20 YEARS OF PROVIDING MEMBER BUSINESSES WITH THE TOOLS TO SUCCEED USINESS OCUS20 BOFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF COMMERCE LEXINGTON INC. F MAY 2012 VOLUME XX, ISSUE V Presents Public Policy Luncheon Featuring Congressman Brett Guthrie Friday, May 11 at Noon See Page 9 GOOD MORNING BLUEGRASS: June 29th Event Features 3 Community Leaders New to the Area Who Will Share Their Impressions of Lexington & the Opportunities for Their Organizations and the Region. - SEE PAGE 13 www.CommerceLexington.com BUSINESS FOCUS May 2012: Volume XX, Issue V INSIDE THIS ISSUE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: 4-6 CirrusMio to Create Jobs, Locate in Downtown Lexington Business Focus is published once a month for a BBDP Economic Development Efforts Recognized total of 12 issues per year by Commerce Lexington Inc., 330 East Main Street, Suite 100, Lexington, Best in the BG Program Seeking Internship Opportunities KY 40507. Phone: (859) 226-1600 2012 Chair of the Board: Jeri Isbell, Vice President, Human Resources PUBLIC POLICY: Lexmark International, Inc. 7 Special Legislative Session Concludes with Passage of Prescription Drug Abuse Bill & Transportation Budget Publisher: Robert L. Quick, CCE, President & CEO Commerce Lexington Inc. 8-15 EVENTS: Editor: Mark E. Turner Resource Roundtable: Social Media & the Talent Landscape Communications Specialist: Elizabeth Bennett Policy Luncheon Features Congressman Brett Guthrie Printing: Post Printing Mail Service: Lexington Herald-Leader Business Owners Advisory Group Enrollment Event Crowne Plaza Hosts Business Link on June 12 Subscriptions are available for $12 and are included as a direct benefit of Commerce Lexington Inc. membership. Business Focus (USPS 012-337) periodical postage paid at GET CONNECTED: Lexington, Kentucky. 16-19 Leadership Lexington Applications Due May 16th Ambassador Spotlight: Jim McGary, Mass Mutual POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to Business Focus, Commerce Lexington Inc., Welcome New Commerce Lexington Inc. Members P.O. Box 1968, Lexington, KY 40588-1968. Member Personnel & Award Announcements DISPLAY RATES For DISPLAY RATES in Business Focus, con- tact Dana Zinger at (859) 226-1607 or [email protected], and an account executive will contact you. WHAT 2 WATCH 4 PERSONNEL UPDATES Submit your company’s awards and mile- stones or personnel changes and additions to [email protected]. Personnel news might include promotions, Lexington & BBDP Recognized for Public Policy Luncheon: additions, awards and milestones, recogni- Economic Development Excellence Congressman Brett Guthrie tions and certifications and/or appointments. by Business Facilities Featured Guest on May 11th Information is published only as space per- mits. QUESTIONS? For questions or comments about Business Focus, contact Mark E. Turner at (859) 226- 1606 or [email protected] Good Morning BG Features or Liz Bennett at (859) 226-1615 or lbennett@ Access Loan Program Making Panelists Dr. Mark Evers, CommerceLexington.com. Dreams Become Reality for Bill Farmer & Rufus Friday Small Business Owners 2 BUSINESS FOCUS MAY 2012 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT A Collaborative Effort of the Bluegrass Business Development Partnership (BBDP): SUBMITTED BY: Kelly Cain, Gina Greathouse & Kimberly Rossetti, Commerce Lexington Inc. Economic Development Division CirrusMio to Create High-Tech Jobs, Locate in Downtown Lexington Commerce Lexington Inc. and the Bluegrass and CirrusMio to build a technology and skills Business Development Partnership recently infrastructure supporting cloud-based solu- announced the location of a new software start- tions, bringing Kentucky to the cutting edge of up company. The company, CirrusMio, is a sub- IT and business solutions. Through the sidiary of Metaformers, which has a presence in employment of skilled team members in the Lexington. CirrusMio will provide cloud-based region and our commitment to the community, software solutions for the public sector. The we expect to build value in many ways for the company is located in Barrister Hall downtown people of Kentucky from their investment in and will hire 10 new high-tech jobs and a capital us.” investment of $200,000. The company “The Bluegrass Business Development received a High-tech Forgivable Loan from the Kentucky Cabinet for Partnership is excited that Metaformers is starting a new software com- Economic Development for the creation of high-tech jobs. pany, CirrusMio, in the heart of downtown Lexington,” said President “We are excited by the opportunity to build CirrusMio in Kentucky and CEO of Commerce Lexington Inc., Bob Quick, CCE. “We welcome with the support of KEDFA,” said Andrew Beck, vice president of global CirrusMio to the growing number of software and IT companies