[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6490028,"mediaKeyId","5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d","parentId",5602471,"title","Bluegrass Area Development District outlines workforce, aging and regional services; Fayette County figures clarified","audioSeconds",796,"startMs",1196000,"endMs",1992000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d&start=1196&end=1992","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d/thumbnail_1196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6490028/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Bluegrass-Area-Development-District-outlines-workforce-aging-and-regional-services-Fayette-County-figures-clarified","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6490028-4a9871a150a77adab0683f29abed0bd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137735&Signature=i-BSmlKrMso0iJIRmNjLpnA3MsJ02j5D3rv6FYKmi9xjbqBuy4jNxR8F92db-pPJcupvSa2XhRGmxiasP3tbJYA8rXyNBa~i54QOmdrmjuII5NTXVIbCwGLxJYjYmy4MlMoExrJpUuaIZemHWG9q3ILehFwbpsagx0ERjQagCxc01kuyPF5bLy0Racy0BUGedmXh~KH6ux4ZGZsmLyvFJfWbXI8jrseyxZ2CR0ZsdornBd4y0DxE0R35wmjRIGxoeS9q1-JFrs53rosdkwGKei3okpmbfnjRKzyBtxCY5qG5ZkL8sIyr0~DQOmWFj0pYGsK5YmIfrr08pPPcLxEqmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lexington","date","2025-08-19T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives from the Bluegrass Area Development District (Bluegrass ADD) presented to the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee on Aug. 19, detailing the agency's planning, workforce, aging and community programs that serve the 17-county central Kentucky region anchored by Lexington.

Michael Bushman, chief financial officer, and Executive Director David Dutlinger described the ADD's role as the Economic Development Administration's designated Economic Development District for central Kentucky and summarized their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), regional coordination activities and project work. Bushman said the ADD administers workforce programs (adult, dislocated worker and youth funding streams), work-based learning, individual training accounts (ITA), supportive services and intensive career services. He said work-based learning and credential training are core elements to connect jobseekers with employers and that the ADD conducts employer master agreements for direct hiring needs.

In response to council questions, Bushman said the slide listing \"112 total clients served\" for Fayette County represented formally enrolled participants eligible for Individual Training Accounts (which carry dollar caps and multi-year enrollments), not the full number of people served through walk-in services, workshops or one-time supports. He said the number of people who simply used career-center resources or attended events is higher; workforce enrollment figures can carry forward across years when participants remain active in training. Council member Lynch asked for comparative year-over-year enrollment data; Bushman said staff would provide historical figures on request.

The ADD said its Fayette County aging services in FY25 served 196 seniors, caregivers and grandparents, and its Participant Directed Services (PDS) Medicaid waiver program served 184 Fayette County participants; Bluegrass staff said PDS paid nearly $11,000,000 to individuals who provide care to those participants. Bluegrass also said the Lexington Career Center location received comprehensive certification in November 2024 and that the ADD expanded outreach with events including virtual-reality career demonstrations.

Bushman highlighted regional coordination with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for transportation and six-year highway plan priorities. He said the ADD administered more than $191,000,000 in grant and loan funding across the 17-county region in FY25 and that grant-writing and administration services are available regionwide, including to LFUCG.

Council members offered examples of local programs and asked for follow-up materials. Council member Savigny invited ADD staff to coordinate with a community-led \"villages\" study for supporting seniors in place and invited participation in a veterans center ribbon-cutting. Council member Morton asked for metrics tying Fayette County investment to return on investment; ADD staff said workforce participant data is the best proximate ROI measure and offered to provide a more detailed breakdown of projects and Fayette County-specific amounts on request.

