Louisville Is Just Cool. “ It’S Cool Because the People Who Live There Are Proud of Where They Live, and Are Constantly Working to Make the City the Best It Can Be

Louisville is just cool. “ It’s cool because the people who live there are proud of where they live, and are constantly working to make the city the best it can be. Whether you’re visiting briefly or have lived there for years, this community spirit is palpable.” — “Top 100 Places to Live,” Livability

It’s not bragging if you can back it up.” “ — Muhammad Ali

Cover photo courtesy: Louisville Tourism The start of a new decade is a great time to review our progress and look ahead. This is something we do regularly at Metro Government, where we believe in learning from the past, living in the present and preparing for the future. That approach, along with hard work and a long list of community partners, has helped produce an incredible economic and cultural renaissance in Louisville. You can see evidence downtown with new landmarks like the Abraham Lincoln Bridge, opened in 2016, Omni Louisville Hotel, opened in 2018, and Lynn Family Stadium, which opens in 2020 as the new home of Louisville City FC and the future home of Proof Louisville FC. You can see this renaissance all over the city, from the Norton Sports Health Athletics & Learning Complex being built in west Louisville, to the restored Colonial Gardens in south Louisville, and the gorgeous trails of the Parklands of Floyds Fork in the east. There are many ways to quantify our city’s progress, including 83,000 new jobs and 3,000 new businesses since 2011, and $15 billion in capital investment since 2014, including about $1 billion in west Louisville. There’s a tremendous sense of optimism here in Louisville, which is emerging as one of the world’s next breakout cities. Over the pages of this report, you’ll see why that is. Like every city, we have challenges, including the need to ensure our success is shared by all. That’s why we’re working to become a city of greater equity and compassion, where everyone in every neighborhood has every chance to reach their full potential. We’ve invested $45 million in affordable housing over the last five years, and we’re working to eliminate disparities in health outcomes among different neighborhoods. We’ve launched initiatives like Lean Into Louisville and the Synergy Project, to help strengthen our city through honest conversations about race, police-community relations and other aspects of our shared history. And we’re working to sharply increase local efforts to address the global climate emergency. Importantly, we’re working with Metro Council, our Governor and the state legislature to resolve the budget challenges resulting from the Kentucky Retirement Systems’ mandated increase in our pension obligation, and to find common ground to pass common-sense legislation to make our city safer. As we have in the past nine years, we will work to meet any challenge and create every opportunity by working together — building the city that the people of Louisville demand and deserve. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your mayor.

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 1 Economic Development/Innovation & Technology Building the economy of the future • Microsoft announced Louisville Institute launched Louisville will become one of its regional Data Commons, an open-data hubs for artificial intelligence, website designed to store and Cheers! • Louisville ranked 12th out Internet of Things, and data share data generated by com- of 100+ active cities on the science. munity members and non-prof- Sunlight Foundation’s Open it organizations. • Louisville joined New York, Los Data City Census Angeles, Chicago and 11 cities • Entrepreneur-focused Center • Louisville named No. 5 on as founding members of the by SIDIS — the new home for Financial Times’ Top 10 list Open Mobility Foundation, several innovative businesses of large business-friendly which works to develop open- — officially opened in Nulu. North American cities source urban mobility tools for • Tech company El Toro transportation challenges. announced a new $10.5 • The Louisville Metro Office for million headquarters in Civic Innovation & Technology Nulu, with plans to add 400 and the University of Louisville’s employees, including software Christina Lee Brown Envirome engineers, programmers, data scientists and sales positions.

Coming up: The Louisville Fiber Information Technology initiative will expand our fiber network by more than 400 percent — through a $5 million investment in partnership with KentuckyWired — will be completed in 2020.

