Annual Meeting presented by Baird marks new strategy for how Louisville does business
Tonight marked a new chapter in Louisville’s history with the official launch of One Louisville. One Louisville is a new organization formed through months of collaboration between business and community leaders to combine Greater Louisville Inc. (GLI) and the Louisville Economic Development Alliance (LEDA) under a unified structure. As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, One Louisville will offer traditional chamber of commerce services and lead the region’s economic development, talent attraction, and advocacy efforts. Trevor Pawl has been appointed CEO of the organization.
“The formation of One Louisville brings together the best of our Chamber and the best of our economic development engine to build on the amazing economic growth we’re creating in Louisville. Most importantly, it will break down silos and revitalize collaboration between the business community and Louisville Metro,” said Mayor Greenberg. “Trevor and his team bring the experience, vision, energy, and collaborative spirit needed to elevate our region to the next level.”
One Louisville represents the largest economic development team in Louisville’s history, opening new opportunities for investment and growth. Its formation comes after a year of record success for Louisville, with more than three billion dollars in net new capital investment and over 2,700 new jobs created in 2025. One Louisville will be governed by a volunteer board of directors, which will be chaired by Matt Thornton, Principal of Thornton Capital. Funding for the organization will come from both private and public contributions.
“Louisville is on an exciting trajectory of growth, but we needed a fresh strategy to keep pace with other cities who have grown faster than we have over the past decade. One Louisville will unlock new resources, opportunities, and partnerships to grow existing businesses, attract new ones, and create an environment where people want to live and work,” said Thornton.
Thornton will serve a two-year term as the inaugural Chair of the One Louisville Board of Directors. He previously served as President and CEO of Thorntons, a family-owned convenience store chain based in Louisville, before successfully negotiating the sale of the business in 2019. In 2019 he established Thornton Capital, an investment firm with concentrations in real estate, public securities, private equity, and venture capital. He has served on and led the boards of more than a dozen community organizations.
“One Louisville is more than a rebrand, it is a new way of doing business in a more efficient and customer-centered way. By having a single front door to all business resources, One Louisville will make it easier than ever to do business, work, and have a fulfilling life in Louisville,” said Pawl.
More than 1,000 business leaders came together at the Kentucky International Convention Center to pay homage to past iterations of the Chamber and usher in a new era of collaboration and opportunity for the region. Business and community leaders reflected on the storied history of GLI and fast rise of LEDA before unveiling the new mission, vision, and branding of One Louisville. Speakers included Pawl, Mayor Greenberg, Thornton, Lance Mann, Interim President and CEO of GLI and Louisville Market Leader of Dean Dorton, and Carlos E. Sanchez, President of AT&T Kentucky and 2026 Chair of GLI’s Board of Directors.
“It has been my honor to lead the business community and Chamber through this transition. For decades, the Chamber has played a pivotal role in shaping the Louisville community. I am confident One Louisville will continue to deliver the level of service businesses have come to expect, while accelerating growth for our region,” said Mann.
For more information on One Louisville, visit Onelouisville.org. To view a media kit with One Louisville’s downloadable brand assets, click here.
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About One Louisville
One Louisville is the regional chamber of commerce and official economic development organization driving business attraction, expansion, and innovation across the Louisville region. Formed in 2026 by combining Greater Louisville Inc. and the Louisville Economic Development Alliance, One Louisville is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit that offers a full suite of economic development, talent attraction, advocacy, and traditional chamber services. One Louisville’s mission is to make the Louisville region the best place in America to build a business, a career, and a fulfilling life. Learn more at OneLouisville.org.