Commerce Lexington Inc.

March Madness in Lexington is always an exciting time, but how does hosting first and second round games impact the local economy? Bob Quick, Commerce Lexington President & CEO joined WEKU to discuss the impact from the influx in visitors.

????Feeling lucky to be part of the vibrant business community in Greater Lexington! The Commerce Lexington team is in the spirit, all decked out in green for St. Patty's Day!???

The Commerce Lexington family is saddened by the recent passing of Doug Steele, who was a tireless supporter of the chamber for many years and served as Chair of the Board of Directors in 1996. At the time of his appointment as Chair-Elect, Board Chair Mary Ellen Sloane said, “Doug Steele is highly qualified and will provide excellent leadership as chairman of our Chamber. As a successful small businessperson, Doug’s election shows that the Chamber leadership is truly representative of all types and sizes of business.” Prior to his time as Board Chair, Doug served as Chair of the Council of Smaller Enterprises (COSE), which planned events and programming, and other support efforts for small businesses. He was also widely recognized for his leadership role as Chair of the Chamber’s Health Care Committee, which developed a new health care purchasing alliance for members. During his tenure as Board Chair, some of the most notable accomplishments for the Chamber in 1996 included: ? Completion of the organization’s first-ever 5-year strategic plan. ? Establishment of the free enterprise initiative, which sought candidates for the school board and Urban County Council. ? Involvement in the Urban Service Area expansion process, which resulted in 5,400 acres of new land for development. ? Creation of the Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development. ? Major focus on community and minority business development initiatives. ? Enhanced regional cooperation with the establishment of the Coalition for Economic Competitiveness with the Louisville and Northern KY chambers. ? Creation of the Manufacturers’ Council to help address needs and provide a forum for area manufacturers. Attorney Bill Lear, who served as Board Chair in 1995, said this week, “Doug Steele was a very active Board member and an outstanding Chair. His wit and sense of humor made our meetings much more fun but no less productive. He played an important role in that period when we were moving from the Chamber to Commerce Lexington.” We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Anne Steele, and his family and friends.

Today we gathered in Frankfort at the Capitol Annex for the Greater LEX Legislative Lunch. This event gives us and our members the opportunity to thank our legislative leaders for their work during the 2025 legislative session. A special thanks to our partner AT&T for helping make this event possible.

Join us for the Spring Opportunity Exchange at Commerce Lexington! Network with industry leaders and learn from our lending experts about the current landscape of small business banking. This is an invaluable opportunity for growth and collaboration. Secure your spot today! https://lnkd.in/e3VXDSZ7 #OpportunityExchange #cmbd #clex #smallbusiness #minoritybusiness #womenownedbusiness

With the 2025 EMERGE Conference less than a week away, we're excited to share a special message from our Keynote Speaker, Matthew Mitchell! ?????? There is still time to secure your seat! Register today: https://bit.ly/4auG29y

New tariff policies continue to cause uncertainty for international trade, business operations, and the economy. Check out our latest blog post for the latest update on recent tariffs and executive orders ??

The 2025 EMERGE Conference presented by UK Online is just a week a way! It's a full-day tailored to emerging leaders, filled with innovative ideas and impactful community connections! We are honored to have former University of Kentucky Women's Basketball Coach, Consultant, and Author, Matthew Mitchell as our keynote speaker. There is still time to EMERGE with us! Register today: https://bit.ly/4auG29y #GoGrowEMERGE #EMERGE2025 #LeadershipDevelopment #Conference #BusinessProfessionals

Thank you to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council for approving the zone change for the Transy Housing Project and enabling this project to keep moving forward. Lexington’s Transformative Affordable Housing Partnership is a historic collaboration between local banks, affordable housing developers and local, state, and federal officials to address Lexington’s housing challenges. Through the partnership, local banks are providing $3 million in interest fee loan capital to purchase land for affordable housing. The banks are working with developers to create both homeownership and rental opportunities for families. The initial pilot project is the purchase of 12.5 acres on the site of the former Transylvania University baseball field. Once developers pay back land costs, the banks re-invest in other housing projects. The partnership caught the attention of the state legislature, which provided $10 million dollars in funding to be used for infrastructure on the Transy pilot project. Commerce Lexington is proud to be a part of this public-private collaboration. We were excited to recognize this historic partnership with the Community Impact Award during An Evening With Commerce Lexington.

Small business lending is critical for the small business owner. From working capital, expansions, equipment purchases, and renovations and upgrades, a small business loan can help chart your course for business success. Come and hear from lending experts on the state of small business lending. Register now https://lnkd.in/e3VXDSZ7 #opportunityexchange #cmbd #clex #smallbusiness #minoritybusiness #womenownedbusiness