Microsoft partnership signing

2 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Radically scaling tech talent pipeline • In July, the Mayor announced • KentuckianaWorks • Mayor Fischer took part in creation of LouTechWorks to announced creation of Tech UofL’s announcement of a work more strategically with Louisville, a new IT Support partnership with IBM to create our education, nonprofit and training program funded the IBM Skills Academy, employer partners to rapidly through the AdvancingCities providing training to faculty expand Louisville’s tech talent grant, and located at the Nia in artificial intelligence, pipeline. Center in west Louisville. cybersecurity, Internet of • JPMorgan Chase’s • Code Louisville placed its Things and more. AdvancingCities initiative 400th graduate in a new tech awarded Louisville a $3 million career. The free coding Cheers! grant to boost digital inclusion training program has now • CBRE named Louisville an initiatives in low-income placed participants at more “up-and-coming tech talent neighborhoods and build than 200 companies. market” economic resilience. • SmartAsset listed Louisville among “Top 10 places for new businesses”

Tech Louisville

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 3 Economic Development 3,000 new business, 83,000 new jobs since 2011 $15 billion in capital investment since 2014

• UPS Worldport increased its its investment to its two plants market in Shelby Park. The city commitment to Louisville by in Louisville to $2.95 billion provided a $81,500 facade announcing a $750 million since 2007. loan through METCO, its small investment that will result in • Business owners Mike and business loan program. 1,000 new jobs. Medora Safai transformed • Ford announced a $550 million the old Axton Candy and investment in Louisville in Tobacco Warehouse into the preparation for a new Escape bustling Logan Street Market, and Lincoln Corsair, bringing a 27,000-square-foot urban Cheers! • Louisville was named the fifth most business friendly large American city of the future by fDi Intelligence magazine

• Louisville Forward, the city’s economic and community development arm, was recognized for the fifth consecutive year as a “Top Economic Development Group” by Site Selection magazine

Logan Street Market 4 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT • Churchill Downs, home of the • Recognizing the growth and • The restored Colonial Gardens Kentucky Derby, is expanding needs in nursing careers, opened across from Iroquois its historic racetrack with a Galen College of Nursing broke Park, bringing exciting new $300 million investment in a ground on a new campus and local restaurants to south new hotel, additional seating national headquarters in east Louisville. and a historical horse-race Louisville. • Spalding University opened a gaming venue. • The University of Louisville seven-acre athletic complex in • International industrial Trager Institute for Optimal Limerick that will be home to engineering group Fives Aging began renovating a new its men’s and women’s soccer Intralogistics Corp. is adding space to accommodate its and softball teams. as many as 370 jobs as part leading-edge research, care of a $15 million expansion coordination, physical and project. mental health clinical practice and educational programming.

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 5 West Louisville • The Mayor, Louisville Urban • OneWest community League and community leaders development corporation broke ground on the Norton announced an investment Sports Health Athletics & in the former Goldsmith build- Learning Complex, a transfor- ing at the corner of 18th Street mative project coming in 2020 and Broadway to drive com- to the Russell neighborhood. mercial and retail development. • In March, the Mayor joined • Housing Partnership Inc. community members to announced plans to redevelop break ground on Phase 1 of a long vacant warehouse at the Beecher Terrace rede- 1405 W. Broadway into a velopment, transforming it $28 million mixed-use into mixed-income housing, development. funded by a $29.5 million • The city sold the Doerhoefer- Choice Neighborhoods grant. Hampton House to Theta In December, the city received Omega Inc. for its headquar- an additional $4 million federal ters, as well as for office and grant to further the meeting space for the local redevelopment. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity • The Republic Bank Foundation chapter, Omega Psi Phi’s Men YMCA opened at 18th and of Quality Mentoring Initiative, Broadway, a critical inter- and the Summer Leadership section the city realigned to Academy for young men. boost investment in west Louisville. The intersection is also now serviced with TARC’s Bus Rapid Transit line.

The Republic Bank Foundation YMCA

6 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT • Louisville Central Community • Cellar Door Chocolates • Louisville Knot, an interactive Center broke ground on the announced it was expanding public art installation, Grand Lyric, a 350-seat operations into the Heine transformed the Ninth Street community theater in Russell. Brothers’ Coffee corporate underpass into a welcoming office in Portland. pedestrian thoroughfare designed to help bridge the gap between downtown’s Museum Russell: A Place of Promise, a justice-based initiative focused on Row and west Louisville. generating investment in the people and places of Russell, received several grants to further its work, adding staff to support workforce development and community outreach.

