LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's Economic Development Collaborative will host its inaugural quarterly conference on May 28, bringing together business leaders, elected officials and economic development experts from across Kentucky to discuss regional economic priorities.

The conference, titled "Economic Development Across Kentucky: Regional Perspectives from the Field," will run from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at The Cornerstone, a downtown mixed-use facility. The event is free and open to the public, with registration encouraged.

"Kentucky is a large, diverse state, and what drives growth in Northern Kentucky looks very different from what Eastern or Western Kentucky needs," said Jennifer Hunter, Ph.D., associate dean for UK Extension and a member of the EDC's steering committee. "What makes this convening impactful is that it puts those regional voices in the same room to build a clearer picture of the whole Commonwealth."

The conference will feature presentations from leaders representing different regions of the state, including Lee Crume, president and CEO of BE NKY growth partnership in Northern Kentucky; Jamie Bewley Byrd, Barren County judge-executive representing Western Kentucky; Mark Marsh, Owensboro Health CEO; and Brett Traver, Southeast Kentucky Economic Development executive director.

Alison Davis, Ph.D., will open the session with a statewide perspective and regional data overview from Blueprint Kentucky, a University of Kentucky resource that provides economic development tools and data to communities statewide. A facilitated question-and-answer session will close the event, followed by networking and refreshments.

The UK Economic Development Collaborative was officially launched in 2019 to serve as a hub for the university's economic development efforts. The organization focuses on five areas: talent, innovation, place, partnership and economic engagement, with the broader mission of growing economic prosperity across Kentucky.

The EDC plans to host four conferences annually, each designed to highlight resources, strengthen connections between the university and regional partners, and share insights from economic development experts. The university also supports initiatives like OneUK, a comprehensive business engagement program, and Growing Our Own, a workshop series aimed at developing local talent pipelines.

The May 28 conference is part of the University's Advancing Kentucky Together Network, a statewide partnership that connects UK's research, service and learning capabilities with organizations across the Commonwealth to address shared challenges in health, education and workforce development.