in our operations of Metaformers. “We were impressed by the enthusiasm and region. They are a nice addition to the market and are a key strategic tar- support offered by Commerce Lexington Inc., the University of Kentucky, geted industry for our community. This industry is a great asset to the city of Lexington and the Commonwealth of Kentucky state govern- Lexington, and we're happy that CirrusMio will be part of this vibrant ment for our organization. It is the shared goal of these organizations sector.” CLX ED Staff Attends IAMC Spring Forum Commerce Lexington Inc. economic develop- ment staff visited the Live Music Capital of the World in April to participate in the International Asset Management Council (IAMC) Spring Forum. This was the first trip Lexington, BBDP Recognized for Excellence for Commerce Lexington to IAMC, which is a membership organization that brings together Commerce Lexington Inc. is proud to The Business Facilities’ article post stated, corporations, real estate professionals, and announce that the economic development “The numbers alone don’t tell the success economic development organizations. While efforts of the Bluegrass Business story for the Lexington, Kentucky region, but in Austin, Commerce Lexington marketed our Development Partnership (BBDP) were they are impressive.” region, as well as learned about important recently awarded the Business Facilities Our economic development division issues that companies face every day. Economic Development Excellence award. believes strongly in promoting the successes Business Facilities introduced the annual of the companies with which we work, but we awards this year and Commerce Lexington are excited to be recognized for our efforts in Lexington Venture Club Inc. won in the population 200,000 – promoting economic development in the 500,000 category. Bluegrass. The next Lexington Venture Club will be Our team detailed our economic develop- Wednesday, May 23, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ment initiatives and strategies in our award READ THE FULL ARTICLE ON-LINE AT: at the Hyatt Downtown. The cost to attend is submission. We focused on our BBDP activ- http://businessfacilities.com/news/aust $35. To RSVP please contact Stacy Lackey at 859- ities, as well as our new strategic plan target- in-lexington-cited-for-economic-develop- 225-5005 or [email protected]. ed industries. In addition to the submission, ment-excellence. we presented our top ten projects for 2011, which resulted in 861 new jobs with a capital investment of $67.5 million. 4 BUSINESS FOCUS MAY 2012 www.LocateinLexington.com | www.twitter.com/locateinlex | www.facebook.com/locateinlex CLX, Bluegrass Alliance Host KAED Conference BUSINESS & EDUCATION NETWORK Commerce Lexington Inc. and the Bluegrass Best in the BG Program Alliance hosted the Kentucky Association for Economic Development (KAED) spring con- Offers Internships to ference April 17 – 19. KAED is a statewide High School Students membership organization for economic devel- opment practitioners offering professional YOUR COMPANY CAN HELP BY development opportunities throughout the OFFERING A HIGH-LEVEL INTERNSHIP year. KAED, in conjunction with Commerce This year marks the fifth year in which we will offer Lexington, invited five key site selection con- the Best in the Bluegrass. The BBG is aimed at the sultants to speak at the conference. high-performing students in Fayette County Commerce Lexington Inc. hosted a private din- Schools, who are going to college outside of ner with the consultants at Donamire Farm on Kentucky. If your company/organization will con- Wednesday night of the event. This was a sider having a high-level intern this summer, great opportunity to market our city! please contact Pamela Trautner by Tuesday, May Site Selection Consultant Tim Feemster with 15, 2012: Grubb & Ellis discussing supply chain logis- Pamela Trautner tics and distribution. (KAED Photo) By The Numbers: Business and Education Network So far in 2012, Commerce Lexington Inc.’s (859) 226-1624 Economic Development Division has [email protected] responded to calls from the following: The intent of the Best in the Bluegrass is to New Business: CLX ED Staff Visits connect these students, who have already decided 43 new prospects interested in to go to school outside Kentucky, with companies finding a new location or expanding Big Apple in May or organizations in Central Kentucky…ones with operations. Commerce Lexington Inc. is visiting the high-level, high-tech and interesting career oppor- Existing Clients & Local Big Apple in May to participate in the tunities that perhaps the students do not know KentuckyUnited marketing event on about. They’re already leaving Kentucky. Let’s Entrepreneurial May 10, 2012. The statewide marketing show them there are