Louis Coleman SmART Bus Stop in Russell

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 7 Tourism/Bourbonism $534 million total economic impact; 16.4 million annual visitors; 27,500 Louisvillians make their livelihood in tourism

• Louisville’s airport was renamed • Through its first year following Coming soon! Louisville Muhammad Ali a $207 million renovation and This spring, Lynn Family International Airport to honor expansion, the Kentucky In- Stadium opens in Butcher- our city’s most famous son. ternational Convention Center town as the new home of • American Airlines launched hosted more than 130 groups Louisville City FC, the future nonstop services between Los and generated more than home of Proof Louisville FC, Angeles International Airport $92 million in estimated and anchor of a new and Louisville Muhammad Ali economic impact. entertainment district. International Airport in April. • The 23-acre Waterfront Botanical Gardens celebrated • The Louisville City FC owner- the opening of the Graeser ship group and the Mayor Family Education Center and announced the city will get Mary Lee Duthie Gardens. a National Women’s Soccer League franchise, Proof Louis- ville FC. The top-tier pro team starts play at Lynn Family Cheers! Stadium in 2021. • TripAdvisor calls Louisville a top place to visit in the U.S. • Expedia names Louisville an “awesome one-week vacation destination” • USA Today lists Louisville among “best weekend get- aways for families in the U.S.”

8 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT • Kentucky Performing Arts • Two much-anticipated • The Bourbon City Cruisers tuk opened Old Forester’s boutique hotels, Moxy and tuk tour launched downtown Paristown Hall, a $12 million, Hotel Distil, opened down- giving visitors a new way to 28,000-square-foot music town along Whiskey Row. experience Louisville’s urban and entertainment venue • Michter’s Fort Nelson Distillery bourbon distilleries. that can accommodate as became the latest bourbon • Breweries coming soon in many as 2,000 patrons. attraction to open on historic Butchertown and West Sixth Main Street, bringing the total in Nulu. of bourbon attractions to nine.

More than 289,000 people attended Louisville’s new Trifesta, three back-to-back weekends of outdoor music festivals – Hometown Rising, Bourbon & Beyond and Louder Than Life – held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in September. Music fans from across the U.S. heard top-flight acts, including Foo Fighters, Guns N’Roses, Robert Plant, Ice Cube, Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw and more, and enjoyed tastes of Louisville’s famed bourbon and food scene.

Trifesta is a big part of our strategy to bring young “ people to live in our city …Well over half of the people were from out of town, so it showcases our city and we just continue to hear people say, wow, we had no idea Louisville offered all of this, I’m going to come back.” —Mayor Fischer

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 9 Safer City • The Louisville Metro Police • Emergency Medical Services at MSD, and professional Department is using nearly graduated its first Advanced development with officials who $1.4 million in federal grants to EMT class. experienced mass shootings boost its victim advocates team • Metro moved its backup 911 in Orlando and Las Vegas. to eight full-time staffers, and to Center to a fully renovated • Louisville was among 16 provide training and emergency space at the Jefferson County cities selected by the U.S. housing assistance for victims, Government Center on Department of Justice and along with a greater focus on Outer Loop. Arnold Ventures to expand human trafficking. • Emergency Services and other medication-assisted treatment • Louisville Division of Fire de- public safety agencies have for Corrections inmates in a bid buted the new Quint 7 in the coordinated active shooter to make opioid-use-disorder Highlands and received $12 mil- training and preparedness, screening, treatment, lion in federal grants to replace including a federally funded medications and support a a fireboat and radios Complex Coordinated part of routine medical care. division-wide. Terrorist Attack exercise, a full-scale training exercise

10 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT We owe it to our youth “ to do all we can as a community to keep them, their families and our neighborhoods safe, because witnessing violent crime, worrying about violent crime or being part of a violent crime should never be normal for any child.”

