The Inner Chamber

GLI: Supporting the Need to LEAD

6/13/2013 09:20:54 AM  -  0 Comments
 

“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.” Author and leadership consultant Warren Bennis may have penned this much used quote, but everyone knows it.

Making sure we ‘make’ new community business leaders is what LEAD (Leadership. Engagement. Action. Development.) GLI is all about. Introduced just this week, LEAD GLI is a business leadership development program offered exclusively for employees of GLI’s Top Investors. The six-month comprehensive program is designed for those who want to enhance their leadership skills, expand their personal networks and give themselves a much more in-depth understanding of the region’s economy and economic development strategies.   The half-day sessions will provide class members valuable information about the community’s opportunities and challenges in the areas such as job creation, entrepreneurial development, human capital, public policy, and more.

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Top Investors Update on Ohio River Bridges: Praised for Persistence, Business Community Now Asked To Be Patient

6/6/2013 11:11:48 AM  -  0 Comments
 

“You have nagged, needled and pushed until we got this job done,” said Governor Steve Beshear to more than 250 attendees of GLI’s most recent Top Investor breakfast about the construction commencement of the Ohio River Bridges Project’s (ORB) Downtown Crossing which will result in a new bridge adjacent to the existing Kennedy Bridge, a reconfiguration of what is commonly referred to as Spaghetti Junction which is the approach to the bridge on the Kentucky side and new approach on the Indiana side to both the Kennedy and the new bridge.

“Thanks to the business communities of Kentucky and Southern Indiana for over a decade of focus and a steady and loud drumbeat that has helped us reach the point we are at today,” he said.

Beshear went on to categorize the ORB as “the largest bi-river construction project in the history of the two states.” Construction is scheduled to start within the next two weeks and the Downtown Crossing is expected to be complete in about three and a half years.  The East End Crossing, which will extend the Gene Snyder Freeway from Prospect over the Ohio River to Utica, IN, has already begun construction and is scheduled for completion in October of 2016.
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Louisville’s Economic Development Efforts on a Roll for 2013

5/21/2013 07:09:37 AM  -  0 Comments
 

Some say Louisville is attractive as a place to start and grow a business because of its workforce that continually demonstrates a strong work ethic.  Others say it is the hugely positive experience they have doing business with a community that highly values economic development and is thus a strong business supporter.  Still others say that it is because Louisville offers a geographically desirable location and accessibility through a strong logistics and distribution network. 
 
Regardless of what the reasons are, the reality is that Louisville is experiencing a very strong surge in business expansion and new business development.  And that surge translates to tremendous job creation and long-term investment in our community’s infrastructure.
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XLerate Health Puts Pedal to the Metal for Start-Up Health Care Companies

5/14/2013 02:24:13 PM  -  0 Comments
 

The good news is that Louisville has already established itself as a leader in supporting health industry entrepreneurs. The even better news is that Louisville is reinforcing that position by being the first city in the southern region of the U.S. to offer an accelerator for early-stage, health-related companies.

XLerateHealth is led by Bob Saunders, a seasoned venture capitalist who has worked with more than 100 startup companies. His fellow co-founders are Ted Smith, a successful health care entrepreneur in his own right, and Director of Economic Growth & Innovation for Louisville Metro Government; and Bobby Ferreri, Executive Director of Greater Louisville's Inc.'s EnterpriseCorp.

The goal is for XLerateHealth to house some of the most innovative health-related companies in the United States and concentrate on leveraging industry partners, including providers, payers and ACO's, to fast-track learning and growth through real-world pilot testing at potential future customer sites for participating companies.

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Roll Out the Red Carpet: It’s Small Business Awards Season at GLI

5/9/2013 05:19:35 PM  -  0 Comments
 

 

Each year, GLI goes hunting for the top small businesses in the community in order to recognize and celebrate them for the tremendous contributions they make to our economy and our region. The best of the best are presented with an Inc.Credible Award and this year, we may be looking for you.

If you’re a small business owner or know of a small business that is exceptionally innovative and successful, GLI wants to know about it. GLI already knows that small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, making up more than 99.7 percent of all employers and providing jobs to half of all private sector workers.

The Inc.credible Awards were started in order to recognize outstanding small businesses in eight categories and to celebrate those winners publicly as examples of what hard working and creative business people can do.

This year, the 2013 Inc.credible Awards Luncheon will be held on Friday, August 23 at the Galt House.

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