Home » GLI’s Greater Louisville 2020 campaign reaches $7M

GLI’s Greater Louisville 2020 campaign reaches $7M

Regional effort gains momentum to grow jobs, talent and economy

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Greater Louisville Inc.’s GL 2020 campaign is at 92 percent, thanks to several recent contributions from companies like Yum! Brands and a new $300,000 grant from the Gheens Foundation.

Yum! Brands joins the James Graham Brown Foundation, the Gheens Foundation and several companies in Greater Louisville who have contributed to the GL 2020 campaign as transformational investors with donations of more than $100,000.

“GLI’s Greater Louisville 2020 campaign is a fantastic initiative that Yum! Brands is proud to support,” said Jerilan Greene, chief communications and public affairs officer, Yum! Brands. “The campaign’s focus on workforce attraction, retention and development aligns with our goals to make Yum! Brands an employer of choice and a great place for our 800 Yum! and KFC U.S. employees and their families who live and work in this wonderful community.”

The Gheens Foundation grant will be used to accelerate the work of GLI’s Live in Lou talent attraction initiative, which focuses on recruiting talent to Greater Louisville through the only locally managed job board, LiveinLou.com, as well empowering human resources professionals with resources to recruit out-of-market talent with tools to showcase community assets.

“The very existence of the Gheens Foundation, established in 1957 by Edwin and Mary Jo Gheens, is testimony to their love and interest in improving the quality of life for the residents of Metro Louisville,” said Barry Allen, Gheens Foundation president. “Edwin, and his father and uncle before him, were prominent businessmen and philanthropists on both sides of the Ohio River from the late 19th century through the middle of the 20th century. I am confident Mr. and Mrs. Gheens would be most pleased to know their legacy of economic development, jobs and education is being perpetuated via the GLI’s mission.”

“Brown-Forman is proud to support GLI and Greater Louisville’s future through this regional economic growth initiative. This commitment reflects the value Brown-Forman places on making our community a better place to live and work,” said Charles Scholtz, vice president and associate general counsel of Brown-Forman Corp.

“GLI is helping strengthen the talent pool for companies in Louisville, which makes the city a more appealing destination for professionals looking for a place to call home,” said Jeffrey Jasnoff, Kindred Healthcare’s chief HR officer. “We are excited to support this important economic development initiative that will help all companies, including the many aging-innovation companies, find qualified workers.”

“Frost Brown Todd is proud to support GLI and greater Louisville’s future through this regional economic growth initiative,” said Theresa Canaday, litigation department chair for Frost Brown Todd. “Both Frost Brown Todd and GLI work diligently to support the growth of local businesses and improve the quality of life throughout the community.”

“Regional economic development, advocacy, camaraderie and immediate connections to promote business growth – doesn’t get any better than Greater Louisville Inc. Our chamber synergy is second to none,” said Lisa Payne, economic development team leader for LG&E.

The Greater Louisville 2020 campaign is an aggressive and comprehensive regional economic growth and capacity-building initiative centered around three goals: 1) Recruit businesses and grow jobs 2) Recruit, grow and retain workforce and 3) Advocate for a strong business environment.

The campaign is chaired by Bill Samuels Jr., chairman emeritus of Makers Mark Distillery, and co-chaired by Evelyn Strange, president of Advanced Electrical Systems Inc. and Ed Glasscock, chairman emeritus of Frost Brown Todd LLC.