LEXINGTON, Ky. — Commerce Lexington has announced the selection of its 48th Leadership Lexington class, continuing a tradition of developing community leaders that dates back more than 45 years.

The competitive program accepts roughly 50 participants annually from the greater Lexington area, requiring applicants to be employed by Commerce Lexington member companies. The makeup of each year's class is intended to reflect the cultural diversity of the city, with selection based on a rigorous evaluation process conducted by a steering committee of program alumni.

Since 1979, the program has produced more than 1,800 graduates who have shaped Lexington's development in areas including youth mentoring, public art, healthy living, hunger relief and community engagement. The most recent graduating class, the 47th, completed the program in June with 51 members and undertook community projects ranging from youth golf mentorship to nonprofit philanthropy initiatives.

The 11-month program provides participants the opportunity to better understand the city and prepare for challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today's leaders. Applications for the 2026–2027 Leadership Class are now closed, with applications set to reopen in Spring 2027.

Tuition for the program is $3,500, with participants committing to an intensive schedule beginning with an August orientation retreat and continuing through monthly day-long sessions and community project work.