Jessamine Chamber Events

The Central Kentucky Regional Public Policy Group just completed its annual Washington Fly-In July 8-9, 2009. The trip, in its fifth year under the current format, takes place every July with a diverse group of elected officials, business, education and non-profit leaders traveling to Washington to advocate on behalf of Central Kentucky projects. This year, nearly 60 leaders were advocating for key projects for the 2011 Federal Budget.

The Central Kentucky Washington Fly-In has had notable successes in its brief history since being created by Central Bank President and CEO Luther Deaton and Bob Babbage, National Managing Partner of Babbage CoFounder. Those successes include initial funding for a feasibility study of the I-75 Connector and funding for the Kentucky Blood Center; Newtown Pike Extension; the University of Kentucky; Blue Grass Airport and the Bluegrass Army Depot.

This year's list of priorities requested nearly $75 million dollars in Federal Funds. The specific projects that were included in the request for funding were the Bluegrass Army Depot in Richmond; Bluegrass Station on the Bourbon/Clark/Fayette County line; the Interstate-75 Connector between Nicholasville and Richmond; the Kentucky Blood Center's new Somerset Donation Center and expanded Bloodmobiles; Midway College, the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.

Other priorities the Central Kentucky leaders presented to the delegation included the Ohio River Bridges projects; opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act (Card Check); continued emphasis on water supply; a sensible energy strategy and reauthorization of the Small Business Innovation Research Grants.

The Central Kentucky Washington Fly-In is unique in its format, because it allows Central Kentucky leaders to meet with all six Kentucky Congressmen and both U.S. Senators over a two-day period. This year, the group was joined by a surprise special guest hosted by Congressman Ben Chandler, President Barack Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Time does not permit all of Kentucky's federal elected officials to visit Central Kentucky on a consistent enough basis to fully understand the needs of the Bluegrass region. Therefore, the trip affords regional leaders with the opportunity to present to and dialogue with each one of Kentucky's federal elected officials regarding the important needs of the Bluegrass region.