Portrait Lexington’s bluegrass region
s a city only as strong as its County Government, the University Bob Quick, president and CEO of government? Or does the business of Kentucky, Commerce Lexington Commerce Lexington. That balance climate provide the driving force? and the Kentucky Small Business of work and play makes this a Or is it a flagship university that Development Center. Business promising region for employers. revs the engine? With all three specialists from the city and the The region’s largest employer is A Fortified Isectors working together, Lexington university have offices at Commerce UK, with 17,449 full- and part-time has hit the trifecta, and it’s using this Lexington to provide multiple staff and faculty. But small business strength to its advantage. services under one roof for emerging is big in the Bluegrass: Of the 14,821 The Bluegrass Business and growing entrepreneurs. businesses in Lexington, 95 percent Development Partnership was “We live in a region with positive have fewer than 50 employees. formed last year as a joint venture economic indicators and a world- The smallest of all? Independent Economy between Lexington-Fayette Urban renowned quality of life,” says professionals such as Rachel Savané, Strong in manufacturing, technology and entrepreneurial support, Lexington benefits from a diverse, balanced business base.
by Kathie Stamps
p h o t o b y j eff R o g ers
94 Sky june 2008 june 2008 Sky 95 Portrait Lexington’s bluegrass region
“seeblue.” is a color, a feeling, “I have found, in almost 30 a state of mind. years here, that (Lexington) has been a really easy sell, At the University both to my customers and of Kentucky, we're home not only indeed to our people.” to powerhouse — Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder basketball and and president of Alltech, the best of known for its expertise in d l
animal nutrition o
intercollegiate rn A eil
athletics; we're ’N O F O
also nationally Y ES T UR
ranked in more O than 70 academic p h o t o C programs. And we're charting an who uses Kentucky agate to make of downtown. It’s the largest peanut world headquarters here, accessibility jewelry in her one-person shop, butter production facility in the is key. Blue Grass Airport plays a aggressive and Savané Silver. A native of Illinois, she world, producing 270 million pounds major role in getting customers and exciting path and her husband came to Lexington of the sticky stuff each year. executives to the city. And it’s an easy toward becoming when her sister moved here to follow Other companies with trip. Michael Gobb, the airport’s a Top 20 the racehorse industry. “We felt the international presence have made executive director, says a regional warm welcome and hospitality of the city their home. Lexmark planning group found that 25 percent public research locals—acquaintances as well as International employs 3,000 at its of the world’s population can travel to institution. strangers,” Savané says. global headquarters in the north Lexington with only one connection. Traditional sectors, such as part of the city. A $5 billion Fortune “For a small hub airport, we have a manufacturing, maintain a strong 500 technology company, Lexmark remarkable level of service,” Gobb “seeblue.” is presence. The largest manufacturing provides printing and imaging says. That’s true on the ground as well a lot of things. employer in central Kentucky is products and services for businesses as in the air. With an executive lounge But most of all Toyota Motor Manufacturing. It’s and consumers. and an upscale restaurant, business Toyota’s largest facility in North Valvoline, a division of the global travelers can stay productive on the it's about helping America, both in size and volume, chemical company Ashland Inc., road. The airport plans $50 million in students realize with the capacity to build more than moved its world headquarters to capital construction in the next two their potential 500,000 vehicles a year. Toyota Lexington in 1980. At the Lexington years, including improvements to the and harness built its first car at the Georgetown campus, Valvoline technologists airport entrance. plant in May 1988; since then, developed the first motor oil for A strong technology the power of it’s provided seed money for the high-mileage cars, as well as sector plays a large part in their dreams. University of Kentucky Center for racing oils. Lexington’s economy. Polymer Manufacturing, which teaches Tempur-Pedic also calls Components in Nicholasville students and companies about the Lexington its world home. is a supplier to chemical Toyota Production System, known as The company’s equipment manufacturers. lean manufacturing. mattresses and Semicon Associates started in A softer product is also made in pillows are sold a Lexington garage in 1953 and Lexington: peanut butter. The J.M. in more than 70 was acquired by California-based Smucker Co. makes several varieties countries. Ceradyne in 1986. The facility of Jif peanut butter at a facility east With this many manufactures dispenser cathodes www.uky.edu An Equal Opportunity University Jeweler Rachel Savané uses Kentucky agate in her Savané Silver pieces.
june 2008 Sky 97
Untitled-1 1 5/1/08 11:10:44 AM and samarium cobalt magnets, that end, the company emphasizes a primarily for the microwave tube sustainable, traceable, natural food ÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊ5NIVERSITY OF +ENTUCKÞ industry. supply in its animal products and 2%3%!2#( -%!.3 "53).%33 A diverse array of companies does research in human nutrition, keeps Lexington’s economy strong, aquaculture and biorefinery. but it’s the welcoming business Another company leader who’s sold climate that spurs growth. Dr. Pearse on Lexington: Jim Gray, president and !GRICULTURE!G BIOTECH Lyons, founder and president of the CEO of Gray Construction and the "IOENGINEERING biotechnology company Alltech, city’s vice mayor. Gray Construction, "IOMEDICAL says Central Kentucky is similar a design-build firm founded in 1960 #LINICALTRANSLATIONAL to his native Ireland, both in looks in Glasgow, Kentucky, moved to $IAGNOSTICS and in personality. “I have found, in Lexington in 1988. The company $RUG DESIGNDEVELOPMENT almost 30 years here,” he says, “that has handled projects for Toyota, J. %NERGY RENEWABLESBIOFUELS (Lexington) has been a really easy sell, Crew and Procter & Gamble, among %NVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY %QUINE HEALTH both to my customers, and indeed to others. “Our model is very much built -ANUFACTURING SYSTEMS our people.” after the Toyota model,” says Gray. .ANOTECHNOLOGY Alltech’s best known for its animal “It’s a lot of teamwork.” He sums up .EUROSCIENCE nutrition products, but its goal, Lyons Lexington this way: “There’s a highly 0LANT MADE PHARMACEUTICALS says, is to “help feed the world in a educated population, which drives a 4HERAPEUTICS safe and effective manner.” Toward good business climate.” 6ISUALIZATION 6IRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS Mayor Jim Newberry is focused on building a diverse economy. 02/6%. 2%35,43 2EFERENCES !VAILABLE
s %CON$EV UKYEDU s %CON$EVUKYEDU
Eyes On the Future When Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry was elected in November 2006, it was by the largest margin since the city and county governments merged in 1974 as Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Voters’ enthusiasm for him is matched by his commitment to the city’s future. “Lexington’s focus is horses, healthcare and high-tech opportunities,” says Newberry, who has undergraduate and law degrees from UK. “We are tied to the horse industry, our signature industry. It sets Lexington apart from any other city in the world.” Economic development in the Bluegrass is a delicate balance, and Newberry
looks to the high-tech industry for a source of employment over the next few n years. “We’re not looking to be the next Atlanta,” he says, “but I reject building o acks
a wall around the city.” y j Newberry’s vision for the city’s future: to have “a diverse population from cla every perspective: economic, ethnic and social.” — Kathie Stamps h o t o b y P
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