1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,960 You heard it here, "Central Kentucky has a mega site ready for you. So they're open for business." 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:11,040 This is Real State, a podcast from CSG South. 3 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:17,680 Join us as we talk with policymakers and public leaders shaping state-level decisions across the 4 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:22,960 South and explore how ideas move from policy to real impact. 5 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:33,360 Hello and welcome to Real State. I'm your host, Lindsey Gray. Across the South, 6 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:38,480 economic development remains one of the top priorities for state leaders. States are competing 7 00:00:38,480 --> 00:00:44,480 for investment, jobs, talent, and innovation while also working to strengthen infrastructure, 8 00:00:44,480 --> 00:00:50,640 grow their workforce, and ensure communities of all sizes can participate in that growth. 9 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:55,040 In Kentucky, those conversations have included major manufacturing investments, 10 00:00:55,040 --> 00:01:00,960 infrastructure improvements, workforce development, housing availability, broadband expansion, 11 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:06,400 and efforts to position the commonwealth for long-term economic competitive deaths. 12 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:12,800 Our guest today is Speaker, ProTem, David Mead of Kentucky. Speaker ProTem Mead has served in 13 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:18,400 the Kentucky House of Representatives since 2013 and currently serves as the second highest-ranking 14 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,520 member of the House leadership team. He also currently serves as chair of the Council of State 15 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:29,120 Government Southern Office and the Southern Legislative Conference, bringing both a state and 16 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:34,640 regional perspective to today's conversation. Speaker ProTem Mead, thank you for joining us today. 17 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:41,760 Thanks for having me, Vince. You've had a front-row seat to Kentucky's economic evolution 18 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:47,760 over the past decade. Looking back to when you first entered the legislature in 2013, 19 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:53,360 how would you describe the biggest challenges you've seen in Kentucky's economic development landscape? 20 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:58,400 Well, I think when I first came in, it was a totally different scenario for me. I was in 21 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:04,880 serving the minority at the time, served there for four years before our already became the majority. 22 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:10,400 And at that time, we had a lot of ideas that were kind of, there was some thin-knit frustration, 23 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:16,400 I guess you would say, and we passed a lot of that economic policy the first couple of years to 24 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:22,560 get us on the pathway. A lot of reducing regulation on restrictions on some of these larger 25 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:28,080 companies to try to bring them to the state. And so we really focused on that, but also on our small 26 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:32,400 businesses and being able to give them some relief to be able to expand and hire for a visit with. 27 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,760 As you look at Kentucky today, what do you see as the state's biggest economic opportunity 28 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:42,560 over the next decade? Well, I think the aviation industry is growing with leaks and bounds. 29 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:48,720 The automotive industry is well right now. We're doing a lot of things for both of those industries 30 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:54,240 to try to grow that and stay to the techie. One thing that we have continued to do is make sure that 31 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:59,520 we have sites ready for companies when they come and be prepared for that. A lot of times you don't 32 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:02,880 know who's going to be coming to your state or who's from the arresting mistake that you want to 33 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:06,000 be ready when they do, and that's what we've tried to do. You should prepare for that. 34 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,720 Well, economic development looks very different today than it did even 10 years ago. So, 35 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:16,400 Kentucky's experienced significant investment and job creation in recent years, but states are 36 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:22,640 increasingly recognizing that economic growth depends on more than simply recruiting companies. 37 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:28,160 So, when you think about economic development today, has the definition of success changed 38 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:33,040 from when you first into the legislature and if so, how? I think it is. I think we have realized 39 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:38,000 that what we have to do is prepare with our infrastructure, first and foremost, they need that 40 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,920 infrastructure. When they're coming to do business in your state, you also have to prepare your 41 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:48,160 workforce, get them educated in rating video. So, I think that those are probably the primary two 42 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:52,640 things that we have been working on in getting everything ready. You also have to have a good 43 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:57,520 tax structure for businesses to make sure that they're in a tax environment that they can actually 44 00:03:57,520 --> 00:04:01,920 make profits and want to come to the business in real estate. What do you think Kentucky's getting 45 00:04:01,920 --> 00:04:07,120 right right now when it comes to creating an environment where businesses want to invest and grow? 46 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:13,120 Well, one thing I