Youth Implementation Team — Mayor Fischer Safer City • Thanks to a grant from the U.S. • Corrections is partnering with • 10 young men were selected Department of Labor and the Goodwill for a job readiness to participate in the THRIVE Compass Rose Collaborative, initiative, enrolling inmates in Fellowship, a three-year the city’s Reimage program be- Goodwill’s Soft Skills Academy restorative justice pilot gan offering paid career train- who upon graduation are program incorporating a case ing in manufacturing, construc- assisted with obtaining management system and tion, IT and social services to good-paying jobs. leadership training in an effort youth who have been involved • In a partnership between to put justice-involved youth on in the court system. Jefferson County Public Schools, a new path. • In the most recent program the Office for Safe & Healthy Members of the Mayor’s Youth year of Reimage, coordinat- Neighborhoods, Louisville Implementation Team, who act ed by the Office for Safe and Urban League and other or- as advisors to the Mayor, elevat- Healthy Neighborhoods and ganizations, more than 40,000 ed the local conversation about KentuckianaWorks, more than Louisville youth took part in youth vaping and prompted a 140 young people complet- nearly 100 activities, trainings, unanimous resolution from the ed job readiness training, 87 art projects and anti-violence U.S. Conference of Mayors calling were placed in employment, campaigns during National for action to drastically reduce and 55 gained new credentials Youth Violence Prevention youth e-cigarette use. or jobs. Week. The 2019 team (pictured above) is the most inclusive cohort yet with 22 students, representing 16 schools and 13 council districts.

More than 50 representatives from 13 key community partners have begun training in the Trauma Resilient Community model as part of a $5 million, 5-year federal grant the city was awarded in late 2018 to promote resilience and equity among Louisville families and young people most affected by trauma, inequity, and violence in west and south Louisville. The city-wide effort is being led by the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN). 2018 PROGRESS REPORT | 11 In August, the Louisville Zoo celebrated the birth of the second African elephant calf in the Zoo’s 50 years. Fitz came into the world Aug. 2 after a 22-month gestation for mom Mikki. And, as it celebrated its 50th anniversary, the Zoo opened two new exhibits: Snow Leopard Pass near Glacier Run and Colobus Crossing, which includes an expanded Outpost desk where visitors can see the Zoo’s two new monkey species, colobus and red-tailed, zip around the exhibit. Compassion • In August, Dare to Care part- • The 2019 Mayor’s Give A • For the second year in a row, nered with Kroger to open Day Week of Service logged Louisville Metro Animal the new Zero Hunger Mobile 235,000 volunteers and acts Services achieved the status Market, part of an ongoing of compassion, including of a no kill shelter for time city effort to address food thousands of students who and space. insecurity. generated more than 44,600 • More than 450 residents age • In partnership with the city hours of local and global 55 and over with Louisville and the Novak Family Founda- service. Metro’s Retired and Senior tion, Dare to Care also broke • In October, the Mayor celebrat- Volunteer Program, or RSVP, ground on its new Community ed the grand opening of the logged 65,000 hours of Kitchen in Parkland — tripling new Louisville Metro Animal volunteerism. the size of its current facility. Services shelter at 3516 • More than 6,000 students • After a Hindu Temple in Newburg Road. The facility received backpacks and Buechel was vandalized in features all climate-controlled other school supplies and February, more than 1,000 kennels with isolation rooms to resources at the Back to people responded to Mayor prevent the spread of illness, School events held across Fischer’s request that the a modern veterinary wing that the city coordinated by community paint over the exceeds industry standards, Neighborhood Place and JCPS. hate and show solidarity with and more. The new shelter neighbors. also places all Animal Services team members on the same • YouthBuild received a $1.5 campus, improving efficiency. million federal grant to continue assisting homeless young people.

