“KENTUCKY’S
WINNING STRATEGY” ENCOMPASSES A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO GROWING OUR STATE AND ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS
ASHLI WATTS PRESIDENT AND CEO KENTUCKY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Kentucky stands at a pivotal moment in its economic journey. After years of strategic policy progress, the Commonwealth is poised for unprecedented growth and opportunity. Our state policymakers have demonstrated foresight and dedication to laying a solid foundation for success, and the Kentucky Chamber is committed to building on this momentum to accelerate our state’s growth to new heights. But first, we have to address the challenges and leverage the opportunities that we face as a Commonwealth.
The business community’s 2025 priorities, based on “Kentucky’s Winning Strategy,” encompass a comprehensive approach to growing our state and enhancing competitiveness that includes fostering a business-friendly tax environment, developing our workforce, improving the quality of life for all Kentuckians, and much more.
With Kentucky’s economic progress top of mind, these priorities are developed by business leaders across the state through meetings, surveys, and research and approved by our policy councils and board of directors. As the voice of Kentucky’s business community in Frankfort, the Chamber will continue to work with policymakers to implement these priorities and bring our best future to fruition.
THAT INCLUDES FOSTERING A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY TAX ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPING OUR WORKFORCE, IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL KENTUCKIANS, AND MUCH MORE.
2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
GROW JOBS, KENTUCKY’S POPULATION, AND WORKFORCE THROUGH TAX REFORM
A competitive tax code is key to accelerating job creation and attracting workers and families to Kentucky. With the announcement that Kentucky has met the fiscal conditions outlined in House Bill 8 from 2022, the Chamber’s top priority will be advocating to reduce the personal income tax rate to 3.5 percent in the 2025 session. The Chamber continues to support pro-growth business tax reforms, including a repeal of the Limited Liability Entity Tax, improving the state’s tax treatment of business investments, and ensuring that the state sales tax base excludes business inputs to the greatest extent possible.
FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASE KENTUCKY’S HOUSING SUPPLY
Policymakers should strategically focus on fostering economic development across the Commonwealth, including in rural communities, by growing Kentucky’s signature industries and making targeted investments in local areas to improve quality of life and support job creation and small business formation. As detailed in the Chamber’s eport, “Building a Foundation for Growth,” increasing Kentucky’s housing supply should be a key pillar of Kentucky’s economic development strategy to ensure the state can grow sustainably and attract new workers and families.
LOWER THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN KENTUCKY THROUGH LEGAL LIABILITY REFORM AND SENSIBLE REGULATIONS
To maintain Kentucky’s low cost of doing business and build on this attractive feature of our economic climate, lawmakers should ensure the state has sensible environmental regulations and affordable and reliable energy. As Kentucky’s liability climate for businesses is ranked among the 10 worst in the nation, lawmakers should pass meaningful reforms to Kentucky’s legal liability system and reject legislative proposals that would worsen the state’s legal liability climate by driving up costs for employers. To further protect the state’s competitiveness, lawmakers should study Kentucky’s labor and employment laws, identify areas where Kentucky exceeds federal standards, and implement reforms where necessary.
HELP EMPLOYERS GROW THEIR BUSINESSES THROUGH WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS
“Kentucky’s Winning Strategy” sets a goal of making Kentucky one of the top 10 states in the nation for workforce participation and putting the state on a path to rapid workforce growth. To reach that goal, the Chamber recommends focusing on the following priorities:
CHILD CARE: Increase access to affordable and high-quality child care as the new Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care works to develop long-term, durable solutions.
INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION: Invest in high-quality and high-impact infrastructure and transportation projects that efficiently connect Kentuckians with employment opportunities.
BENEFITS CLIFF: Identify solutions to benefits cliff challenges by providing smooth off-ramps for public assistance recipients seeking career advancement, new jobs, and pay increases.
FAIR CHANCE EMPLOYMENT AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER: Reduce liability concerns for employers, streamline and automate expungement for those eligible with nonviolent offenses, create more opportunities for workforce training, and increase access to high-quality wraparound services.
