Kentucky is emerging as a growing force in global trade, fueled by several record-breaking announcements and a record year for economic development in 2025. In one two-week period alone in August 2025, companies announced more than $6.3 billion in projects and over 1,000 new jobs in the state. Meanwhile, Kentucky continues to upgrade its workforce through the Bluegrass State Skills, which was on track to train more than 11,700 residents in 2025.
Kentucky Business Investment: Offers tax incentives to manufacturing, non-retail service, technology, agribusiness and renewable energy companies that create a minimum of 10 jobs and invest at least $100,000.
Kentucky Small Business Tax Credit: Offers a tax credit cap of $25,000 annually for small businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees.
Cabinet for Economic Development
newkentuckyhome.ky.gov
Commerce Lexington
locateinlexington.com
Greater Louisville Inc.
greaterlouisville.com/economic-development
Louisville Economic Development Alliance
louisvillealliance.org
Three Fortune 500 company HQs in the state.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
