUP OF US THAT MET ALL SUMMER ON AN INFORMAL HOUSING TASK FORCE AND TALK ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED ONE THINGLY ADD TO THE CONVERSATION IS OUR COMPLETE DIRTH OF SENIOR HOUSING UP HERE WHICH IS A REAL PROBLEM FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

SO ONE OF THE PIECES OF THE SOLUTION HERE IS PRESERVATION.

SO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE HOMES, THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY ADA ACCEPTABLE TO THEM AS THEY AGE IN PLACE.

WHAT CAN WE DO AT THE STATE LEVEL TO DO SOMETHING THAT MIRRORS OUR HISTORIC TAX CREDITS USED FOR PEOPLE TO STAY IN THE HOUSES THEY HAVE NOW.

FOR OUR ELDERLY POPULATION, FOR INSTANCE.

OR MAYBE MIRRORING THAT FOR OTHER HOMEOWNERS WHO PERHAPS ARE , YOU KNOW, EARNING A GOOD WAGE BUT THE COST OF REPAIRING AND MAINTAINING HOMES HAS BECOME SO HIGH, THAT WE DON'T WANT THEM TO FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE TO GIVE UP THEIR HOME.

THAT THEY COULD LIVE IN FOR A SMALL INVESTMENT ON THE STATE'S PART OR HELP FROM THE STATE AND GO INTO THE RENTAL MARKET AND HAVE THE HOUSE TURN OVER AND GET REVAMPED AND BECOME SOMETHING THAT NO, SIR LONGER AN INCOME ALIGNED HOUSING UNIT, RIGHT?

AS WE HAVE ALL SAID, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT THIS AND UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A NATIONAL PROBLEM.

SO THERE ARE GREAT MINDS THINKING ABOUT THIS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN TALKING TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THE STATE TO SEE WHAT OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

THERE IS NO SIMPLE SOLUTION BUT IT ALL LIES IN A MIXTURE OF ZONE PG ZONING CHANGES AND THE IDEAS OF HELPING TO PRESERVE THE HOUSING STOCK THAT WE HAVE NOW IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FROM CORPORATIONS COMING INTO THE AREA, WHAT IS THE CORPORATE STEWARDSHIP COMES TO IF YOU ARE GOING TO CREATE JOBS, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO HELP US MAINTAIN THE HOUSING SITUATION?

IF YOU BRING IN HIGH WAGE JOBS THAT LIFT THE PRICES OF THE HOUSES, WHAT DO WE DO FOR THE PEOPLE IN MANUFACTURING.

AND AS MANY OF US HAVE MENTIONED ONE OF THE REAL BLESSINGS OF THIS AREA IS THAT WE TRULY LOVE IT.

AND WHILE WE HAVE POLICY AND POLITICAL DIFFERENCES, OUR HEARTS ARE ALL IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE WE ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR SOLUTIONS FOR THIS REGION AND THAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING PARTS OF MY TENURE HERE, THERE IS NO ONE ON THE STAGE WHOSE PHONE NUMBER I DO NOT HAVE AND CANNOT CALL PERSONALLY.

NO ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THIS AREA THAT ANY OF US WOULD HAVE TROUBLE CONTACTING.

WE ARE ALL WILLING TO WORK TOGETHER ON THE SOLUTIONS.

WHILE IT IS NOT SIMPLE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF US WILLING TO DO THE WORK TO FIND THE SOLUTIONS.

>> Renee: EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT IN THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

>> THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO BE VERY USEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> Renee: AS SHE RETIRING FROM THE KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

YOU ARE CONSUMED WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH.

YOU HEAR ABOUT THE CONVERSATION ON HOUSING AND IMPEDIMENT TO GET TO THE GOALS HAVE YOU SET OUT, TO ACCOMPLISH?

>> IT IS A CHALLENGE OF A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY.

AND WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

WHAT CHALLENGES DO WE WANT TO DEAL WITH?

THE CHALLENGES OF A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY OR CHALLENGES OF A SHRINKING DYING COMMUNITY.

I'LL TAKE THE ONES OF A PROSPEROUS COMMUNITY EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK AND TWICE ON SUNDAY.

REP. ROBERTS MENTIONED IT.

THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE FOR PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES THAT HAS TO BE FIGURED OUT.

AND SOMETHING ELSE THAT REP. ROBERTS TALKED ABOUT THAT I THINK IS SUPER IMPORTANT, WHEN YOU START TALKING ABOUT THESE CHALLENGES, WORKFORCE, HOUSING BEFORE WE MAKE JUDGMENTS, PEOPLE TEND TO PANIC WHEN IT'S NEW.

UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE JUDGE MOORE SAID THE NUMBER.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WORKFORCE HOUSING, ATTAINABLE HOUSING, WHATEVER TERM YOU USE.

THE NUMBER IS $60,000 THAT PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TRYING TO HELP GET THEIR CAREER UP AND GOING.

THESE ARE TEACHERS, FIREMEN, ENTRY LEVEL MID CAREER WORKERS.

