Louisville Downtown Partnership

Welcoming Steptoe & Johnson to Downtown! This fall, one of Louisville's largest law firms will occupy the entire 32nd floor of the PNC Tower, 101 S. Fifth St. Currently located in the Shelbyhurst Office Park, Steptoe & Johnson chose to make the move Downtown to be part of the thriving and vibrant atmosphere it offers. Local Managing Member Benjamin Riddle stated "After being here for 10 years, I think we are really committed to the Louisville market and I think the Louisville market needs a thriving Downtown to grow. We want to be a part of that.”

...and now for something completely different! Very excited to announce that Katie Molck and I have teamed up to launch Bob Fest – a celebration of Bob Dylan’s legacy and Louisville's music scene. Join us on March 22 from 4–8PM at The Last Refuge for live music and local art. Big thanks to our friends over at The Last Refuge, Hectare's Cannabis Innovations, and Louisville Downtown Partnership for helping make this happen. ### Bob Fest Brings Folk Music and Art to NuLu’s Bock Fest New event celebrates Bob Dylan’s influence with live music and local artists March 10, 2025 (Louisville, KY) –?A new music and arts event will launch this spring in Louisville’s NuLu neighborhood. Bob Fest, a free-to-attend celebration of Bob Dylan’s music and its lasting influence, will take place on Saturday, March 22, from 4-8 PM at The Last Refuge (600 E. Market Street). Coinciding with NuLu’s annual Bock Fest, Bob Fest will feature live performances, local art vendors, and a unique connection to the legendary musician through its venue. The music lineup includes Kathryn Brooks, Tyrone Cotton, and a Louisville Folk School ensemble, all performing a mix of original folk music and Bob Dylan covers. In addition to live music, local art vendors will be on-site, offering a selection of work that reflects Louisville’s independent creative scene, as well as a pop-up exhibition from The Outsider Art Museum & Gallery, Louisville’s first museum and gallery dedicated to “outsider art.” Located at the corner of East Market and Hancock Streets, The Last Refuge is housed in a historic church built in 1880. Its connection to Bob Dylan’s whiskey brand, Heaven’s Door, makes it a fitting location for an event dedicated to Dylan’s legacy and folk traditions. "We want to bring back some of the grassroots energy that has made Louisville’s creative community special," said Katie Molck, co-organizer of Bob Fest. "Dylan’s music has always celebrated individuality and artistic expression, much like the ‘Keep Louisville Weird’ spirit. And that’s exactly what we’re aiming to do. We want to create a space where musicians, artists, and the community can come together in a way that feels true to Louisville.” Bob Fest will take place alongside Bock Fest, Louisville’s annual spring festival celebrating the historic Bock beer style. Attendees can enjoy Bob Fest’s music and art while experiencing Bock Fest’s goat races, beer releases, and local food vendors. About Bob Fest Founded in 2025, Bob Fest is a music and arts event celebrating the legacy of Bob Dylan, Louisville creatives, and the folk tradition. Taking place alongside NuLu’s annual Bock Fest, Bob Fest features live performances from musicians playing original music and Dylan covers, as well as local art vendors showcasing Louisville’s creative community. Bob Fest is co-organized by Michael Moeller and Katie Molck, two Louisville-based creatives with deep roots in the city’s craft beverage, music, and event scenes.

TARC needs to hear from people like YOU! Due to financial challenges and a looming deficit, TARC must restructure its current route networks. Action must be taken now to ensure the system’s long-term sustainability. TARC 2025: Moving Forward Together is a key strategy to address this challenge and better meet our shared priorities. It is also an important opportunity to redesign Louisville’s transit network to update and innovate service to better match the current and future needs of the Louisville region. To share your thoughts on the new draft networks, take the survey here: https://lnkd.in/g9pJsQm2.

