Committe of the Whole (COW) Economic Development

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Economic Development Committee met on January 17, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., with Beard presiding as Chair. The committee addressed two agenda items during the meeting. The first item was an informational presentation of the Commerce Lexington Quarterly Activity Report covering the period through January 15. The second agenda item involved the introduction and approval of Jeff Fugate as the new Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority. The committee heard ten public comments during the meeting and took no formal votes.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on January 17, 2012:

• Beard
• Stinnett
• Gorton
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Blues
• Lawless
• Farmer
• Crosbie
• Myers
• McChord
• Martin
• Henson
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Public Comment

Several council members and citizens raised questions about Lexington's economic development strategy and business recruitment efforts.

Kevin Stennett asked what factors drive companies to choose Lexington—whether incentives, workforce quality, location, or personal relationships—and stressed the importance of identifying and communicating the city's key selling points to attract future businesses 16:05.

Tom Blue inquired about efforts to recruit new businesses to downtown Lexington, noting constraints including limited large contiguous spaces and parking availability, and asked how downtown could be made more competitive 20:33.

Vice Mayor Gorton asked how companies contact Commerce Lexington and initiate outreach, emphasizing the need to understand why companies select Lexington to improve recruitment messaging 26:13.

Council Member Hanson raised concerns about job losses during the recession and asked whether economic development efforts match employer needs with local workforce skills, particularly given that 60% of residents lack a bachelor's degree 32:17.

Council Member Ford asked about the role of local government in influencing business decisions, including permitting, zoning, taxes, and quality of life factors such as crime and schools 36:54.

Council Member Lane asked about the Chamber's advocacy for the Bucks for Brains program and whether Lexington has formal business clusters, such as in aviation, to promote synergies 42:48.

Council Member Lawless inquired about the impact of people leaving the job market on unemployment data and asked about wages for unskilled workers in manufacturing jobs 51:01. Lawless also raised concerns about the growing number of retirees reducing payroll tax revenue and the long-term implications for city funding 53:12.

Council Member Blues requested an update on the status of the U.S. Postal Service facility in Lexington, noting ongoing advocacy efforts by the city and mayor 55:27.

Vice Mayor Gorton welcomed Jeff Fugate to the committee, praised his return to Lexington after experience elsewhere, and expressed optimism about his contributions to downtown development 1:03:20.

Appointments

Jeff Fugate was appointed to the Downtown Development Authority.

Commerce Lexington Quarterly Activity Report (1-15)

0:00

Jenna Greathouse and Bob Quick presented Commerce Lexington's year-in-review of economic development activities for 2011.

Key Highlights

The presentation showcased significant economic achievements for the year:

• 1,290 new jobs created
• $133 million in capital investment
• Major company wins including A&W, Tempur-Pedic, Lockheed Martin, and Neogen

Presentation Content

The report included data on:

• Project leads
• Existing business visits
• Workforce development initiatives

Outcome

This was an informational presentation with no formal action required.

Introduction of the Jeff Fugate, New Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority

57:47

Jeff Fugate was introduced as the new Executive Director of the Downtown Development Authority. Fugate has returned to Lexington after gaining professional experience in Washington, D.C., and Boston.

During the introduction, Fugate emphasized his commitment to urban planning and community engagement. He expressed enthusiasm for working with the council in his new role.

Kevin Stennett and Jeff Fugate were the key speakers for this agenda item. The appointment was approved.