2022 Downtown Lexington Partnership Annual Report

Who We Are

Downtown Lexington Partnership (DLP) was formed in the 4th quarter of 2017 when the boards of Downtown Lexington Corporation (DLC) and Lexington Downtown Development Authority (LDDA) merged under a common board.

Today, DLP (the dba moniker of the DLC) continues to function as the umbrella downtown organization providing a single point of contact and accountability and a coordinated approach to downtown revitalization and management. DLP works in close collaboration with the Downtown Lexington Management District (DLMD). Together the two organizations work to develop, manage and market downtown.

Downtown Lexington Corporation (DLC) , founded in 1988, is a 501(c)4 membership-based, event and marketing not-for-profit. Through events and promotion efforts, DLC enhances the quality of life in Downtown Lexington and encourages responsible economic development in the downtown business core and its surrounding neighborhoods and districts. The DLC mission is to promote and facilitate development of Downtown Lexington as a unique and vibrant place in Lexington for business, residential life and entertainment. In addition, DLC acts as a liaison between downtown business and the local government.

Downtown Lexington Management District (DLMD) DLP also managed the program and services of of the Downtown Lexington Management District on behalf of the Downtown Lexington Management District Board of Directors until July of 2022.

What We Do

DLP provides a strategically coordinated approach to Downtown revitalization and management and acts as the single point of contact and accountability. DLP works to create an economically powerful, vibrant Downtown by proactively and strategically working with our public and private sector partners to:

2022 DLP Board of Directors

OFFICERS:

• Jennifer Taylor, Chair - FORVIS

• Ann Bakhaus, Vice Chair - Town Branch Park

• Paul Johnston, Treasurer - Blue & Co., LLC

• Woodford Webb, Secretary - The Webb Companies

• Steve Kelly, Chair Emeritus - Retired

MEMBERS:

• Melody Flowers - University of Kentucky

• James H Frazier III - McBrayer PLLC

• Steve Grossman - RW Baird

• Camden Skidmore - Downtown Resident

• Lawrence Wetherby - Republic Bank

• Mary Beth Wright - Coastal Cloud

Gabe Isaac 21c Museum Hotel

Tim Guthrie Base Here

Becky Reinhold Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Realty

Brandy Harmon Breeders' Cup Limited

Lesley Catron Central Bank

Brian Sipe Central Bank Center

Leslie Smart CHI Saint Joseph Health Foundation

Kimra Cole Columbia Gas of Kentucky

Bob Quick Commerce Lexington Inc.

Larry Jones Community Trust Bank

Christi Hiler Cornett

Mike Harris Cowgill Properties

Dougie Allen Creaux

Craig Turner Red Draw Design

Jonathan Pliszka Downtown Resident

Andy Walker Fifth Third Bank

Chad Needham Greyline Station

Gordy Hoagland Greer Companies

Garrett Coats Jeff Ruby's Lexington

Morgan Richardson Keeneland

Tate Russell Kentucky Eagle Inc.

Dave Bob Gaspar Lexington Brewing & Distilling

Whit Whitaker The Lyric Theatre

Barry Kunke Lexington Marriott City Center

Bart Daily Metronet

John Gohmann PNC Bank

Mary Catherine Jones Red Mile

Paula Hanson Retired

Ryan Foster Traditional Bank

Brien Lewis Transylvania University

Marci Krueger-Sidebottom VisitLEX

George Wallace WesBanco

• Develop and improve Downtown

• Market and promote Downtown and its businesses

• Address critical issues that affect the success of Downtown and the District on behalf of our stakeholders and the regional community

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS:

Ame Sweetall LEXARTS

Monica Conrad LFUCG Divison of Parks & Recreation

Donnell Gordon LFUCG Division of Police

Gary Means Lexington & Fayette Co. Parking Authority

James Brown Lexington Fayette Urban County Council

Chuck Ellinger II Lexington Fayette Urban County Council

Our World

Downtown Lexington is a center of employment, a hub of tourism and hospitality venues and the region’s premiere destination for local cuisine, arts, nightlife, shopping and entertainment. It is wrapped with thriving historic neighborhoods and anchored by parks and trails and institutions of higher learning. It is the heartbeat of the region and Lexington’s most diverse, welcoming neighborhood.

