Economic Vitality Year in Review 2024

It was a busy and successful 2024 for Economic Vitality! Through our core activities of business attraction, business retention, business expansion, marketing, partner collaboration, advocacy and data, we have been able to add additional vibrancy into Louisville’s economy. All these core activities will continue into 2025, as will programming such as the Business Beats Roundtables and Economic Vitality Day.

Business Attraction and Retention

• 2 new Business Assistance Program (BAP) recipients
• 4 site selection RFP responses
• 20+ location site searches
• 30 formal business retention visits
• 30+ broker contacts
• 50 business attraction activities
• 55 new business licenses
• 78 commercial permits finalized
• 84 commercial permits issued

Business Expansion

The Economic Vitality team has already begun new programming and updates in 2025 including a Business Assistance Program addition. We are revamping our website and program collateral to highlight resources and make them easier to access for businesses.

Economic Vitality is also working with the state’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade for CHIPS, and Enterprise Zone designations. Economic vitality will continue to approach businesses with an economic development and urban renewal lens to create, update and promote policy, programming and incentive programs that will help recruit and support businesses in Louisville.

• 1 public infrastructure assistance grant
• 2 facade improvement grants
• 15 business participants in the patio program

Marketing, Advocacy, & Collaboration

Economic Vitality has been working collaboratively with internal and external partners to highlight economic vitality and business needs in programs and policies. We have been involved in the regional minimum wage engagement, the City’s comprehensive plan update, communications planning efforts, and sustainability programs. We are advocating for the business community throughout city programs, policy updates, and through working with our partners. Economic Vitality highlighted Louisville on a local, regional, and national level by working with the press, speaking at events, and showcasing all that Louisville has to offer at events.

• 1 Economic Vitality Day
• 7 Talks/Presentations
• 8 Business Beat Roundtables, 50+ attendees
• 10 Economic Vitality newsletters
• 10 Louisville specific SBDC classes
• 11 Economic Vitality Committee meetings
• 14 Louisville Revitalization Commission meetings

Please reach out to Economic Vitality if you have any questions about our 2024 activities or suggestions for 2025!