Bushman and Dutlinger closed by describing partnerships with the Child Care Council of Kentucky, VisitLex and local businesses, and by noting Bluegrass ADS's monthly Bluegrass Aging Consortium and other collaborative tables. Committee members thanked the presenters and requested follow-up data on enrollment trends, program demographics and FY25 grant allocations to Fayette County.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lexington - Budget and Finance and Economic Development Committee on 2025-08-19 1:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Bluegrass Area Development District officials briefed the committee on workforce training, aging programs, participant-directed services and regional planning; presenters said workforce enrollment figures refer to formally enrolled participants (112) while walk-in service contacts are higher, and the district administered roughly $191 million in FY","taxTitle","Lexington City, Fayette County, Kentucky","taxId",5707,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6489963,"Committee advances revised Industrial Revenue Bond policy recommending housing rules, taxing-district involvement and expanded service area",2049,4646000,6695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d&start=4646&end=6695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d/thumbnail_4646000.jpg","/articles/6489963/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Committee-advances-revised-Industrial-Revenue-Bond-policy-recommending-housing-rules-taxing-district-involvement-and-expanded-service-area","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489963-456df24e0a196262118d58b07d6edd57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137735&Signature=XzyVVtv72YApPp2pL0DFMZtnWxSIOSjLTn1HcBiTfQChfqqwWwbJN4Djec3NSvBwR8SgYPXWjf1OMR0yYs8kITWSfF7IevEL5dD4djnJ47Ghw9Iabp-o08S3hdHNDoMI0UOFxIleGoF1aj-Lb1C2qJP0NcX0JjxzSBUGQVUj7rXViv0rTqkRR1KDg7vnazJGzK~cVz9aoapx8FaB91kckwMNgX0x1JVIO-LXuWKqC5x35PB10J1MLzvrRfo9CFiLMF-lsNMk1WhqLW0jkFmHDuyW~v1rDxZXiQkN7nqTJGgH~t4k7wyutwwWiLfo3XrCiHUL8kK7r-96fHF5rMXkmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government staff presented proposed updates to Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) policies and procedures at the Aug. 19 Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee meeting. Senior Administrative Officer Craig Vince said the review, undertaken at the administration's direction, examined leaseback IRB structures and the procedural handling of applications so the city can allow housing under limited circumstances while addressing taxing-district concerns.

Vince summarized the key proposed changes: require a pre-application meeting with LFUCG economic-development staff; engage property-taxing districts (Fayette County Public Schools, LFPL, and Lextran) early in preliminary staff review; condition formal application eligibility on demonstrated advance discussion of payment-in-lieu-of-tax (PILOT) negotiations; and expand geographic eligibility for IRBs from a narrow downtown infill boundary to the entire urban service area. He said the Economic Development Investment Board reviewed the draft and recommended its approval to council.

On housing specifically, Vince said the draft ties housing-affordability requirements to the length of the leaseback IRB term. Under the draft language presented: a 15-year leaseback IRB would require at least 20% of proposed housing units on-site to be \"affordable\" (defined in staff discussions as 80% of area median income); a 10-year leaseback IRB would require at least 20% of proposed housing units to be \"workforce housing\" defined in the draft as 80% to 100% of AMI. Council members raised concerns about consistency with other city code definitions (which reference up to 120% AMI for some workforce housing bonuses) and about whether the categories should be allowed to blend or be treated more flexibly.

Committee members and stakeholders suggested language changes and expressed a preference for early taxing-district involvement; Craig Vince and staff agreed changes could be made to allow more flexibility (for example, permitting a hybrid mix of affordability tiers under an agreed approach) and to align AMI thresholds with other city policies. Council member Sheehan praised the added early taxing-district consultation, saying it addresses concerns from a recent application that lacked timely taxing-district agreements. Vice Mayor Wu and others urged caution not to create undue barriers for smaller housing developers and to retain affordable housing goals while not making the program unusable.

After discussion, Council member Baxter moved and a colleague seconded a motion to report the ordinance and related resolution out of committee with changes reflecting the committee conversation; the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition. Staff said they will present amended ordinance and resolution language at the council report-out stage reflecting committee feedback.