12 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Resilience & Community Services • Louisville’s Office of Resilience & substance use disorder Everyone counts Community Services is collab- assessments, legal expertise In preparation for the 2020 orating with the Coalition for and more. Census, the Mayor has estab- Homeless and other partners • Continued funding for rapid lished a Municipal Complete Count Committee, which is to help people experiencing re-housing services and made up of city team members homelessness, including several emergency shelter for and partners from educa- measures funded through a homeless families, provided tion, higher education, faith, $1 million city allocation in FY20, by Volunteers of America. building on work begun with a non-profit, business and • With support from the city, immigrant communities. $500,000 allocation in the the Healing Place completed Participation in the Census previous fiscal year: a $29 million project to expand is critical to ensuring we get • Transitional storage at the homeless and addiction treat- the federal funding our city Salvation Army where ment services for men. deserves and needs, as well as individuals can keep determining how our electoral • Improvements in the Low belongings when they go districts are drawn. Income Home Energy Assis- into shelter or apply for jobs. tance Program, or LIHEAP, led Resilience strategy • Funding for three low-barrier to an increase in the number of Mayor Greg Fischer and The shelters. low-income households assisted Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 • Funding for street outreach — 15,088 unique households Resilient Cities (100RC) released teams enhanced by social from November 2018 through Louisville’s first citywide Resilience Strategy, a new workers and other profes- April 2019. approach to address the sionals who can provide city’s most pressing and mental health counseling, interconnected challenges.

Thanks to the Mayor’s Task Force on Homelessness and the willingness of multiple city departments to “work together with outreach workers and shelter providers, we are creating new solutions that are helping us to identify those in greatest need and find housing and support to change their lives.” —Natalie Harris, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Homeless

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 13 Globalization • Louisville was proud to host the Immigrant Professional • Certified community devel- Define American’s inaugural Midternship Fellow program opment financial institution national summit, bringing this summer to provide an LHome launched the JobUp! more than 400 leaders from American work experience to Loan to provide low-interest across the nation and across new residents. loans to help immigrants and the political spectrum to fight • The Office for Globalization refugees cover costs of recerti- for more accurate and more helped re-establish the fication in professions such as humanizing media coverage previously inactive Kentuckiana medicine and education. about immigration and Hispanic Business Council, • Faith leaders and community citizenship. bringing together Hispanic members collaborated to • In partnership with Jewish entrepreneurs and launch a local chapter Family & Career Services, the professionals to help of the Muslim Jewish Louisville Metro Office for businesses grow and Advisory Council. Globalization piloted succeed.

• 125,000 people celebrated

Louisville’s many cultures at

WorldFest

• Nearly 2,000 people gathered at Iroquois Park for The Big Table, an annual welcoming event supported by the Global Human Project and the Office for Globalization aimed at bringing people together to share food and conversation.

14 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Equity/Lean Into Louisville In January, Mayor Fischer launched Lean Into Louisville, an unprecedented series of activities, art exhibits, conversations and presentations to explore and confront the history of and legacy of all forms of discrimination and inequality.

Lean Into Louisville initiatives • Check Your Blindspots, a bus former New Orleans Mayor have included: tour intended to help people Mitch Landrieu to discuss their • Synergy Project, a community recognize, acknowledge and perspectives on societal engagement initiative aimed therefore minimize, uncon- divisions and what must at further strengthening police scious bias. be done to confront and community relationships • Hosting speakers including discrimination. grounded in trust and author Farah Pandith, legitimacy. storyteller Carolyn Finney and

Cheers! For the fifth year in a row, Louisville scored a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. Louisville celebrated 20 years of its Fairness Ordinance this year with a celebration outside Metro Hall and special exhibit and forum at the main Louisville Free Public Library. The Mayor also helped celebrate the launch of the city’s first LGBTQ chamber of commerce, Civitas.

