How each mayoral candidate would pursue economic development for Lexington
Lexington has historically had a strong economy, anchored by key employers in healthcare, education and agriculture.
But some of those flagship employers are in a tumultuous period.
The University of Kentucky is undergoing major restructuring that could affect hundreds of employees, according to concerned staffers and campus unions. Fayette County Public Schools has announced more than a hundred layoffs in the last week as financial mismanagement has led to catastrophic budget issues.
Lexmark, a major local employer in the city, has gone through a major merger and several rounds of layoffs in recent years.
While UK and FCPS are not under the purview of the city government, and Lexmark’s uncertain future is not something Lexington can control, workforce changes in these institutions place added pressure on the city’s next mayor to bring more jobs to Fayette County.
That’s easier said than done, as Lexington does not have many large lots of available land for major job sites, but city officials hope the Legacy Business Park in the Coldstream area will bring some key employers to the growing Lexington area.
Housing also brings its own challenges to economic development. Data from the Kentucky Center for Statistics show over 104,000 Kentuckians commute into Lexington from another county for work, compared to just over 90,500 workers who live and work in the city. Those commuter patterns increase traffic, which could get worse as higher population growth outside of Lexington continues.
This has, in part, led to a regional economic development approach from the city and Lexington’s chamber of commerce, including a large business park in Berea with funding from Lexington.
Five of the seven mayoral candidates told the Herald-Leader what they plan to do to bring new jobs and expand existing industries should they be successful in winning the city’s highest seat.
Skip Horine and Rama Asmani did not respond to primary election from the Herald-Leader.
Linda Gorton: ‘Protect what makes us unique’
Two-term incumbent Linda Gorton said continued support for Lexington’s multi-faceted career fields is key to ensuring a robust economy.
“We will continue to protect what makes us unique, our variety of job clusters, including strong agricultural businesses, our healthcare, retail, and light manufacturing, while leveraging the brainpower coming out of the University of Kentucky with her graduates,” she said.
Gorton has long supported the agricultural industry in Lexington. Her administration has helped launch the Bluegrass AgTech Development Corp, which provides grants to support companies working on innovative technology uses in agriculture.
She’s also pursued regional business partnerships, most notably a business park in Madison County that is being funded by Lexington, the Scott County Fiscal Court, the Madison County Fiscal Court and the city of Berea.
“No city in the world can do everything on its own for everyone, and we are no different,” she said.
The city also needs to be sure that it can bring jobs to Lexington without rapidly increasing its population, Gorton said, as has happened with neighboring Scott and Madison counties.
“Unrestrained growth creates uncontrollable challenges for planning and building infrastructure, such as sewers, streets, curbs, gutters, sewage treatment plants, fire stations, etc.,” she said. “We want to continue to remain welcoming while ensuring that we can provide the services and infrastructure needed to absorb and serve that growth.”
Gorton said an industry she would like to see grow in Lexington is aerospace.
“With the UK aerospace graduates and high-paying jobs in this area, we should continue exploring bringing these types of jobs to Fayette County,” she said.
Raquel Carter: Support small businesses, be an economic leader in Central Kentucky
Raquel Carter, owner of Guide Realty, said regional partnerships are worthwhile, but Lexington “must take a stronger leadership role” in its own growth.
“Too often, we have been the beneficiary of regional growth while it has masked our own lack of growth. As the region’s economic center, we should be setting the vision, coordinating strategy, and actively pursuing opportunities that define Lexington’s future.”
For Carter, much of that looks like stronger support for small businesses. Commercial corridors like Winchester Road need to be revitalized as hubs for businesses to “start, grow, and stay in Lexington,” she said.
She would also like to pursue the development of an arts and entertainment district for the city and bring more retail to downtown Lexington, largely through residential buildings with ground-floor space for businesses to use.
All economic development and growth need to keep housing needs in mind.
“Population growth is a byproduct of a strong economy, vibrant culture, and forward-thinking leadership,” she said, and the city should actively pursue building out the infrastructure and tackling the city’s housing crisis to grow the population alongside growth in jobs.
C.E. Huffman: Rebuild Lexington’s manufacturing economy
A major point in Lexington’s history was the arrival of IBM in the 1950s. Other manufacturing hubs like Rainbo Bread and Trane, “provided great careers that helped support growing Lexington families,” according to C.E. Huffman.
“We can do this again,” he said.
Huffman, a public relations specialist at the University of Kentucky, would work to bring a manufacturer to the former Trane facility on Mercer Road. The city must also have a plan in place for when Lexmark eventually shutters its Lexington location, he said.
Huffman also wanted to support local entrepreneurs through a new academy that trains small business owners and helps them expand to hire more full-time employees.
The regional approach the city has taken is one that should continue, he said. Lexington is already “overpopulated for the infrastructure we have,” he said, and the city’s job is to be the leader in planning for regional growth.
“I look forward to working with the Sixth U.S Congressional district mayors and county judge executives to build a coalition that advocates for investment from both the state and federal governments into our region.”
Darnell Tagaloa: Lexington needs higher wages
Darnell Tagaloa, a business development manager at iHeartMedia, is likewise interested in supporting small business growth and bringing more manufacturers to Lexington.
But he also says he would work with both new and existing employers to increase wages in Lexington.
“I will partner with employers to raise wages, especially for lower-paying jobs, so people can afford to live and grow in the city they serve,” he said.
“That starts with leading by example, supporting better pay for our city workers and essential employees like teachers and nurses.”
Regional growth opportunities, which he supports, should prioritize high wages for workers, as well. He also wants to make sure that those regional job centers are accessible to Lexington residents, not just those who live outside the county lines.
“Growth should not just look good on paper, it should be felt in our neighborhoods,” he said.
Tagaloa sees professional trades, especially those in construction, as a major growth opportunity for the city’s economic job base. Growing the construction workforce could also make it easier to build more housing that the city needs.
He is also interested in adding more financial literacy workshops and training throughout the city to help people save for home ownership and potential health emergencies they may face.
Greg O’Neal: Growth is good
Landscaper Greg O’Neal did not provide a detailed plan for economic development to the Herald-Leader.
While he said “growth is good” for Fayette County and the Central Kentucky region, and said his vision for economic development was “a growing and thriving city that focuses on its strengths and avoids setbacks,” he admitted he does not have any specific industries in mind that he would work to bring to or expand in Lexington.
“However, I will support most industries that will bring jobs to the community,” he said.
