Frank Butler, formerly the University of Kentucky's executive vice president for finance and administration, has been named project manager for the Rupp Arena Arts and Entertainment District. He begins in June.
UK will donate Butler's time and salary to the Rupp District effort through the end of 2012, according to a release from the office of Mayor Jim Gray.
Developing the plan was the work of the Rupp Arena Arts and Entertainment Task Force - a 47-member committee including a broad cross-section of community and regional leaders. The plan recommends reinventing Rupp Arena, building a new convention center and constructing new commercial, residential and educational space downtown.
In a statement, UK President Eli Capilouto called the Rupp District plan a compelling vision for the community’s future and emphasized the importance of UK and the City working together. “Our futures are, without question, inextricably linked. Our plans for development and growth must be linked together as well,” he said. “I appreciate the efforts of the Task Force. The next step is to focus on how the project will be financed."
Governor Steve Beshear said the Rupp District is one of the state’s top economic development project. The governor and Frankfort legislators included $2.5 million in the state’s two-year budget for the initial work on Rupp Arena. The funds require a 100 percent local match.
Gray has included $1.25 million in his budget proposal, now under consideration by the Urban County Council. In addition the Convention and Visitors Bureau has approved $200,000 over two years and the Lexington Center Corp. has approved $250,000 over two years for the District. “With UK’s commitment of Frank’s time and talent, we’re taking a big step forward,” Gray said.
Capilouto said donating Butler’s time to this process over the next several months reinforces UK’s commitment to this initiative and to Lexington. “It is critical that the university continues to participate in this process without compromising our chief priority of seeking state dollars and assistance in revitalizing our campus core,” he said. “That continues to be the best way we can honor The Kentucky Promise of educating our undergraduate students to lead this state's future."
Butler has some 40 years of high-level management experience, overseeing the finances of complex institutions, includingChandler Hospital and the University’s budget of more than $2.7 billion annually, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in real estate transactions.
As executive vice president at UK since 2005, Butler oversaw the work of some 2,500 employees in the treasurer’s office, the budget, real estate and facilities, human resources and information technology. Previously, he served as vice president for medical center operations, vice chancellor for planning and systems development for Chandler Hospital and director of UK Hospital.