New KLC Economic Development Partnership

The Kentucky League of Cities is providing members with a new economic development tool. KLC Executive Director|CEO James D. Chaney and Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED) President and CEO Matt Tackett announced a partnership that gives city leaders a new way to invest in their community. KLC membership now includes membership in KAED.

KAED will provide each KLC member city a full suite of services aimed at helping municipal leaders make connections and find economic development opportunities. KAED has more than 900 members representing more than 600 unique companies. “The Association is thrilled to formalize an impactful convergence of two of the commonwealth’s leading pro-growth organizations,” stated Tackett. “This announcement reflects an enhanced alignment, which will allow Kentucky’s mayors and economic developers to better strategize, coordinate, and accelerate progress.”

Chaney stressed the League’s commitment to growing vital and thriving cities. “The partnership with KAED aligns with KLC’s mission of community innovation, effective leadership, and quality governance,” Chaney said. “The League, our members, and KAED will work together to capitalize on economic development opportunities in our cities. The coordinated, team approach will give our members a stronger voice in the process and provide additional ways for city officials to receive training and certification.”

KAED houses Kentucky’s economic development professional certification program, developed in partnership with the University of Kentucky and Murray State University. The Association also has the Kentucky Product Development Initiative, the commonwealth’s economic development marketing program known as Kentucky United, and the Kentucky Economic Recovery and Resilience Program.

“KLC members named economic development a key issue when the League developed its strategic plan in 2020,” Chaney added. “Members asked KLC for additional economic development resources, tools, and assistance. Providing all of our members KAED membership is one of the many ways we are responding to what we learned while developing our strategic plan. This is another service that will help our member cities grow and prosper.”

“Cities play a critical role in economic development, and we look forward to working closely with KLC and the members thereof to forward and seize upon Kentucky’s economic development opportunities,” Tackett responded. “With this partnership’s capacity-building benefits, we can build an important advantage relative to Kentucky’s competitor states, and we thank KLC for their future-focused leadership.”

The KAED partnership follows an announcement in 2021 of a KLC partnership with Murray State University (MSU) to provide tactical training and informational services through the MSU Center for Economic and Entrepreneurial Development (CEED).

You can contact Tad Long with any questions about community and economic development or visit the KLC community and economic development web page.

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