Louisville, Ky. (April 15, 2024) – Last week, the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce brought a group of more than 40 business leaders on their annual InterCity Conference to Greater Louisville. The group spent three days visiting both Louisville and Lexington and ended their visit with a presentation on workforce development and regional economic development from the Greater Louisville Inc. team.

“Every year, GLI takes business leaders to another city to glean best practices on our annual GLIDE trip, so it is always great to host other cities who want to learn from us,” said Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO, Greater Louisville Inc. “We were honored to host San Marcos and look forward to seeing how they implement takeaways on Greater Louisville’s workforce and economic development programs.”

During their stay, San Marcos business leaders took part in a range of sessions including learning about workforce development, public private partnerships, and meeting with employers. Organizers also provided authentic Kentucky experiences at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, and stops on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

GLI’s Clark Welch, vice president of economic development, Christine Tarquinio, vice president of talent, workforce, and brand strategies, and Natalie Grubbs, director of economic development, delivered the closing presentation which focused on GLI’s Live in Lou initiative and Greater Louisville Partnership. Key takeaways included an overview of GLI’s talent outreach strategies and an explanation of how Louisville has benefitted from enacting a regional approach to economic development.

“We selected this vibrant city because it offers excellent examples of regional collaboration, economic development and innovative placemaking for our community leaders to study,” said Page Michel, president and CEO, San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce. “As we gather here, we can glean new ideas and cultivate meaningful connections. This will all be instrumental when we return to our home city to work on future goals together.”

The San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce serves more than 500 members, representing over 13,000 people. As the 2019 Chamber of the Year, GLI has hosted several Chambers of Commerce on learning expeditions over the years. GLI also offers similar opportunities for Greater Louisville business leaders to visit other communities through the annual GLIDE program, which will take business leaders to San Antonio, Texas in September.

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About Greater Louisville Inc.

Greater Louisville Inc. is the Metro Chamber of Commerce and represents 15 counties in Kentucky and Indiana. GLI’s mission is to grow businesses and the regional economy. GLI supports businesses during every stage of development and represents the collective needs of the business community by advocating for pro-growth policies and economic development investment, and deploying programming centered around attracting and developing talent and economic inclusion. GLI is the 2019 National Chamber of the Year and is one of only three percent of chambers nationally certified with 5-star accreditation status by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Learn more on social media @GLIchamber or visit www.greaterlouisville.com.