Senate Majority Caucus Chair @RobbyMillsforKY was honored with the 2026 Kentucky Chamber MVP Award by Kentucky Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer @KateShanksKY and Chamber Director of Public Affairs @jhughes_ky in October. “Kentucky’s ability to attract and retain workforce depends on access to housing,” said Kentucky Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer Kate Shanks. “Senator Mills has been a steady champion on this issue, and his leadership is helping move Kentucky toward real solutions for working families, employers, and communities.” Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

Senator Julie Raque Adams (@JRAforKY) was presented with the 2026 Kentucky Chamber MVP Award by Kentucky Chamber President and CEO @AshliWatts and Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer @KateShanksKY. Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

The Kentucky Chamber has announced the promotion of Kate Shanks to Executive Vice President and Chief External Affairs Officer, a newly created position focused on supporting the organization’s long-term growth and expanding its impact across Kentucky. “Kate has played a critical role in the Kentucky Chamber’s success over the past decade, helping us advance major legislative priorities and deliver meaningful results for the Commonwealth,” said Kentucky Chamber President and CEO @AshliWatts. “As we continue to grow, Kate will bring that same leadership and commitment to expanding our reach and advancing our mission of serving Kentucky businesses.” Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

The Kentucky Chamber Board of Directors held their quarterly meeting and a reception this week, welcoming new members and recognizing outgoing members for their leadership and service to Kentucky's business community. The meeting featured a national political update from Ashlee Rich Stephenson of the @USChamber on the 2026 midterm elections. Frankfort Mayor Layne Wilkerson also welcomed board members to the state capital and provided an update on the city. The Chamber Board welcomed new Chair Kim Halbauer of @FifthThird and Chair-elect Les Fugate of @BrownForman, while thanking outgoing Chair Condrad Daniels of HJI Supply Chain Solutions for his leadership and service over the past year.

Senator Steve West was honored with the 2026 Kentucky Chamber MVP Award by Kentucky Chamber Public Affairs Manager Annie Santos in October in Frankfort. As chair of the Senate Education Committee, Senator West sponsored Senate Bill 4, which establishes a professional development program for school principals that incorporates an intensive leadership program developed in partnership with the @KYChamberFDN. Read more on The Bottom Line: kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

House Majority Caucus Chair Suzanne Miles was presented the Kentucky Chamber MVP Award by Kentucky Chamber Director of Public Affairs John Hughes and Greater Owensboro Chamber President and CEO Dave Kirk during the @GOchamber's Rooster Booster breakfast in October. 🔗kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

.@KyChamberFdn Senior Vice President Beth Davisson moderated a panel on bourbon’s global reach and economic impact during the closing keynote of the 2026 State International Development Organizations (SIDO) Best Practices & Training Conference in Lexington. The discussion featured Eric Gregory of the @KyDistillers, Dave Bob Gaspar of @LexBrewingCo, Mike Mangeot of the @KentuckyTourism, and Matt Yarger of Grissan Renewable Energy, highlighting how one of Kentucky’s signature industries supports international trade, investment, and economic growth.

The Kentucky Chamber kicked off its statewide entrepreneurship listening sessions yesterday in Northern Kentucky at Blue North as part of the Center for Policy and Research’s Start Here, Grow Here initiative. In partnership with JPMorganChase, these community listening sessions bring together entrepreneurs and business leaders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of starting and growing a business in Kentucky. Learn more about the initiative: kychamber.com/entrepreneursh….

The impact employers have on Kentucky communities goes well beyond the jobs they directly provide. A new @UofL analysis found that Chamber member @Humana generated nearly $20 billion in economic activity across Kentucky in 2025, supporting more than 51,000 jobs. For every job at Humana, nearly four additional jobs are supported across the Commonwealth. Learn more about Humana’s investment in Kentucky in the full report: assets.humana.com/is/content…

House Appropriations and Revenue Committee Chair Jason Petrie was presented the Kentucky Chamber MVP Award in September by Kentucky Chamber Vice President of Policy Dr. Charles Aull, Public Affairs Manager Annie Santos, @hccchamber President and CEO Taylor Hayes, Christian County Chamber Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam, and @ChamberLogan President and CEO Polly Steenbergen. Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

A data center project planned for eastern Kentucky is moving forward under an expanded agreement. The agreement could provide $100 million in winter bill credits for Kentucky Power residential customers over 10 years. The Muskie Data Campus in Grayson is expected to begin coming online in 2028 and create hundreds of construction jobs as it is built, along with permanent jobs once the campus is operating. Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026….

Kentucky Chamber President and CEO @AshliWatts joined business leaders from nine other states in a new op-ed urging Congress to move forward on bipartisan permitting reform. “As leaders representing employers, job creators, and millions of workers across 10 of our nation’s most dynamic energy states, we strongly endorse this deal and believe it could be a generational step forward for our economy, business community, and families in need of relief from high costs across every aspect of their daily lives.” The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act would create clearer timelines for federal reviews, streamline agency processes, and reduce delays that can hold projects up for years. Read the full op-ed: washingtonexaminer.com/op-ed… @dcexaminer

Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers has been recognized with the Kentucky Chamber’s 2026 MVP Award for his leadership during the 2026 General Assembly. “President Stivers has long understood the connection between sound public policy and Kentucky’s ability to compete, attract investment, and create opportunity,” said Kentucky Chamber Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Kate Shanks. “His leadership in the Senate has helped advance important priorities for employers while keeping a strong focus on Kentucky’s long-term economic growth. We appreciate his continued partnership and commitment to moving the Commonwealth forward.” @Kysenatepres was recognized for helping advance pro-business legislation, supporting alternative aviation fuel, and championing investment in Kentucky’s Endowed Research Fund. Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026…

The role businesses play in expanding economic opportunity was the focus of conversations across Kentucky this week as the @USChamber Free Enterprise Express Opportunity Tour made stops at local businesses, the @nkychamber, @CommerceLex, and @One_Louisville. In Louisville, Kentucky Chamber Senior Vice President of Public Affairs @KateShanksKY and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President of Policy Jonathan Burks joined local business leaders to discuss what businesses need to compete, invest, and grow — and the connection between strong businesses, economic growth, and opportunity in communities across Kentucky. The tour is part of the U.S. Chamber’s broader effort to hear directly from businesses across the country and bring those perspectives back to Washington. Read more: kychamberbottomline.com/2026….

Projects can spend years navigating the federal permitting process — adding costs, delaying investment, and holding back opportunities across the country. Now, bipartisan Senate leaders have introduced the American Affordability and Jobs Act, a permitting reform package aimed at creating clearer timelines, making the process more efficient, and helping projects move forward while keeping important protections in place. The Kentucky Chamber joins chambers from across the country in urging Congress to pass bipartisan permitting reform.

Following the Chamber's Young Professionals Summit last week, the Next Generation Leadership Council met in Louisville to explore one of the biggest workforce challenges facing Kentucky: child care. Members heard more about the business case for child care, the work of the Kentucky Collaborative on Child Care, and efforts to engage employers. The Council also shared perspectives on what their workforce and communities are experiencing across the Commonwealth. Learn more: kychamber.com/nextgeneration

Members of the Kentucky Chamber Board of Directors recently traveled to Greece, experiencing the country’s rich history and culture while learning more about its industries and economy. The trip also included a meeting with Elias Spirtounias, Executive Director of @AmChamGr and Vice Chair of AmCham in Europe, for a conversation about the strengths and opportunities for businesses in Greece.