For the first time since 1988, Lexington will play host to lawmakers and other government officials from 15 southern states. The formal announcement was made this morning (yesterday) that the Southern Legislative Conference will be held in the city in July of 2016.
Kentucky officials say it will mean a $2 million shot in the arm for the Lexington economy. Senate President Robert Stivers will take on the role of SLC chair next summer. He says states work on some projects where there's a common interest such as support in recent years for the expansion of the harbors in Savannah, GA, “One of the reasons we did that was because eastern Kentucky coal is shipped out of the Savannah harbors.”
House Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins says the meeting will include both business and social activities.
"So, yes there's a time for social events, but there's also the biggest part of the commitment to business with different committees and different legislators that will be here and different business leaders that will be here as well," said Adkins.
Adkins and Stivers both say it's also an opportunity to sell Kentucky as a home for industrial and other business clients. The Southern Legislative Conference came to Louisville in 2006. The mid-summer 2016 event is expected to attract upwards of 1500 state lawmakers.
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