Joint One Louisville, Commerce Lexington DC Fly-In delegation advocate for federal priorities
LOUISVILLE, Ky (July 24, 2026) – On July 22-24, a delegation of about 80 business and community leaders from Lexington and Louisville region’s traveled to the nation’s capital for the first-ever joint Washington, D.C. Fly-In co-presented by BrightSpring Health Services and Columbia Gas of Kentucky and coordinated by One Louisville and Commerce Lexington. With the upcoming midterm elections on the horizon, the summer Congressional session will center tightly on the Republican majority’s core priorities—specifically the FY 2027 appropriations cycle, permitting reform, and a potential third reconciliation package. To shape these outcomes, proactive and immediate engagement with our federal representatives is essential.
“This partnership isn’t manufactured for optics. If you look at who’s on the plane, its companies with headquarters in Louisville that operate distribution centers in Lexington, Lexington-based firms with satellite offices in Louisville,” said Trevor Pawl, CEO of One Louisville. “Our members live this every day. They’re already operating as one Kentucky business community. This trip just formalizes what’s already happening on the ground.”
During the visit, leaders from the Louisville and Lexington regions met with members of Kentucky’s Congressional Delegation, administration officials, and their respective staff about priority issues. In addition, participants heard from various leaders and policy experts about key issues such as trade, regulatory reform, economic development, transportation infrastructure, housing affordability, energy policies, workforce issues, and appropriations.
Attendees on the trip represented a variety of sectors within Kentucky’s economy such as government, banking, health care, non-profit, education, manufacturing, energy, and professional services. Members of the delegation acted as “policy ambassadors,” sharing the issue concerns of their respective business communities with members of Congress and Administration officials, and advocating for policies or projects aimed at making the Commonwealth a better place to live and work.
“From a regional perspective, it sends a powerful message that we are unified across our region with our policy concerns and requests,” said Bob Quick, president and CEO of Commerce Lexington. “For more than two decades, representatives from the Greater Lexington region have travelled to Washington to meet with our Congressional delegation and let them know the key issues impacting our region. By partnering with One Louisville this year, we’ll be able to present an even stronger message on behalf of the Commonwealth.”
One Louisville unveiled its 2026-27 Federal Priorities during the trip, centered around four strategic pillars: growing business investment, lowering the cost of doing business, accelerating innovation, and creating conditions for growth. Key priorities include supporting open and fair trade; establishing a national data privacy standard; clarifying joint-employer standards for franchise businesses; sustaining federal health research and innovation funding at the University of Louisville; maintaining airport infrastructure investment at Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport; leveraging tax credits and opportunity zones for low-income neighborhood development; funding Ohio River restoration and maintenance; and addressing the housing shortage. Together, these priorities reflect what Louisville’s business community needs from Washington to remain competitive, attract investment, and build a stronger regional economy for the long term. To learn more about One Louisville’s advocacy efforts and federal positions, visit our Advocacy page.
For the Greater LEX region, key priorities included increasing state and federal investments within the Bluegrass Region for infrastructure and economic development needs for the Regional Competitiveness Plan’s action items, as well as advocating for policies that support economic growth and stability for the nine-county region, including strong domestic energy production, critical investments at Blue Grass Airport, federal investments to develop shovel-ready sites for job growth, research and innovation funding for the University of Kentucky, and effective solutions to address the housing affordability crisis.
While each region brings its own distinct priorities to Washington, the Louisville and Lexington delegations identified several areas of shared concern that underscore the strength of a unified Kentucky voice. Both regions are advocating for sustained federal investment in R1 university research and innovation — at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky, respectively — recognizing that federal research funding drives discovery, attracts talent, and supports high-quality jobs across the state. Both delegations also pressed for continued federal airport infrastructure investment, with Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport and Blue Grass Airport each playing a critical role in connecting their regions to national and global markets. Both regions are confronting a housing affordability crisis that demands federal action to reduce regulatory barriers and increase housing supply.
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 accelerate economic growth across the Louisville region through new investment, talent development, and expanded opportunity for all.
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About Commerce Lexington / Greater LEX:
Commerce Lexington Inc. is a nonprofit business organization that seeks to foster a vibrant economy, cultivate business growth, and enhance the quality of life in the Bluegrass region. Through collaboration with public and private partners, Commerce Lexington drives initiatives in economic development, regional competitiveness, leadership development, public policy, and member services. Facilitated by Commerce Lexington, the Greater Lexington Regional Policy Group develops the federal policy agenda, which includes input from business, community, and government leaders within the nine-county region of Bourbon, Clark, Fayette, Franklin, Jessamine, Madison, Montgomery, Scott, and Woodford counties.