Top 5 Key Achievements

1 2 3 4 5

Produced 11 events spanning 130 days with an economic impact of more than $2.8 million

Created two new events , Food Truck Friday and Flights Between Fountains in Triangle Park and was contracted to produce the Tandy Park Takeover for the Breeders’ Cup Festival

Posted 923 times across all social media channels, generating over 850,000 impressions , and a combined following of 27,000+

Obtained 10 new memberships worth nearly $12,000, with a renewal rate of 76%

Reviewed 100+ applications for Executive Director position

DLMD BOUNDARY PARKS

DLP MISSION AREA BOUNDARY

Developing and Creating an Inspiring Downtown

DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

• Plan new development; attract new businesses, development and residences; increase sales activity and street level occupancy and improve existing buildings, development, and placemaking

• Create inspiring public places and a Downtown environment that helps attract new businesses, development and customers; increases sales activity and street level occupancy and enhances the Downtown experience

2022 ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Hosted fourth annual State of Downtown attended by more than 150 guests at Lex Live

• Published and distributed State of Downtown Report and Video

• Worked with VisitLEX and DLMD Ambassadors to update and install new wayfinding signage

2023 Plan

• Work with partners to develop long term vision and improvements to Fifth Third Bank Pavilion and Tandy Park and implement new improvements to Triangle Park

• Track new project pipeline and assist developers with projects

• Develop State of Downtown Report, host State of Downtown event and utilize data to help recruit new businesses and development

• Update and improve wayfinding in partnership with VisitLEX and DLMD

Credit: Femi Oyeniran

Market and Program Downtown

DLP leads the effort to attract customers to support Downtown businesses and create a vibrant, energetic Downtown through marketing and programming.

• Goal: Increase sales, visitorship and investment in Downtown and DLP

2022 MARKETING ACHIEVEMENTS:

y Posted 923 times across all social media channels, generating over 850,000 impressions, and a combined following of 27,000+

y Created and updated ads for media placement, including stakeholder recognition in The Lane Report and DLP event advertisements in The Lane Report and TravelHost of the Bluegrass, as well as digital promotions of DLP events through Smiley Pete Publishing

• Grew e-newsletter subscribers by 12% to 6,500 and sent 50 electronic newsletters that mentioned DLP and featured member events or news items weekly. Totaled 334,855 sends with an average open rate of 40%. Held an average click-rate of 3.5%. , which is 1.5% higher than theindustry average

• Earned 94,000 unique visitors to the DLP website, garnishing nearly 170,000 pageviews

• Used over 3,000 radio and TV commercials and on-air appearances to promote DLP events and members and downtown events and businesses

• Created and implemented marketing and communications plans for all DLP events as well as DLP customer incentive programs DowntownLEX Together and Shop & Celebrate

Developed Social Media Calendar and implemented social media and e-marketing plans that promoted DLP events and members and downtown events and businesses:

• Increased Facebook page following by 26%

• Increased number of Instagram followers by 16%

• Increased Facebook post impressions by 127%

• Increased number of Instagram posts by 6%

Social Media and Electronic Marketing Benchmarks

Programming Achievements

• Hosted 10 events spanning 130 days with an economic impact of more than $2.9 million

• Obtained $180,000 in sponsorships

• Created two new events, Food Truck Friday and Flights Between Fountains, both hosted in Triangle Park

DLP ANNUAL MEETING & AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE PRESENTATION PRESENTED BY REPUBLIC BANK

Attended by over 200 guests, including a program that recognized 13 Awards of Excellence winners from 2021-2022

In conjunction with the event, debuted the 2021 DLP Annual Report

MAYFEST ARTS FAIR PRESENTED BY CENTRAL BANK

Produced a juried arts fair featuring more than 70 local and regional vendors in historic Gratz Park

Attended by more than 15,000 guests over the two days

CENTRAL BANK THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE

Hosted 28 weeks of free entertainment in downtown, attended by more than 56,000 guests

Invested more than $25,000 in Lexington’s entertainment community

APRIL 25

DOWNTOWN SPIRIT NETWORKING SERIES PRESENTED BY FIELD & MAIN BANK

MAY 7-8

JUNE 29

APRIL 7 -

OCT. 13

STATE OF DOWNTOWN PRESENTED BY REPUBLIC BANK

Produced four in-person networking events, hosted in new and unusual venues Events were attended by 160+ guests

Produced the program, which included a large format video and experts updating downtown projects, attended by more than 150 guests