Recognizing the positive effect that promoting inclusion “ has had on its economy and neighborhoods, Louisville, Kentucky has become a leader in the welcoming movement.” — Welcoming America

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 15 The Dirt Bowl

Quality of life In partnership with the Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Metro Parks & Recreation renovated the historic lodge at Victory Park; Papa John’s Foundation began upgrades at Tyler Park; For Building Community, and completed a new music the Jamon Brown Foundation, garden at Shelby Park. Jefferson County Public • With assistance from the Schools and the YMCA of Louisville Parks Foundation, Greater Louisville to provide new turf soccer fields were alternative summer swimming completed in William Harrison options for area youths. and Wyandotte parks, as well • The online RecTrac registration as a nature play area in Russell portal has been implemented, Lee Park. allowing users to reserve • Parks & Recreation celebrated shelters, sign up for sports the 50th anniversary of the leagues and exercise classes iconic Dirt Bowl basketball for the first time. tournament at Shawnee Park. • When budget cuts forced the closing of city pools, Parks & Recreation teamed with the

16 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Clean, green and sustainable • Mayor Fischer declared a • More than 1.2 million square- • The Association of Air Pollution Climate Emergency during a feet of cool roofs have been Control Agencies (AAPCA) gave local, youth-led Global Climate installed through the city’s Cool the Air Pollution Control District Strike event in September and Roof Rebate Program or on city- a “best practices” award for its called for more urgent action to owned property during the past workshop series to help the combat climate change. three years. public learn more about • The Office of Advanced Planning • Louisville MSD and the U.S. air quality. and Sustainability in November Army Corps of Engineers took • Louisville Metro closed on released a draft Greenhouse a big step in improving the two agreements through its Gas Emissions Reduction Plan Beargrass Creek watershed, Energy Project Assessment with strategies that will serve as announcing plans for the District program, which con- a foundation for how Louisville Three Forks Beargrass Creek nects developments to outside will aggressively reduce its Ecosystem Restoration Fea- financing for green building. emissions in the coming years. sibility Study to be funded in The loans, totaling $2 million, It also is developing a climate part by the federal will be invested in wind, solar adaptation plan, Prepare Lou- government. and energy-efficiency projects. isville, to address existing and • Overall air quality continues to anticipated effects of climate improve. Louisville had a Brightside planted 262,700 change. 4 percent decrease in ozone in daffodils along local • TreesLouisville, University the three-year period ending interstates, welcoming of Kentucky, Michelin North in 2019, compared to the commuters as they enter America and Waste Man- previous three-year period, and exit downtown. agement Inc. announced a according to state and local air major donation to begin work monitoring systems. to reforest a 75-acre site on Camp Ground Road, near the American Synthetic Rubber Co.

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 17 Lifelong learning

The 40,000-square-foot Northeast Regional Library opened in Lyndon, offering 120,000 books and materials, an innovative maker space, a Quill’s coffee shop and more. It’s the final of three new regional libraries in Louisville Free Public Library’s Master Facilities Plan.

• The St. Matthews Library re- provides resources to help • The city’s signature Cultural Pass opened after a $10-million ren- family members and caregivers program resulted in 39,294 free ovation, adding 7,800 square- help young children be school- visits by young people and their feet and a new entrance. ready by building vocabulary families to area cultural insti- • The city and partners continued through everyday interactions. tutions. The city and Fund for to build Evolve 502, a nonprofit • The Academies of Louisville ini- the Arts also announced a pilot initiative established to help tiative, a Jefferson County Public program to expand the Cultural provide comprehensive wrap- Schools program that counts Pass to select cultural experi- around services to help stu- KentuckianaWorks as a partner, ences through the year. dents be prepared for school, has expanded to include 15 along with a two-year schol- high schools, more than 17,000 arship to help students with students and more than 100 6,909 college tuition. business partners. SummerWorks set a new record for total youth • In partnership with the National • Nearly 3,000 people were employed through its Center for Families Learning, connected with college services Champion Employers. Bloomberg Philanthropies and through the KentuckianaWorks others, the city launched Say College Access Center. and Play with Words, a research-backed initiative that