IT'S ALSO MOM AND DAD, YOU KNOW, FROM TWO GENERATIONS WE HAVE BUILT HOMES IN THE SUBURBS AND AT SOME POINT MOM AND DAD MAY NEED TO LIVE CLOSER TO AMENITIES, CLOSER TO THE DOCTOR, CLOSER TO HEALTHCARE ON ONE LEVEL AND THE TYPES OF PATIO HOMES THAT JUDGE MOORE TALKED ABOUT ARE GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR SENATOR McDANIELS KIDS, FOR OUR PARENTS, AS WE MOVE FORWARD AS A COMMUNITY.

SO, TO ME, IT'S ABOUT WORKING WITH GREAT SMART PEOPLE LIKE THIS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE CHALLENGES ARE AND THEN WORKING THROUGH THE ISHESZ TO GET IT SOLVED BECAUSE IF IT WAS EASY, WE WOULDN'T BE SITTING HERE TALKING ABOUT IT.

>> Renee: GO AHEAD, JUDGE MOORE.

>> IF I MAY ADD TO THE DISCUSSION, SOMETIMES IT'S THINGS OUT OF OUR CONTROL LIKE THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

IN THIS CASE INTEREST RATES.

WE FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE LENDS OF OWN LENGTH OF OWNING A HOME WAS SIX TO SEVEN YEARS IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

RIGHT NOW IT'S 14 YEARS.

WHY HAS THAT CHANGED?

BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE LOW INTEREST LOANS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO FINANCE OR REFINANCE.

IF THEY SELL THAT HOME AND THEY BORROW ON THEIR NEXT HOME, THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT A MUCH HIGHER RATE.

SO THEY'RE FORCED TO STAY WHERE THEY ARE.

THE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, NORTHERN KENTUCKY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS DID SOME REALLY GOOD WORK IN THIS AREA IN FINDING THAT THE HOUSING INVENTORY CHALLENGE IS THAT HOMES ARE NOT TURNING.

SO THAT EMPTY NEST, THOSE PARENTS THAT ARE NOW EMPTY NEST THAT WANT TO MOVE TO THE PATIO HOME, CAN'T AFFORD TO BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST RATE VARIANCE AND THE COST OF THE NEW HOMES.

AND THEN THAT GROWING YOUNGER FAMILY THAT WANTS TO MOVE INTO A THREE OR FOUR BEDROOM BECAUSE THEY'RE HAVING CHILDREN AND GROWING FAMILY, CAN'T FIND THAT HOME.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT SOME OF THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT INTEREST RATES COMING DOWN WILL BE ONE OF THE INGREDIENTS THAT WILL HELP US.

AND SOMETIMES IT'S THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE JUST OUT OF OUR CONTROL.

BUT WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR MARKET CHANGES AND WE HAVE TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN OUTPERFORM OUR COMPETITORS.

BY THE WAY, OUR COMPETITORS IN EVERYTHING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, RECRUITING COMPANIES, IS NOT THE REST OF THE COMMONWEALTH.

WE ARE COMPETING WITHIN INDY AND CHARLOTTE AND NASH NASHVILLE.

SO IF NORTHERN KENTUCKY CAN SUCCEED AND DO WELL, THE COMMONWEALTH WILL DO WELL.

WE ARE NOT TAKING AWAY FROM OTHER PARTS OF KENTUCKY.

>> JUDGE, I LOVE THAT WE SAY IT ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE 385 MSAs IN AMERICA.

THE BEST OF THE BEST ARE GETTING UP EVERY DAY AND WORKING TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

AND WE, AS NORTHERN KENTUCKIANS AND WE AS KENTUCKIANS NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE IN THAT BEST OF CLASS, COMPETING WITH THE OTHER 84 SO OR SO THAT ARE OUT THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THE PENALTY WE ARE GOING TO PAY OR I CAN GUESS THE PENALTY WE ARE GOING PAY IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO COMPETE, NOT TO GROW, NOT TO PROGRESS.

>> Renee: THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE, RIGHT?

NOT A VIABLE ONE.

>> THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE.

IT'S NOT ONE THAT I WOULD PREFER TO SEE COME TO FRUITION.

>> Renee: WE THANK YOU ALL I.

HAS BEEN A ROBUST DISCUSSION AND ENTIRELY TOO SHORT.

WE'LL HAVE TO COME BACK AND TALK MORE.

WE ARE SO APPRECIATIVE OF THE TIME YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL THE SUCCESS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TRACKING IT STILL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY AND YOU AT HOME WATCHING THIS SPECIAL ON THE ROAD EDITION OF KENTUCKY TONIGHT FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

YOU CAN GO BACK AND SEE OUR OTHER ROAD SHOWS THAT ARE ALL AVAILABLE ONLINE ON DEMAND AT ket.org.

AND OF COURSE YOU CAN COUNT ON KENTUCKY TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND PUT IT WHERE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT.

SO WE THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US TO DO THAT AND UNTIL I SEE YOU AGAIN, REPORTING HERE FROM NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, I'M RENEE SHAW.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE.

[ APPLAUSE ]