The draft policies are intended to preserve the primary economic-development purpose of IRBs while creating a clear process for when leaseback structures can include housing and ensuring early negotiation of PILOTs with taxing districts. Committee members asked staff to return with amended language addressing the AMI ranges and hybrid affordability options before the item proceeds to full council.","The committee reviewed draft Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB) policy updates that would allow housing under leaseback IRBs with conditions (mixed-use, job creation and affordability/workforce thresholds tied to IRB term), require early taxing-district negotiation of PILOTs, expand eligible area to the urban service area, and approved moving ordinance/",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6489981,"Regional authority pursues two industrial sites; Berea 300-acre site advance targets PDI and $6M federal CPF funds",910,2735000,3645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d&start=2735&end=3645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d/thumbnail_2735000.jpg","/articles/6489981/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Regional-authority-pursues-two-industrial-sites-Berea-300-acre-site-advance-targets-PDI-and-6M-federal-CPF-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6489981-0c2cdeb8f2f32155ea5a816b9cc1a4bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137735&Signature=U7dIA8-HUblqmPAUFNAV-Jh5TDuAgM6p7nX-mpzHaS1y-i1Ii-iZvEY~LDHHJvirfdD7OEHzJa34NOTh5Q0wSmuvo8n2wq~JuhDSYp1H7cmhTNpbDk3bymqTd1jRihebf-E1~RFRJxppoXr057mVjS~UFUeuXiTx2caR8bn7fVGTNnLP2m-ZQgw~c25-eN-gdd-wE6vzGwtT0zyeFdTZy50I1DHttjC~26U4jY~AiZGqTox3mSuNrBw4i6P0yZIRAFz2Z3UKrGMH1BaZDiVrWuI~Y9yE8w2DiegXt91xnHJd-jZ8czgtaieDtxMn4i6Fcn~kdM64-OkyTgbeNK3cvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee received an update Aug. 19 from MWM Consulting and the newly formed Central Kentucky Regional Business Park Authority on two candidate industrial parks: a smaller Berea site the city has offered (approximately 300 acres, with estimated developable acreage near 200) and a larger, under-contract 800-acre northern Madison County site.

Lucas Witt of MWM Consulting briefed the committee, citing the Berea site's advantages: city ownership, entitlement for heavy industrial uses, proximate utilities and adjacency to an existing industrial park. Witt said engineering (an RFP for services) will begin in September to determine final developable acreage because portions of the Berea parcel include floodplain; that engineering will support a September application to the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (PDI), making the engineering eligible for reimbursement if the PDI award is granted.

Witt also said the authority has applied to Congressman Barr's office for federal community project funding (CPF) and that up to $6,000,000 had been requested to help balance the Berea site's topography and make additional acreage developable. He said the region's advanced-manufacturing employers nearby demonstrate a local workforce pool desirable to potential users.

The Madison County 800-acre property is under an extended due-diligence contract assigned to the authority; Witt said geotechnical, wetlands and phase-1 environmental studies are complete and master conceptual planning and traffic analysis are underway. He characterized the larger site as better suited to multiple users and longer-term development, and the Berea site as targetable for 20-to-70-acre supplier users.

Witt and authority representatives provided preliminary development modeling: if Berea yields roughly 200 developable acres, the advisory estimate is approximately 700 to 1,000 jobs at full build-out and roughly $1,000,000 annually in occupational tax revenue under the wage assumptions used in their model. For the 800-acre site, MWM's conservative internal model estimated as many as 3,000 jobs at full build-out and approximately $4,000,000 annually in occupational tax revenue, exclusive of property, net-profits or insurance-premium tax. Witt noted these are evolving estimates contingent on engineering outcomes and market demand.

Committee members asked about funding and county contributions. Kevin Atkins and other partners said counties had initially planned larger matching commitments for PDI applications (discussions of $2,000,000 per county were part of earlier planning), but due to earlier site changes the group did not apply in the first round; representatives said each county has contributed $100,000 so far to advance the project and that PSAs and project accounting will be reported to partners as engineering and grant outcomes become clear.