In conjunction with the event, debuted the 2022 State of Downtown Report

FLIGHTS BETWEEN FOUNTAINS PRESENTED BY FIELD & MAIN BANK

Wine tastings presented by eight wineries from around Kentucky

Attended by more than 250 guests

LEXINGTON’S HOLIDAY LIGHTING CEREMONY, PRESENTED BY BAIRD, A PART OF LUMINATE LEXINGTON PRESENTED BY KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY

Produced Tree Lighting Ceremony attended by more than 2,500 guests which included free face painting, ice skating, and entertainment

Worked with Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass to install a menorah in Triangle Park for Hanukkah, host a choir, and provide support over the eight nights of the holiday

FRIDAYS

AUG. 26

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS IN TRIANGLE PARK

Hosted eight food trucks and 250+ guests

Event concluded with the permanent installation of Senor Chimi in Triangle Park Café

THE RINK AT TRIANGLE PARK

NOV. 27

DEC. 3

Completed rebranding of The Rink and operated a full season in concert with Ice Rink Events the Lexington Ice Center

Attracted an estimated 40,000 skaters and viewers

LEXINGTON’S CHRISTMAS PARADE, A PART OF LUMINATE LEXINGTON PRESENTED BY KENTUCKY UTILITIES COMPANY

Partnered with UK Collage of Communication to allow 34 students access to the planning, recruiting, and production aspects of the parade over the fall semester

Produced an in-person parade showcasing 60 entries and attended by more than 7,500 guests

2023 Marketing and Programming Plans

• Increase sponsorship revenue including a Title Sponsor for The Rink at Triangle Park and creating new investment opportunities and partnerships

• Host 10 events that span more than 100 days providing an estimated $3.2 million economic impact

• Develop and implement impactful promotional programs to support retail, restaurants, bars and hospitality venues

• Implement strategic marketing and earned media plan, refresh DLP website, enhance social media, maximize paid media and partnerships to promote DLP members and downtown

• Create weekly e-newsletter content growing our subscriber list by at least 15%

Attract Resources and Mobilize Business

Develop strong, effective partnerships with collaborating organizations by aligning missions and priorities and leveraging resources to create a vibrant Downtown. Attract resources and mobilize businesses.

Goal: Renew and further develop strong, effective partnerships with collaborating organizations

Goal: Retain and recruit DLP members and obtain in-kind services to support DLP programs and services

IN-KIND SUPPORT ACHIEVEMENTS:

Building strong partnerships have leveraged nearly $2.5 million dollars of in-kind support and services from 10 organizations to support events and marketing

2017: $531,859

2018: $568,889

2019: $566,089

2020: $217,147

2021: $267,213

2022: $335,400

In-kind support includes: event support (Base249, City of Lexington, Hilton Lexington/Downtown, LexArts) event media (LM Communications, WLEX18, WKYT) and program media (Smiley Pete Publishing, The Lane Report, TravelHost of the Bluegrass)

DLP Sponsors

Many thanks to our 2022 sponsors who invested in our events and programs

Blue Grass Airport

Block By Block

City National Bank

Commonwealth Credit Union

Community Trust Bank, Inc.

Central Bank Center

Downtown Lexington Management

District

Fifth Third Bank

G&J Pepsi

Geddes Pools

Jeff Ruby’s Steakhouse Lexington

Kentucky Utilities Company

KRM Wagering, LLC

Kentucky American Water

Kiwanis Club of Lexington

LexArts

Lexington Geek

Lexington Sporting Club

Maker’s Mark

Metronet

Raising Cane’s

RATP-Dev

Richmond Place Senior Living

Sts. Peter & Paul School

The Lex Apartments

The Webb Companies

Triangle Park Foundation

VisitLEX

Windstream

Partners and Collaborating Organizations

Partnership Achievements

DLMD:

Provided grant administration for art and property improvement programs

• Organized and managed committees

• Managed DLMD social media

• Facilitated collaboration with DLMD Executive Director

CITY OF LEXINGTON:

• Collaborated with City of Lexington and other partners leading to enhanced lighting in the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion

• Hosted Art on the Town carts at TNL and Flights Between Fountains

• Received in-kind services for TNL (June), and Luminate Lexington programming

COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS:

LexPARK, VisitLEX, University of Kentucky, The Triangle Foundation, Breeders’ Cup Festival

• Represented DLP members as LexPARK advisory board member

• Worked with VisitLEX and DLMD Ambassadors to update and install new wayfinding signage