EDUCATION: Make strategic investments in K-12 and postsecondary education, increase the number of high school graduates who complete FAFSA, align state financial aid programs and investments with employer needs, and continue working to meet Kentucky’s goal of ensuring at least 60 percent of Kentucky adults have some form of postsecondary training by 2030.
HEALTH OUTCOMES: Improve Kentucky’s health outcomes with an emphasis on reducing smoking rates but also by encouraging private and public sector wellness programs, continuing to support efforts to fight substance use disorder, and ensuring wide access to high-quality health care services throughout Kentucky, including behavioral health services.
WORKFORCE TRAINING: Focus on continual improvements to workforce training in Kentucky, including assessment of systems alignment, spending and return on investment, and program effectiveness.
ENGAGE IN A POLICY COUNCIL
YOUR INVOLVEMENT MATTERS!
Make your voice heard on Kentucky’s key issues! The Kentucky Chamber has several policy councils that are responsible for developing legislative positions and priorities for their respective policy areas.
EDUCATION & WORKFORCE
CHAIR: Dan Cahill, HSD Metrics
Kentucky’s economic viability is directly linked to the education and skills of its citizens. With a focus on lifelong learning, this council develops policies to support and improve education at all levels to build a productive and diverse workforce.
INFRASTRUCTURE & TECHNOLOGY
CO-CHAIRS: Ed Quinn, RJ Corman Railroad Group Carlos Sanchez, AT&T Kentucky
The council is responsible for the formation of the Chamber’s legislative and federal agenda as it relates to infrastructure and will focus on all types of infrastructure including transportation, utility, and broadband. The council also handles policy related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and other technology issues.
SMALL BUSINESS
CHAIR: Dub Newell, Louisville Tile
As small businesses are often disproportionately affected by challenges facing the economy, this council works to ensure the Chamber represents issues of particular importance to small businesses.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
CHAIR: LaJuana Wilcher, English, Lucas, Priest & Owsley
This council seeks to promote Kentucky as an energy leader and supports policies to achieve environmental protection without unnecessarily hindering economic development and business growth.
COMPETITIVENESS
CHAIR: Melissa Norman Bork, Dentons
This council seeks to increase Kentucky’s competitiveness, not only with our border states but around the world. Economic development practices, labor laws, human resource policies, taxation, criminal justice, and the state budget are among the focuses of the council.
HEALTH CARE
CHAIR: Mark Marsh, Owensboro Health
Rising health care costs have become a significant financial threat to Kentucky’s businesses. As such, this council is focused on developing solutions to slow the increasing costs of health care and to improve the overall health and well-being of Kentuckians.
AGRICULTURE & EQUINE
CHAIR: Jim Coleman, Coleman Crest Farm
This council brings together signature industry leaders to help develop, guide, and advocate policies to strengthen these key sectors of Kentucky’s economy.
POLICY & RESEARCH
CHAIR: Jennifer Barber, Frost Brown Todd
This Center builds on the organization’s long history of producing nonpartisan research on critical topics and leading policy development on important issues that will help create a stronger business climate and economy.
2025 KENTUCKY CHAMBER LEADERSHIP
AGGRESSIVE ADVOCACY
OUR TEAM WORKS FOR YOU.
Our public affairs team represents you before the Kentucky General Assembly and in Washington D.C. to curb burdensome regulations, reduce taxes, and create a healthy, business-friendly climate in the Commonwealth. Also, our communications team works year round to keep you updated and informed on news important to the Kentucky and national business community.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS TEAMS
ASHLI WATTS President & CEO
KATE SHANKS Senior Vice President Public Affairs kshanks@kychamber.com
CHARLES AULL, PhD Executive Director Center for Policy and Research caull@kychamber.com
JOHN HUGHES Senior Manager Public Affairs jhughes@kychamber.com
AMANDA KELLY
akelly@kychamber.com Coordinator Public Affairs sstaley@kychamber.com SKYLAR STALEY
scoffey@kychamber.com
AMY CLOUD Executive Director Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executives acloud@kychamber.com
A STRONG LEADER FOR BUSINESS
The Kentucky Chamber is a strong advocate for business, bringing together leaders from across the Commonwealth to advocate for a variety of issues.