18 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Health • Healthy Start, which focuses on • Public Health & Wellness re- • More than 10,000 women and infant and maternal mortality, leased a Health Impact Assess- children were provided supple- birth outcomes, and family-well- ment of the Kentucky Pregnant mental nutrition and nutrition being in five ZIP codes in west Workers Act, which went into education through the WIC pro- Louisville, was recognized with effect in July and is meant to gram, which has proven results $5.3 million in federal grants, help ensure that any pregnant in reducing obesity rates for including funding to integrate woman can work to support her children ages two to four. mental health services into family without risking her health A new Journal of American home visits. and that of her developing child. Medicine study has also shown • Louisville achieved a gold medal • In partnership with the Univer- that children of low-income from CityHealth for its strength- sity of Louisville, Public Health & mothers participating in WIC ened Complete Streets policy. Wellness’ new Academic Health are one-third less likely to die CityHealth, an initiative of the Department status ensures that during their first year of life than de Beaumont Foundation and public health students are learn- babies born to mothers without Kaiser Permanente, ranks the ing relevant, practical skills and WIC benefits. nation’s top 40 largest cities on the health department stays • Public Health & Wellness how they stack up in policymak- current with new public health joined Jefferson County Public ing shown to improve people’s research. Schools, the Foundation for health and quality of life. a Healthy Kentucky, Kentucky Youth Advocates, the YMCA, the American Lung Association and many other community partners to educate parents and youth about the health dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes.

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 19 Paving/Sidewalks/Infrastructure • The $35-million New Dixie • Public Works completed the Highway Project wrapped up South Fourth Street street- Cheers! most major construction, with scape project, improving For the second year in a row, TARC launching Louisville’s sidewalks, granite curbs, tree Louisville Metro won an AARP first Bus Rapid Transit line. wells, and updated street grant for improving pedestrian • In addition to its work on re- lighting between Chestnut and services. Public Works used the aligning 18th and Broadway in Broadway. funding to build a sidewalk and west Louisville, Metro invested • The city also redeveloped side- new ramp connecting to Califor- $19.5 million to repave 180 walks on Hill Street between nia Park, along with additional lane miles of roadway and up- Sixth and Seventh streets, markings and traffic control measures. date 1,300 sidewalk ramps to where pedestrians who have be Americans with Disabilities dealt with a closed sidewalk Act compliant throughout the under the CSX Railroad tracks community. for years can now pass safely. • The city invested $1.2 million • Third Street between Broadway to repair 500 sidewalks, and and Muhammad Ali has been connected sidewalks through- converted to two-way traffic out the city, including sections to improve vehicular access, of Six Mile Lane, Crums Lane, reduce speeds and safety, and Taylorsville Road, South 45th reduce driver confusion as the Street and Ormsby Lane. city attracts more tourists.

20 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Performance Improvement Louisville Metro Government was one of only four U.S. cities to achieve 2019 What Works Cities Gold Certification, a national standard of excellence in city governance. Awarded by Bloomberg Philanthro- pies’ What Works Cities initiative, the exclusive certification is based on an evaluation of how well cities are managed by measuring the extent to which city leaders incorporate data and evidence in their decision-making. The certification work was led by the Office for Performance Improvement and the Office for Civic Innovation & Technology.

• OPI launched LouieStat 2.0, a • OPI training and consultation • New evaluation plans for the more comprehensive version resulted in: Office of Safe and Healthy of Louisville Metro Govern- • Metro Parks and Recreation Neighborhoods’ Ambassador ment’s system for streamlining reduced mowing cycle times Institute Programs and processes, identifying gaps, re- from over 30 days to 10 days Resilience and Community solving problems, and making this summer. Services’ Community Financial data-driven decisions. Empowerment Certification • The surplus property dispos- led to cost-saving for both • OPI launched the Data Acad- al process was reworked to programs. emy, a new series of classes create new efficiencies. for Louisville Metro employees • The Criminal Justice Commis- • Public Health and Wellness’ that aims to improve services sion and the Domestic Vio- Healthy Start program reduced residents receive and to save lence Prevention Coordinating the time it took from an initial taxpayer dollars through train- Council received assistance in contact with a client to the first ing in Excel, PowerBI and data crafting its process for taking its appointment from over one visualization. Community Needs Assessment month to a matter of days. from 83 recommendations to one strategic plan.

