Why?
Why is it that we 400,000 strong people of Northern Kentucky have the lowest voter turnout rate in the entire Commonwealth?
I think I know why.
There is a general underlying sense among us that we do not count; that the State of Kentucky is determined and run by places South of us here in these northern counties. Because we do not get the constant media coverage on government, politics, propositions and issues that Louisville and Central Kentucky, headquartered in Lexington, we are not as intensely informed and therefore not as involved intellectually.
1NKY building in Northern Kentucky
Bold Actions are underway to get our Voice heard!
Change is in the works, indeed it is in motion. There is a new and revived spirit among leadership to come together, to be One community —–to be recognized and to be heard. Despite that we are three counties and many cities, we can be united in our collectiveness or common interests.
It is more difficult for us because of our many parts when compared to Lexington or Louisville or even Paducah or Bowling Green or Ashland.
But we can and we must act collectively just the same. And our voice can and must be heard in Frankfort and throughout the State. After all, we in NKY are the second-largest metro in the state, bigger than Lexington —– and with ten times the economic generators.
The Northern Kentucky Regional Alliance has been in existence for more than three years now. It is comprised of 16 CEO’s of our major local businesses and institutions. We pay the overhead out of pocket. We are dedicated to bold actions that will change the future of our community. The three County Judge Executives are closely aligned with us and very much a part of the direction.
Among the bold projects are two physical investments in buildings that will be symbols, markers so to speak, that will cause this collective community to be recognized by the public. They will be referred to as 1NKY or ONE NKY, a name logo that has not yet been concluded. One building is in Frankfort, the other here in Covington.
The Frankfort Building is under construction currently for delivery in December or January. It is located in a prime place on Capital Drive leading up to the Capital. Every time the Governor drives past it, he will read 1NKY. Every legislator will read 1NKY as they drive up to the capital. Hmm. Think about it. Will their minds be piqued? Will they take note?
1NKY building in Frankfort (now under construction)
The Covington ONE NKY building is yet to be built. On Greenup Street behind the Gruff, there is a parking lot. This building is designed to house all the “growth” organizations in our community, i.e. the Regional Alliance, the Chamber of Commerce, Tri-ed, The Catalytic Development Corporation, The Horizon Community Funds of NKY, the convention and tourism entity, Meet NKY and potentially the Port Authority.
The intent is to bring all of these agencies into one location, to reduce their costs of operation via shared services and elimination of duplicated activities, and to give them a state-of-the-art high-tech and cutting edge facility to present themselves and to present our 1 NKY community.
One NKY, 1 NKY, any way you put it means unity, collectiveness, oneness in our common goals. Our brand is developing and quickly. With it comes a new spirit of excitement. These are bold actions, and they are tangible.
Now we need to be heard. The next project may be a movement. Let our Voice be heard. Let our collective voice be heard. IT does not matter that we be Democrat or Republican—when it comes to our community we are one.
Let our Voice be Heard!
A major election is at hand in several weeks. Historically voter turnout here in NKY when there is not a national ticket is extremely disappointing.
How will we ever be heard in Frankfort if we do not get out there to vote? These bold efforts to put our community forward will be diluted if we do not follow thru as a whole population.
This is our challenge, and we can begin anew at this time. This is not a partisan call. It is an invitation to become a member of the new 1NKY movement — and to cause our NKY Voice to be heard on Election Day.
Very Important.
Bill Butler is chairman of Corporex and is a life-long Northern Kentuckian.
Northern Kentucky is very fortunate to have Bill Butler working diligently to make our counties heard in Frankfort. Thank you for all your hard work! It is appreciated!
How do we get involved other than voting? I agree with everything in this article and have always wondered why N Ky is so silent
We are such a big region but we are fractured not only by counties, but by cities as well. I won’t even estimate how many cities comprise NKY. In Campbell county alone there must be close to (over?) ten. Kenton and Boone have even more. Yet if somehow we could form a PAC, a lobbying group dedicated specifically to NKY, not a city or a county but all of NKY, then we’d have much more influence at the capital, where currently we have very little. The challenge has always been keeping that PAC independent of influence for one area over another. We need to be a collective. Surely another area in the country has already solved this problem. Mr. Butler, hire someone to research and bring ways we can achieve solidarity – and wield some power in Frankfort!