Witt said the authority is actively marketing the properties to site-selection firms and noted comparable regional case studies (multi-county site authorities and spec building strategies) that informed the authority's approach. The committee thanked presenters and asked for further updates as grant applications and engineering work proceed.","Advisors presented plans for a Berea 300-acre industrial site (estimated ~200 developable acres) and a possible 800-acre Madison County site, noted engineering and funding steps (PDI application, RFP for engineering) and projected jobs and tax revenue at full build-out.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6490048,"Committee hears July financials: revenues ahead of expenses, year-end adjustments expected",799,331000,1130000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d&start=331&end=1130","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5602471-da6e7c8aea59d09a89618d1a0f36868d/thumbnail_331000.jpg","/articles/6490048/Lexington-City/Fayette-County/Kentucky/Committee-hears-July-financials-revenues-ahead-of-expenses-year-end-adjustments-expected","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6490048-44cef1263b1ef5b29b8d724ed5f96a45/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137735&Signature=WVxO3mGgHmRbTs6unV4OQErrTZOcdfqucaKkQCMqhmjQeQ3~goopgigX~cfQM8mmXVWSs39nvXepc85TKdWuOP6~tQS~SRMFw-E2rC8Fu-TXbIpuZXLlzCF-Th3w0C-bzNVKHHxsurE0kJqrzR28GkaQwpO-NIrA1PhbU81iaiN158vLKCBWszKqMLZGOtxnJb8RSnvev7IGvgLKkhcammMVnECIauJ3oRifKK8dioyOnL6BD-DXRZ5KwQwUfI~z0Uos1CI6ocIWs8tuXzNYMS-wHazVIMIFEyERbx77dEU0xBc6sWe28qcRWR1YyeTbCw4cPRFHiDz1k14fNATQzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee of Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government was briefed on the city's July 2025 financials during its Aug. 19 meeting. The presentation said July represents one month of Fiscal Year 2026 results, the figures are unaudited and subject to adjustments as the city completes year-end closing processes through October.

Committee Chair and Commissioner Hensley asked staff for the update, and Director Wes Holbrook and Director Melissa Luker reviewed revenues and expenditures. Holbrook said net profits and several revenue categories are running close to or better than budget so far, noting April is a key month for collections and July comparisons look stronger than July 2024. He emphasized the figures are preliminary and will be adjusted as August collections and the year-end accrual process are completed.

Director Luker said the staff only completed the July reports the morning of the meeting and warned that several timing issues drive current variances. She said personnel variances (about $2,000,000) are largely timing issues tied to the fiscal-year transition and will likely normalize as accounting closes Fiscal Year 2025. Luker identified roughly $1,100,000 of operating variance attributable to a delayed billing/payment cycle for the medical/mental-health contract at the jail (Community Corrections), and said partner-agency payments (PSAs) were processed earlier this fiscal year than in FY25, producing a roughly $1,700,000 spend difference for July that should even out over the year. She added there has been no capital spending yet for FY26.

Staff reiterated that the July numbers reflect a 45-day lookback process to determine whether revenues and expenses belong in FY25 or FY26; those accrual adjustments continue through October. Holbrook and Luker said they will provide more detailed follow-ups on request and that the administration is tracking overtime and benefits timing (Anthem) that typically show variance early in the year.

Committee members asked whether federal tax filing extensions related to spring flooding would materially affect net-profits collections; the staff said they did not see appreciable timing impacts from the IRS relief and do not expect a material government revenue change. No formal action was taken on the financial update.

The committee moved on after staff answered follow-up questions and offered to supply additional, detailed information to council members who request it.","Lexington City committee received July (Period 1) unaudited financials showing revenues ahead of expenses, timing-driven personnel and operating variances, and partner-agency payment timing that will smooth as fiscal-year close proceeds.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bluegrass Area Development District outlines workforce, aging and regional services; Fayette County figures clarified

Committee advances revised Industrial Revenue Bond policy recommending housing rules, taxing-district involvement and expanded service area

Regional authority pursues two industrial sites; Berea 300-acre site advance targets PDI and $6M federal CPF funds

Committee hears July financials: revenues ahead of expenses, year-end adjustments expected