Poll: Most Kentucky manufacturers oppose "Bailout"
Despite the uncertainty of credit in a highly competitive global marketplace, many Kentucky manufacturers are against the recently passed Federal so-called "bailout" or "rescue" of the financial and banking system, according to the initial results of a newly conducted poll by the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM).
Thirty-two, or 60 percent, of 55 manufacturing industry respondents were against the bailout, while 23 were in favor of it.
Most of those against the bailout cited concerns about the lack of accountability in the financial system as well as the role of the federal government. Most of those who favor the bailout commented on the need to stabilize the economy and protect retirement savings.
The poll respondents represented a cross-section of Kentucky manufacturers from around the state and included small, family-owned companies as well as global giants.
Economic development conference set for November
The Kentucky Association for Economic Development will host its Annual Conference in Lexington (November 12-14 at the Marriott). Highlights of the conference will include a presentation on the U.S. and Kentucky economies by Cletus Coughlin, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The agenda also includes the unveiling of research on what site selection consultants think of Kentucky, along with the introduction of plans to partner to more aggressively promote Kentucky as a business destination.
Ceradyne wins largest-ever military contract
Ceradyne has landed the largest military contract in company history. The U.S. Army will spend $2.37 billion with the Lexington and Costa Mesa, Calif., body armor manufacturer for front and back plates. According to a company press release, the plates are "especially required in the field to defeat next-generation armor-piercing projectiles."
Ceradyne has a Lexington workforce of about 200.
Planned downtown Distillery District scores bourbon maker
Woodshed Beverage, LLC announced that it will produce the first bourbon in Lexington in nearly half a century, as well as Pure Blue Vodka and a bourbon barrel aged rum. The company will do business as Barrel House Distilling Company and is located on Manchester Street in the Old Pepper Distillery's original "Barrel House" in downtown Lexington. The distillery is located in the proposed Lexington Distillery District, which is being developed into an arts and entertainment area by Barry McNees and his partners. All of the company's products will be small batch, handcrafted with most ingredients purchased from local farmers.
Formed by Lexington natives Peter Wright, Frank Marino and Jeff Wiseman, the company expects to have its premier Pure Blue Vodka in local bars and retailers by late 2008 or early 2009.
Grant enables new healing arts program at UK
The Lucille Caudill Little Foundation has made the initial pledge toward the establishment of a $3 million endowment to create the state's first graduate degree program in music therapy at the University of Kentucky School of Music and a unique performing arts program for UK's new Albert B. Chandler Hospital. The foundation's gift will be matched by Bucks for Brains funding and other philanthropy to create the $3 million endowment.
"It is unusual for a school of music and a health care system to work together as we are doing to establish an academic program that has the opportunity to change people's lives," said UK School of Music Director Ben Arnold.
Music therapy in a hospital setting has been shown to reduce heart rates and lead to the need for fewer sedatives in surgical patients as well as shorter hospital stays for premature infants, better social interaction and verbal communication for Alzheimer's patients, earlier recovery for stroke patients and reduced burnout in health care professionals.
The Lucille Caudill Little Performing Arts in Health Care Program will offer performing arts experiences, education and research opportunities for UK School of Music students. It will also create a prestigious endowed performance series for the hospital. A new graduate faculty position and curriculum for music therapy will be created, making UK the first and only university in the state to offer this degree program. School officials expect graduate students to enter the program in fall 2010.
"A degree in music therapy is a rigorous course of study," explained Cecilia Wang, director of graduate studies at the UK School of Music. "The professionals who emerge are trained musicians and music educators with extensive course work in psychology and the behavioral sciences, in addition to clinical experience.
The endowment will fund future student and faculty performances presented in a new 300-seat auditorium in the new UK Chandler Hospital, scheduled to open in phases starting in 2010. Performances will be accessed via television or audio systems in each patient's room. UK will transmit performances as part of a pilot outreach program for music therapy to St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead and will possibly expand the outreach to other hospitals. In-room patient music, when requested, will be provided by UK School of Music's renowned faculty and students at UK Chandler Hospital, UK's Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Claire Regional Medical Center. And, the artists will create opportunities for patients to create their own music as well.
"An ongoing presence of music in the health care setting will create a calming, pleasant, patient-centered environment and ease the stress for patients, staff and visitors," said Dr. Michael Karpf, UK executive vice president for health affairs.
Parking meter rate hike delayed
On April 9, the Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority (LexPark) voted unanimously to increase parking meter rates from twenty-five cents per hour to one dollar per hour. Parking on some streets on the edges of downtown will increase from twenty-five cents per hour to fifty cents per hour. The rate increases were planned for sometime in the fall of '08 after major customer service and technological improvements are in place. On October 8, however, the LexPark Board voted to delay the meter rate increase until January 1, 2009. This delay was an effort to ensure that the new forms of technology and payment options are fully in place prior to any rate increase.
It has been 25 years since the meter rates were last increased.
Meridian and Jordan-Chiles merge
Meridian Communications has merged with the Jordan-Chiles Group forming Meridian-Chiles. Meridian founder Mary Ellen Slone is president, with Larry Chiles stepping into the role of chairman.
All employees of the two agencies are being retained.
Jordan-Chiles' assets include in-house post-production facilities. "We can do our own production now," said Chiles, who along with Jim Jordan formed Jordan-Chiles in 1988. Chiles bought out Jordan six years ago. "The largest percentage of the commercial video production is in-house, so by merging these two big companies, it gives us sales expertise second to none, creativity that is second to none. It gives us the ability, with what they (Meridian) offer with all the branding and with the medical and image commercials and fast-food, along with our heavy retail and political, there's not one service that can't be accomplished."
Slone, who launched her business as MER Communications in 1975, moved her staff and operations from downtown Lexington to the Jordan-Chiles complex on Beasley Street earlier this month. Slone owns and will now lease the vacated space on the third level of The Triangle Center at Main and Broadway.
Survey asks employers to weigh-in on development
Lexington businesses can help shape future development and re-development in and around the city by participating in an online survey. The urban-county government has retained the Atlanta real estate consulting firm RCLCO to "clarify the community's vision for the future of the Lexington area and assess the expected demand in the area for housing and other potential development and/or redevelopment opportunities," according to the LFUCG Web site.
A spokeswoman for RCLCO said the survey will look into how housing choices and location affect employees' lives and how housing and location options might be improved.
"The information we collect is for research purposes only and we will not be sharing your information or responses outside of our research team," the firm's consumer research director, Stephanie Siejka, said in an e-mail. "This data will be confidential and the individual data will not be released to employers or outside of our research team."
To participate, go to www.surveymonkey.com/LexingtonEmployees.
Everyone who participates in the survey is automatically entered in a raffle to win one of five $100 American Express Gift Cards.
"Y" receives Target grant to support literacy efforts
The YMCA of Central Kentucky received a $2,000 grant from Target to support the YMCA's focus on literacy. The funds will support the YMCA's "Milk and Bookies" program. In addition to Milk and Bookies, the YMCA of Central Kentucky collaborates with several area literacy groups and programs to distribute free books to kids. In 2007 alone, the YMCA helped hand out over 6,000 free books, and the Y has distributed over 4,600 books already in 2008.