Louisville, Ky. (December 10, 2021) –  Today, Greater Louisville Inc. hosted over 100 business leaders at the Olmsted for its final Capitol Connection event of the year and the annual unveiling of the 2022 state legislative agenda. The event also featured remarks from Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives, David Osborne, and recognition of state lawmakers who were named GLI’s 2021 Most Valuable Policymakers (MVPs).

The 2022 state agenda features long-time GLI priorities like legal liability and lowering the personal income tax, as well as forward-thinking and innovative policies like relocation incentives and remote worker tax credits to attract and retain top talent to the region.

“As we look to 2022 and continue moving past the pandemic, it is critical we pursue policies that will help Greater Louisville businesses address their workforce shortages and rebuild stronger than before. We are also prioritizing policies that will accelerate the growth of our regional economy and help us attract top businesses and talent,” said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of GLI.

Other priorities include protecting employer rights when it comes to instituting vaccine mandates, advocating for a constitutional amendment to allow for local tax reform, and pursuing equity through meaningful criminal justice reforms.

The state agenda is a compilation of feedback from many of GLI’s 1,800 investors and outlines the issues that are top priorities for the business community. The agenda is the result of a months-long, member-driven process, with hundreds of regional business leaders volunteering their time and expertise to develop a pro-business roadmap for GLI’s advocacy work. View the full 2022 state legislative agenda here.

During the Capitol Connection event, GLI also recognized state legislators who received the coveted recognition of MVPs. This year 10 legislators from the 15-county Greater Louisville region qualified for the award by voting in line with GLI 100 percent of the time during the 2021 General Assembly. The 2021 MVPs are:

• Speaker David Osborne
• Senator Julie Raque Adams
• Representative Thomas Huff
• Representative Chad McCoy
• Representative Jerry Miller
• Representative Jason Nemes
• Representative Jennifer Decker
• Representative Ken Fleming
• Representative James Tipton
• Representative Russell Webber

“GLI’s advocacy team works diligently in Frankfort to pursue policies that support and grow our businesses and regional economy,” said Shelby Williams Somervell, GLI’s vice president of government affairs and communications. “Passing pro-business legislation is only possible because of the tireless work of our legislative champions who consistently prioritize the best interests of the business community. We applaud each of our 2021 Most Valuable Policymakers and look forward to their continued support in the year ahead.”

2021 MVP, Speaker David Osborne, closed out the program by giving an overview of his predictions and priorities for the 2022 General Assembly. He discussed the House Majority’s budget priorities, plans for using the federal American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, as well as plans to stabilize growing workforce and childcare shortages when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

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About Greater Louisville Inc.

Greater Louisville Inc. - the Metro Chamber of Commerce is focused on growing the regional economy. As the region’s largest convener of business leadership, GLI leads economic and global outreach strategies focused on business attraction; nurtures the entrepreneurial eco-system; and champions the development of the community’s talent base.  As the voice of Greater Louisville’s business community, GLI advocates for a pro-business environment and facilitates businesses engagement on issues that impact regional competitiveness.  For more information, visit www.greaterlouisville.com.