MEMBERSHIP IS CRITICAL
WE NEED YOU
The Kentucky Chamber represents the interests of businesses throughout Kentucky — from family-owned shops to Fortune 500 companies — that employ half of the Commonwealth’s workforce.
Investing in the Kentucky Chamber provides Highbridge Springs Water Company with current information regarding the legislative, legal, and business climate in our state. Along with this information, we have gained insight into national and global trends. In addition to their legislative initiatives, we have found the Chamber’s educational programs invaluable in keeping our employees up-to-date on topics such as state advocacy efforts, HR laws, and safety in the workplace. As a small business, we depend on the Kentucky Chamber to help protect our bottom line.
— Linda Griffin, President Highbridge Springs Water Company
Joining the Kentucky Chamber has provided our company new and diverse networking opportunities and connections. The Chamber provides pro-business advocacy and keeps its members well-informed of state legislative issues.
Contact membership@kychamber.com or visit our website at kychamber.com/joinnow.
— Jennifer Willis, CEO, Pathways Inc.
The state's largest broad-based business advocacy organization provides your company with successful legislative action. As a result of the Kentucky Chamber's 2023
efforts, Kentucky businesses saved
POLICY MATTERS
“
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS UNITED BEHIND KEY AREAS OF COMPETITIVE TAX REFORM, ROBUST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND INNOVATIVE WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS.
OUR 2025 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA LAYS THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR FUTURE GROWTH, AND WE CALL ON THE LEGISLATURE TO CONTINUE THEIR WORK TO MAKE THE COMMONWEALTH A NATIONAL LEADER FOR BUSINESS, TALENT, AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
”
— SCOTT DAVIS, CHAIRMAN & CEO, FIELD & MAIN BANK
2025 Kentucky Chamber Chair
KENTUCKY CHAMBER KEY INVESTORS
Addiction Recovery Care
AESC
Amcor
Amteck of Kentucky
Apex Clean Energy
Arkema Inc.
Ascend Elements
Atlas Air
Avantor Performance Materials
Bechtel Parsons Bluegrass
Bellarmine University
Big Ass Fans
Blackhawk Mining
Branscum Construction Company
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
CareSource
Century Aluminum of Kentucky, LLC
CertainTeed
Chrysalis Ventures
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
Airport
Citizens National Bank
Clark’s Pump N Shop
Clearpath Specialty
Coca-Cola Consolidated
Commonwealth Credit Union
Community Trust Bancorp. Inc.
Computer Services, Inc. Dba CSI
Corning Incorporated
CSX Transportation
Deaconess Hospital
Dean Dorton
Deloitte Consulting
Diageo North America
Dismas Charities
Domtar Paper Company
Double Kwik
EDF Renewables
English Lucas Priest & Owsley, LLP
Family Wealth Group
Farmers National Bank of Danville
Field & Main Bank
Fischer Homes
Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership
Galt House Hotel & Suites
Gray Construction
Home of the Innocents
Hyster-Yale Group Inc.
Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.
Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians
Kentucky League of Cities, Inc.
Kentucky United Methodist Children’s Home
Kimball International
Laurel Grocery Company
Log Still Distillery
Louisville Water Company
MakeMyMove
Merck & Co.
Merrick Hardwoods, Inc
Mississippi Lime
Mubea North America
National Grid Renewables
NextEra Energy Resources, LLC
Novelis, Inc.
Park Community Credit Union
Partners for Rural Impact
Pathways, Inc.
Pinnacle Treatment Centers
Piramal Pharma Solutions
Planters Bank, Inc.
Republic Bank
Republic National Distributing Company
Reynolds American
Robert W. Baird Co. Incorporated
Sandy’s Racing & Gaming
Savion
Scotty’s Contracting & Stone LLC
Somerset Hardwood Flooring
Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
Steel Technologies
Stock Yards Bank and Trust
Stride Learning Company
Tandem Public Relations, LLC
Tennessee Valley Authority
Thoroughbred Architects & Engineers
Thoroughbred Hospitality Group
T.J. Regional Health
Toyota Boshoku America
Verizon
Washington Penn Plastic Co., Inc.
Whitaker Bank
Wonderschool
WSP USA
LOCKHEED MARTIN
KENTUCKY CHAMBER KEY INVESTORS
