Lexington, KY - Representatives from throughout the Bluegrass Region will travel to Washington, D.C. tomorrow to advocate on behalf of the budgetary, infrastructure and economic development needs of Central Kentucky.
Nearly 60 people will participate in Commerce Lexington’s 2012 Washington Fly-In, presented by Columbia Gas of Kentucky. The group will spend Wednesday and Thursday, July 18 and 19, in the nation’s capitol.
Priorities for the 2012 Fly-In, according to a Commerce Lexington press release, will focus on regulatory relief. The Bluegrass Region will continue to highlight infrastructure improvements for Central Kentucky communities, as well as the needs of the region’s post-secondary institutions. However, in the post-earmark era, Commerce Lexington Inc. and the Central Kentucky Regional Public Policy Group have focused their efforts on several non-monetary priorities and policies that have negatively impacted the Commonwealth’s economy.
“The region’s D.C. Fly-In is a great opportunity for the elected officials, business, education and nonprofit leaders throughout Central Kentucky to meet with Kentucky’s entire Congressional delegation and members of their staffs, “ said Commerce Lexington Inc. President & CEO, Bob Quick. “Regional leaders are able to have a conversation with federal elected officials regarding the important needs of the Bluegrass Region.”
Central Kentucky’s annual Fly-In successes in recent years include acquiring initial funding for the feasibility study of the I-75 connector between Nicholasville and Northern Madison County, funding for the Kentucky Blood Center and the Newton Pike Extension, a contract for the bio-fuels program at Eastern Kentucky University, funding for the University of Kentucky, Blue Grass Airport and Bluegrass Army Depot, and a reauthorization of the SBIR/STTR program.
Travelling with the Fly-In group this year are Lexington Mayor Jim Gray, Nicholasville Mayor Russ Meyer, Versailles Mayor Fred Siegelman, and Jessamine County Judge/Executive Neal Cassity, as well as representatives of Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Midway College, and the University of Kentucky.
For more information and to view the 2012 regional priorities, visit www.commercelexington.com/policy/washington_fly-in.aspx. Watch for live updates during the Washington Fly-In via Twitter at www.twitter.com/CommerceLex.