The 2008 Bingham Fellows topic

Strong Regional Partnerships: Creating the landscape of the future 

A number of initiatives in the community’s history speak to the need to further explore the topic of regionalism. 

Greater Louisville Project

In 2002, the year leading up to the merger of Louisville and Jefferson County government, The Greater Louisville Project commissioned an assessment of the new government and the anticipated challenges.  From this report, Beyond Merger, came a new civic agenda designed to move Louisville into the top tier of American cities.  This report encouraged Louisville Metro to use the momentum from merger to face obstacles head-on so as to achieve its vision for the future. 

The Competitive City Report 2005 took findings from Beyond Merger and outlined key indicators and the necessary framework for the ultimate success of Louisville Metro.  The framework was organized into five key headings:

• Fix the Basics
• Build on Assets
• Create Quality Neighborhoods
• Invest in Working Families
• Balance Metropolitan Growth

The Competitive City Report 2007 built on the 2005 Report and was intended to track progress, adjust focus and celebrate successes.  The framework from the 2005 Report still exists and is now driven by the Deep Drivers of Change identified in the 2007 Report.  The Deep Drivers of Change are:  Improve Education at All Levels, Grow 21st Century Jobs and Balance Regional Growth.  The 2007 Reports states that the Deep Drivers of Change hold the greatest promise to strengthen the community’s standing by 2010.  For more information, visit www.greaterlouisvilleproject.com/archive.asp.  

Greater Louisville Inc.’s 2007 GLIDE Trip to Dublin

Annually since 1988, Louisville leaders have embarked on a journey to learn about the strengths, strategies and policies that make cities progressive.  In 2000, the journeys were renamed GLIDE (Greater Louisville Inc. Development Expedition) and were tied to Greater Louisville Inc. – The Metro Chamber of Commerce’s strategic plan.

The 2007 GLIDE trip took on an international flavor with travel to Dublin, Ireland and included business, government and other leaders from within and outside Louisville.  At the heart of the learnings from this trip was the realization that the resurgence of Ireland, and therefore Dublin, was the result of a unified approach to reform in areas such as education, taxes, economics, labor, business and sustainable development.  Leaders learned that the entire country was engaged in and committed to Ireland’s prosperity.  For more information on the GLIDE trip, visit www.greaterlouisville.com/GLIDE. 

The GLIDE trip’s outcomes translate well to the Bingham Fellow’s topic of regionalism.  If Kentucky’s mindset is adjusted, we will be positioned to work regionally to compete globally.