2012Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau Annual Report
Submitted June 11, 2013
2012 Locations and Goals
Our economic development division had a tremendous 2012! We announced 20 new locations and expansions in Lexington and the region, including Bingham McCutchen, Big Ass Fans, Webasto Roof Systems and our first Chinese manufacturing investment in Kentucky by Birtley Industrial Processing Equipment. We also met and exceeded the majority of our goals we set for new prospect leads, existing business visits and site visits for 2012. Please see the attached 2012 End of the Year Results PowerPoint.
Blue Grass Business Park Update
- We sold approximately 6 acres to Birtley Industrial for construction of their new coal processing manufacturing facility. The building is currently under construction and slated to open in the spring.
- Big Ass Fans also broke ground on land they purchased a few years ago for their new headquarters and manufacturing operations. The building is now open. Their R&D facility is also in our business park.
- Approximately 11 acres remain in the park.
Marketing Trips & Tradeshows – Where We Went in 2012
Our team had a busy 2012 traveling in various different types of marketing trips. We attended many site selection consultant focused events to market our region including Site Selectors Guild and Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC). We also participated in the statewide marketing initiative, KentuckyUnited, with several consultant events, as well as company visits. One of our largest marketing trips for the year was an international trade mission to China and Japan. A small delegation traveled to these countries to meet with potential prospects, as well as existing business headquarters. We visited 7 cities in 12 days and had a very successful trip. We have even worked with one project as a result of the visit that will be announcing a regional location soon. We also attended the International Biotech Tradeshow (BIO) and an SBIR/STTR National Conference in Louisville (aimed at recruiting high technology companies). Attached is our marketing calendar for 2012, as well as a list of site selection consultant events we attended (11 events that resulted in meeting over 130 consultants).
Network Group Events
In 2012, Commerce Lexington, in partnership with UK’s Von Allmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the Innovation & Commercialization Center, successfully held five luncheons and one reception of the Lexington Venture Club. We also held two Manufacturers’ Networking Group events and two Customer Contact Center events in 2012.
Entrepreneurial Initiatives
The Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (BBDP)has continued to support entrepreneurial events and activities, including initiatives through the in2lex group. The BBDP organized, sponsored and supported such events as Geeks Night Out, MobileX conference, Startup Weekend, Global Entrepreneurship Week activities, Game Developers events, as well as sent a new mobile application development company to a tradeshow in 2012.
Advertising & Marketing
In 2012, we advertised in select site selection magazines, as well as other publications. Placements included advertisements in the following publications:
Business Facilities
Site Selection
Area Development
Kentucky Alumni - our “Come Back Home” series
Keeneland program
Kentucky Guide to Economic Development
Lane Report Market Review
Equestrian magazine
2012 Annual Report Lexington Convention & Visitors Bureau