First of a continuing series
By Hannah Carver
NKyTribune reporter
What is Northern Kentucky?
That’s one of the many questions Brent Cooper, President and CEO of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, is asking as he reflects on his first year of leading the Chamber.
His anniversary comes alongside the close of the fiscal year, which ended on August 31, but it also marks the start of a series of sit-downs between the Chamber and the Northern Kentucky Tribune, in which together, we’ll look at where the economy of the region stands.
“We have to really be deliberate of how we describe ourselves,” Cooper said.
Is it eight counties? Three? Four?
Brent Cooper
“Everyone with NKY in the name defines it differently,” Cooper said. “But, we’re stronger when we’re together.”
Cooper describes Northern Kentucky as a powerhouse.
“As a region, we’re doing very well overall, from a business perspective. The unemployment rate is around 3.1, 3.2 percent. It’s the lowest it’s been in decades,” Cooper said.
The region’s Worker Participation Rate is at 67 percent, above the nation’s average of 64 percent and far above the state’s average of 56 percent.
Tourism is taking off as well, with hotel demand in Northern Kentucky at four times the national average, according to Cooper.
“One of the things we try to get out there as often as possible: With 400,000 people in just Boone, Kenton, and Campbell [Counties] — that’s 10 percent of the state of Kentucky, but we represent 20 percent of the state’s tourism.”
Tied with tourism, another major player in Northern Kentucky’s success is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG).
“Our airport is the best airport in the region! We have more flights, and lower cost flights, than Dayton, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington, and Louisville. We’re the largest airport in the state of Kentucky. We’re the best airport in the state of Kentucky. I make no apologies. I’m a champion for our airport because our airport has been absolutely huge for the economy.”
Those successes don’t come without challenges, though.
“For every worker that we’re getting here, Nashville is adding 10 and Austin is adding 10. We have to figure out a way to tell our story to promote the region and grow our workforce,” Cooper said.
“Transportation remains a top priority,” Cooper said. “We’ve got a lot of other projects that we need to champion and continue to fight for, including the Brent Spence Bridge.”
Healthcare is another issue on the forefront of the Chamber’s agenda. This last year, they were a driving force for Campbell and Kenton County’s new mobile syringe access exchange program, which has the goal of stopping the spread of infections — just one more step in the battle against the drug epidemic.
“We’d like to see more expanded programs for that across the board,” Cooper said. “We’re very supportive of St. Elizabeth’s effort and the health department’s efforts — again two partners that are critical to our region’s success.”
On the education side, the Chamber just launched its new “GROW” initiative, which will focus on strengthening the region’s competitive workforce through five key pillars — Kindergarten Readiness, College & Career Readiness, Adult Career Readiness & Life Long Learning, Talent Retention & Attraction, and Employer Policies & Practices.
“If we don’t make systemic changes on both of those fronts [Kindergarten Readiness and College & Career Readiness], we’re never going to have the community we want,” Cooper said. “Right now, we’re at 54% ready for kindergarten. We have a goal of 85%.”
No matter the arena, enhancement is the Chamber’s objective.
Ribbon-cutting for Grow initiative (NKyTribune photo)
“That’s our mission: To promote business growth and improve the economy. That’s it. That’s why we’re here, and if we do it right, it’ll hopefully result in a better quality of life for all, at the end of the day,” Cooper said.
That’s the why behind the Chamber. The how is by leading, connecting, and advocating.
Cooper says that phrase, “Lead, connect advocate,” will be heard a lot at their upcoming NKY Chamber Annual Dinner on September 20. The evening is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of individuals and the businesses that are making the region a great place to live and work, and the Chamber has a lot to celebrate.
“When I came in last year, the budget number that we put together for membership — our staff said, ‘There’s no way we’re going to hit it.’ — Well, we exceeded it yesterday, officially, so that was awesome,” Cooper said.
“If you would have told me that we would have finished way ahead of budget, with an increased membership, with all these accomplishments that we’ve done, with rebranding NKYP [Northern Kentucky Young Professionals], the GROW initiative, Pints and Perspectives — all of these efforts that were rebranded or new efforts, I wouldn’t have believed it honestly.”
A trend toward sell-out events
More than a third of the Chamber’s major events this past year sold out, which had not been a common trend in the past. More than 700 people attended this year’s Women’s Initiative Breakfast, and Cooper says, now, it’s not unusual for them to see more than 200 people at their “Eggs ‘n Issues” events.
Keeping on that trend, as of the August 30, there were already 850 people registered for the NKY Chamber Annual Dinner, with only 350 tickets left.
In addition to applauding the year’s achievements and marking Cooper’s first year as President and CEO, the Chamber is also about to celebrate 50 years. In that time frame, it has played a crucial role in either the creation or growth of pretty much any Northern Kentucky entity.
“We want to see that over the next 50 years,” Cooper said.
Among future goals are major projects, like the Brent Spence Bridge, but Cooper says he’d also like to see increasing regional collaboration. Whether it is a single tax-collection method for the area, a single 911 system, or perhaps a single park system, the Chamber wants to have those conversations.
“What is Northern Kentucky?” Cooper asks, “And what can we do to work together?”
Throughout the next months, the NKyTribune will work to answer these questions, issue by issue, as part of a collaborative effort with the Chamber to shine a light on different aspects of Northern Kentucky’s economy.