• Partnered with UK College of Communication students adding additional programming, marketing, and entries to Lexington’s Christmas Parade

• Recruited six college interns providing more than 300 hours of support for DLP events and marketing

• Contracted by Breeders’ Cup Festival to produce six day Tandy Park Takeover event

MEMBERSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS:

• Obtained $212,650 in memberships representing 138 members

• Recognized Stakeholder members with five ads in The Lane Report, Leader members with one ad in The Lane Report and all DLP members on website and with social media posts

• Implemented DowntownLEX Together presented by Central Bank and Shop & Celebrate presented by Central Bank customer rewards program with 50+ participating restaurants, bars shops and hotels

2022 DLP MEMBERS STAKEHOLDER

LEADER

ADVISOR

21C Museum

Blue & Co.

Bluegrass Sotheby’s International Realty

Clay Ingels Company, LLC

Coastal Cloud

Creative Media of KY

Dean Dorton

MERCHANT

Bank of the Bluegrass

Barney Miller’s

Base Here

Be Mediaspa

Bella Rose

Bigg Blue Martini

Blue Fire Bar and Grill

Corto Lima

Creaux

CycleYou

PATRON

A Cup of Common Wealth

AthensWest Theatre Co.

Bites of the Bluegrass

Bluegrass Greensource, Inc.

Bluegrass Kettle Masters, Inc.

Bluegass Tavern

Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc.

Camden Skidmore

Castleton Lyons

E.W. Scripps Company Forcht Bank

Frost Brown Todd

Garmer & Prather

Greer Companies

High Knoll Wealth Advisors, LLC

Independence Bank

J. Smith Lanier & Co.

EOP Architects

Ethereal Brewing

Girlsgirlsgirls Burritos

Goodfellas Pizzeria

Gresham Smith

Harvey’s Bar & The Grove

High on Art and Coffee

Horse and Jockey Pub

Infinity: Rooftop Restaurant + Bar

Keeneland Mercantile

KEMI

Kentucky League of Cities, Inc.

Kentucky Utilities Company

Koller Warner Construction

Langley Properties

Lexington Center Corporation

Lord Ack Sargent

Mint Julep Management Group, Inc.

PrintLEX

Stites and Harbison

Sturgill, Turner, Baker & Moloney, PLLC

Vaughn Hall, PLLC

Christ Church Cathedral

Commerce Lexington

Debra A Hensley, Hensley Agency

Explorium of Lexington

Failite Irish Import Shop

Fayette Alliance Foundation

First United Methodist Church

Goodwill Industries of KY

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass

Kentucky Growers Insurance Co.

Lexington Opera House

Lockbox

Lussi Brown Coffee

Lynn Imaging/Monster Color

Milward Funeral Directors, Inc.

Savane Silver

School Sushi

Silvestri Real Estate, LLC

Soundbar

Tate Hill Jacobs Architects, Inc.

Tony’s Steak & Seafood

Town Branch Park

Triangle Grille

Victorian Square, LLC

Wiser Strategies

Xpress Valet

Joker Business Solutions

Lamar Advertising

LexArts, Inc.

Lexington Children’s Theatre

Lexington Montessori School

Lyric Theatre & Cultural Arts, Inc.

Mary Todd Lincoln House

Parkboy Properties, LLC

Payroll Solutions

Rotary Club of Lexington

Shrout Tate Wilson Engineers, PLLC

Sts. Peter & Paul School

Stephen Kelly

Tiki’s of Lexington

UK Markey Cancer Foundation

Walther, Gay, & Mack PLC

WorldsApart – Lexington

Xooker, LLC

MANAGE THE ORGANIZATION

Achieve the DLP Mission by building an organization with adequate resources, professional staff and engaged leadership

Goal : Recruit and retain a passionate staff and board whose efforts strengthen DLP

Goal : Manage finances to support DLP’s mission and long-term financial health

• Approved 2022 DLP budget and organizational work plan

• Recruited board members and other downtown stakeholders to participate in DLP working committees:

◊ Real Estate

◊ Marketing

◊ Events

◊ Membership and Sponsorship

2023 PLANS

• Oversee creation of strategic plan for continued DLP growth

• Support staff growth and development

• Renew strategic community partnerships

• Convene organizational/downtown affinity groups to build a unified vision

DLP Staff

*Joined Feb. 2023

Laura Farnsworth Director, Development & Events

Allen McDaniel Executive Director

Harrison Stiles Manager, Marketing & Membership