Louisville Forum
August 8, 2007 12:00 p.m.
Vincenzo's

I appreciate the opportunity to join you today.

One of my favorite quotes from Louisville native ...late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis… is: “The most important political office is that of the private citizen.”

Your group takes that to heart in our community.

I respect your consistent commitment to thoughtful, civil conversation about big issues…opening the door to fresh air in community debate.

I will speak briefly… then leave plenty of time for questions.

I mentioned your interest in big issues. So let me talk briefly about an even half-dozen. Most of them are big….literally.

First… You saw our city grow with government merger 4 ½ years ago…to twice the population and six times the geographic area. Today, it is clearer than ever that we must think bigger-picture yet … regionally…on issues from roads … to jobs … to water quality. I’ve visited Bullitt County to talk to their judge-executive. I’ve gone to Oldham County to do the same thing. I’m headed to Spencer and Shelby Counties soon. It’s safe to say I’ve traveled to nearby counties… more in the past 2 years … than I did in all 13 years as mayor of the old city. Why? We have much in common – 1 out of every 4 Louisville workers commutes in from a nearby county. Plus: We need to build regional advocacy for projects that affect us all and that need state or federal support.

So: while you are all members of a Louisville Forum, I urge you to keep focusing on regional issues as well…as you have, I know… with topics like our Bridges project.

Secondly… We need to work in big picture ways across our state as well. Urban or rural, local governments across Kentucky have big challenges in common… health care and pension costs that are soaking up the growth in our tax bases…need for local governments to have more control over their financial destinies. …aging infrastructure from roads to bridges.

I’ve been to northern Kentucky, Lexington, Etown, Bowling Green and, of course, Frankfort countless times.

You can help: You can voice concerns to state office candidates, legislators and state leaders. They need to understand Louisville’s role as an economic engine for the state … and our perspective: that we truly do feel a real connection to our entire Commonwealth. Our common wealth depends on cooperation.

Third…We … we need to think both big AND small …to develop good jobs that will keep our community strong. Big … UPS $1.4 billion expansion…Humana expansion…Pharmerica. Small: Work with up-and-coming businesses… from retail (COOL) to startups.

This is a great town for entrepreneurs in many ways – but we have challenges too: recruiting top talent for fast-growing companies… and investment capital to help them grow.

I met with CEOs of about 20 startup companies recently -- they are working on everything from new cancer drugs to new IT systems. They see themselves competing with similar fast-track startups in Silicon Valley and India…globally. When they need top-notch talent, they compete internationally for graduates of top programs. And when they need money to take their new drugs to trial or add a new project team, many get it not in Louisville… but from investors on the east and west coasts…who then lobby for them to move away from Louisville… to a coast …. so they can carefully monitor their investments.

We don’t want to be a city that serves as an incubator for companies that eventually leave town ….just as they are ready to hit it big.

Our challenge: to ratchet up levels of local capital… to be the sort of community that can attract the world-class biomedical engineers that graduate from MIT or Stanford … to make sure our institutions of higher education are constantly re-engineering their programs to meet not just the job needs of today but of tomorrow.

One exciting step: Earlier this week U of L announced plans to transform the former Haymarket block into a life science research park… to take discoveries from the lab to the marketplace…a project expected to generate $2.5 billion in investment – and eventually create an estimated 9,000 skilled jobs

The fourth big thing … is that big developments are under way in our City of Parks: Nearly 200 Metro Park improvement projects completed in past 4 years worth $24 million and another 90 are under way. Biggest, of course: Floyds Fork Corridor…4,000 acres, 27 miles … from Shelbyville Road to Bardstown Road… parkland that will transform our city’s southeastern suburbs… shaping residential and commercial development. Think about the impact of Cherokee …Iroquois … Shawnee Park …on their neighborhoods. We will develop a 100-mile loop trail…for bikers, walkers…. Public-private partnership. World-class designer… the largest city park expansion in nation.

Stay posted through the city’s website… go to louisvilleky.gov and click on “parks” and then “city of parks.” Get involved in public meetings as takes shape... and then: Enjoy it.

The fifth big thing: downtown… big changes…of a scale we’ve never seen before. Museum Plaza and arena, downtown housing and expanded retail development from Cordish …Iron Quarter…others.

On a dollar level…$2 billion in development under way or planned. Elements in the big transformation in our downtown are continually winning national recognition: Waterfront Park one of Top 10 Urban Parks in America by Urban Land Institute. Fourth Street Live received the Urban Land Institute award for excellence. The Ali Center won best new attraction from North American travel journalists …21 C and Proof are getting national raves.

Sixth… the last big thought for the day: You have heard me mention “world-class” designers and global business competition …national awards for excellence.

The last big thought I’d like to leave you with is simple:

We must continue to set the bar high …to think boldly and aim for excellence … whether it’s design for a bridge or downtown skyscraper… or the quality of our Louisville Free Public Library system… public schools and higher education programs … or our vision for how government and civic leaders can engage and ignite our community in positive ways.

In the past Louisville has sometimes seen itself in modest terms: hospitable…pleasant…a nice place to live and raise a family.

We are better than nice: We are a great community … we are a City of Possibilities.

And that, as some of you already know, is at the heart of a campaign that is being developed....to promote Louisville…both internally and more importantly ...to the rest of the country and the world.

Metro Government has joined a partnership with Greater Louisville Inc and the Convention & Visitor's Bureau to "brand" Louisville to help attract new companies, new talent and increased tourism to our community.

The heart of this brand is...Louisville: It's Possible Here.

We are that kind of community. And we need to spread the word.

Now it’s time for you to share what’s on your minds. I’d be happy to answer questions.