This is your LAST CHANCE to join us at the 2025 State of the Downtown! Ticket sales end March 13. LDP invites the community, civic leaders, business partners, and Downtown stakeholders to the 2025 State of the Downtown on March 27, 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Guest speaker Steve Leeper, President & CEO of Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC), will share learnings of the redevelopment of Cincinnati’s downtown and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods and we will hear 2024 successes and economic impact and updates on the 2024 Downtown Strategy. Presented by Republic Bank Foundation, the 2025 State of the Downtown also is sponsored by Angel’s Envy, Baird, Churchill Downs Inc., Fifth Third Bank, and Stock Yards Bank. To purchase your tickets, visit https://lnkd.in/gjNq8kFJ. Table sponsors include: Block by Block, Cushman & Wakefield, Dentons, Derby City Gaming, Forvis Mazars, Impetus for a Better Louisville, JLL, K. Norman Berry Associates Architects, KFC Yum! Center, LDG Development, Louisville Economic Development Alliance, Louisville Tourism, LOUMED, Northwestern Mutual, Machete Group, Old National Bank, PNC Institutional Asset Management, Republic Bank Foundation, Spalding University, and Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP.

This week, Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) celebrated progress on its $90 million revitalization project on West Broadway in Downtown! The new 40,000 sq. ft. science building will replace Hartford Hall and pave the way for a new math-focused academic building. The project includes green space, a parking garage with retail, and a screen showcasing community messages. JCTC President Ty Handy called it a "gateway" for students, fueling curiosity and determination. The green space will be the second largest in Downtown, offering a spot for students to gather and relax.

The word is out! Louisville remained firm as the No. 6 U.S. metro for economic development in the Tier 1 projects per capita category according to Site Selection Magazine's annual rankings. ? ?? Read the full rankings here: https://lnkd.in/gfzXC54F. #economicdevelopment #econdev #siteselection #Louisville #LouisvilleKY #newjobs #economicgrowth

LDP invites the community, civic leaders, business partners, and Downtown stakeholders to the 2025 State of the Downtown on March 27, 11:30am – 1:30pm at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Guest speaker Steve Leeper, President & CEO of Cincinnati Center City Development Corp (3CDC), will share learnings of the redevelopment of Cincinnati’s downtown and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods and we will hear 2024 successes and economic impact and updates on the 2024 Downtown Strategy. Individual tickets and table sponsorships are available for purchase. Table sponsors will receive a table of 10 seats with logo on table, and on event signage and materials. Presented by Republic Bank Foundation, the 2025 State of the Downtown also is sponsored by Angel’s Envy, Baird, Churchill Downs Inc., Fifth Third Bank, and Stock Yards Bank. To purchase your tickets, visit https://lnkd.in/gjNq8kFJ.

For the fifth consecutive year, Louisville Business First is celebrating the Power 50 class, an annual listing of the most influential business and civic leaders in the region. All of the 2025 class, Hall of Famers and 5 on the Rise honorees will be profiled in the March 28 edition of LBF and online around that time. And for the second year in a row, Louisville Downtown Partnership celebrates Rebecca Fleischaker as an honoree! The honorees were chosen by LBF’s editorial team and Publisher Lisa Benson through a nomination process as well as LBF reporting and research.

Become a Friend and join us! ?? In partnership with the Louisville Bats, LDP is offering a special tour of Louisville Slugger Field ahead of the 2025 season as a fun perk to the Friends of Downtown! This tour is available only to Friends and will take place on Thursday, March 13. Become a friend today and join us! Friends will receive a direct invitation. Louisville Slugger Field has been home to the Louisville Bats, the minor league baseball team and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, since its opening in 2000. The team began as the Louisville Redbirds in 1982 before rebranding (a couple times!) to the Bats that locals know and love. On this tour, attendees will receive a full behind the scenes look at the Slugger Field player facilities and the stadium as well as the history of baseball in Louisville. Become friend here: https://lnkd.in/dw4pQz_x.

The Louisville Gardens redevelopment is one step closer to becoming a reality. Today, Louisville Metro Government announced an investment of $10 million toward the $70 million project. Expected to begin later this year, the historic venue will be transformed into soundstages for film and TV production, featuring 40,000 sq. ft. of production and office space. Development firms Unbridled Films and Poe Companies, along with Sylmar Studios, are leading the project. This revitalization is expected to create over 50 full-time jobs, supporting Louisville’s growing film industry.