What Works Cities Gold “Certification demonstrates that our city government is performing among the very best in the U.S. and that our work to use innovation and data to more efficient- ly expend tax dollars is a national model.” — Mayor Fischer

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 21 Money Matters Overview Quick facts: Meeting Financial Continued Excellence in Finan- • Structurally Balanced Budget Challenges – Metro’s cial Reporting – Metro received – The 2019-20 budget under- vibrant economy and strong its ninth consecutive “Certificate took the difficult work of im- financial management allowed of Achievement for Excellence plementing $25 million in cuts the city to maintain its positive in Financial Reporting” for its to meet the growing pension credit rating from the three Comprehensive Annual Financial obligation from the Kentucky nationally recognized credit Report from the Government Retirement Systems. After rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Inc. Finance Officers Association of almost three dozen public (AAA); Moody’s Investors Service the U.S. and Canada. The asso- meetings throughout the com- (Aa1) and Standard & Poor’s ciation also presented Metro’s munity, the Mayor presented a (AA+). Metro’s rainy day fund was sixth consecutive “Distinguished data-based budget with a com- increased by $1.5 million in FY19, Budget Presentation Award” for mitment to equity. The primary bringing the funding level to the 2018-2019 budget. principles were to preserve $70.9 million. public safety, maintain basic city services, and minimize the pain on Louisville’s most Mayor Fischer’s vision of an equitable and vibrant Louisville vulnerable residents. “ continues to garner positive results when we go to the capital markets.” • More than half of the budget’s —Metro CFO Daniel Frockt General Fund dollars are allo- cated to public safety agencies. A scaled-back capital spending plan invests $5 million in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $24 million for infrastructure improvements.

22 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT Where the Money Comes From

Occupational taxes $ 372.3 57.3% Property taxes 175.2 27.0% Payments made to city for various services 17.7 2.7% Dividend payment from Louisville Water Co. 19.1 2.9% Intergovernmental revenue 16.3 2.5% Fees from permits, licenses issued by the city 19.7 3.1% State municipal aid/road aid 12.9 2.0% Federal Community Development Block Grants 11.7 1.8% Other 4.8 0.7% Total $ 650 100.0%

Where the Money Goes

Public Safety $ 343.0 52.8% Community Building Agencies 82.2 12.7% Central Government Services 98.0 15.1% Public Services 56.1 8.6% Offices of Mayor, Metro Council, County Attorney and other elected officials 31.9 4.9% Economic, real estate and workforce development 24.1 3.7% Capital/Building Projects and annual Debt Payment 14.1 2.2% Total $ 650 100.0%

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 23 Get involved How can we help you? Finish your degree: Join the 55K Degrees movement, 55000degrees.org Earn a credential or trade certification for a good job or career: Go to kentuckianaworks.org for more information about training, referrals

Other questions? Call: 211 for free, confidential health and human services information. 311 to connect with city government and report non-emergency issues. 911 for emergencies requiring assistance from police, the fire department or emergency medical personnel. 574-LMPD (5673) to report a crime or anonymous tip 574-2111 for non-urgent police response

Go to louisvilleky.gov for information about every city department and initiative

Follow Mayor Fischer Facebook.com/MayorGregFischer Twitter.com/louisvillemayor Instagram.com/mayorgregfischer

24 | LOUISVILLE METRO GOVERNMENT How you can help Volunteer for Give A Day: The 2020 dates are April 15-25, 2020. Go to mygiveaday.com to get involved. Apply for a board or commission: louisvilleky.gov/boards Become a One Love Louisville Ambassador to mentor youth: Call (502) 574-1903 Become a Reimage mentor: Call (502) 574-4115 or apply online at kentuckianaworks.org Hire a young person for the summer: [email protected] Plant a tree: louisvilleky.gov/Brightside Other: louisvilleky.gov/city-services/volunteer-donate Assist the homeless: louhomeless.org Help the community achieve a complete count in the 2020 Census: louisvilleky.gov/census

2019 PROGRESS REPORT | 25 Go to louisvilleky.gov for information about every city department and initiative