believe that we did very well was then the COVID time period when a lot of federal 47 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:19,840 money was coming into the states. A lot of states would end up spending a lot of that money once 48 00:04:19,840 --> 00:04:26,320 it first came in on recurring costs. We did not do that. What we did was make sure that the money that 49 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:31,120 we received for one time funding, the spend on one time things, they're not recurring costs. And so, 50 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:36,400 what we did was we prepared for infrastructure. We started updating that, our roads, our bridges, 51 00:04:36,400 --> 00:04:42,080 our water lines, our gas lines, those type of things to make sure that we had everything in order 52 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:48,560 when companies were coming or expanding in our state. And I think that we have created now an 53 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:54,160 environment that we're going to have everything is necessary for them to come as well as as I've 54 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:58,800 mentioned before, we're starting to educate our workforce better, making sure that we are partnering 55 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:04,080 with those companies and they come to make sure that the folks are prepared for jobs that they 56 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:10,960 want you to need them. And that actually goes kind of into the next side of this conversation. So, 57 00:05:10,960 --> 00:05:15,680 increasingly states are recognizing that economic development and quality of life investments are 58 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:22,400 deeply connected. So, this session, Kentucky Lawmakers, advanced significant investment in infrastructure 59 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:27,600 and economic development projects across the Commonwealth. Additionally, housing has emerged as a 60 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:33,600 growing policy discussion as states examine workforce availability and affordability challenges. 61 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:40,080 How has Kentucky's approach to economic development evolved from simply attracting employers to also 62 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:45,280 addressing infrastructure, housing and community readiness? Well, a lot of times what you see is these 63 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:50,720 especially larger coffers are needing more land they spend on. Most of that land is going to be in 64 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:55,360 a rural community. So, we have to prepare those communities for that. And what we've done is when 65 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,120 you're a employer and you're looking for a place to put your business, you want to make sure that 66 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:04,400 your employees are going to have a good quality of life. And there's going to be playing their housing 67 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:09,680 available and it's going to be thanks for them to do in their all-time. There needs to be parts that 68 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:17,440 needs to be things to spend time outside of that with your family. So, what we're trying to do is 69 00:06:17,440 --> 00:06:22,560 make sure that once we get past the infrastructure part and we've paired several of our sites. We have 70 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:27,920 some megacytes in our state that are ready to go. So, when those companies come, once we move past that 71 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:33,760 now we are working on that housing issue. It's become a crisis in many states. The affordability is a 72 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:39,040 huge thing. We've seen the increased cost of real estate over the past few years and that's 73 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:43,600 heard families especially when it comes to starter homes. So, we're trying to, we've been working 74 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:48,800 on a housing bill. We didn't get a past this year. We couldn't come to a agreement with the Senate. 75 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:54,480 It was kind of late in the session. So, we weren't able to get that done. We have already started in 76 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:58,240 this interim working for us the next session to make sure that we can have a bill that it's going to 77 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:02,800 help with affordability and availability for those homes for folks from the company. 78 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:10,000 Big business here. I know Kentucky has invested heavily in site readiness and industrial development. 79 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:15,440 So, being proactive rather than reactive when competing for those major projects, I imagine is 80 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:20,960 extremely important to position yourself in that proactive stance. It is. May these businesses spend 81 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:27,520 years trying to prepare for expansions or new businesses coming into a state. But when they're 82 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:33,440 ready to go, they're ready to go. And so, we have to be up. I have your sites ready yet to be available. 83 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:38,880 Yes, I had everything in order for them. You already need the infrastructure there. You already 84 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:44,000 need the land there and the boot prepared together. So, we've been trying to do that over the past 85 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:48,720 several years to make sure that Kentucky is right there at the top of the list and anytime 86 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:55,920 anybody is building good breaks. Great. That proactivity. So, in businesses evaluate locations today, 87 00:07:55,920 --> 00:08:00,720 what do you believe are the biggest competitive advantages states need to offer that may not 88 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:06,240 have been top priorities even 10 years ago? I think resources are a big thing. 89 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:14,720 Water, sewer, electric energy is a huge thing across the south right now, especially as we've 90 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:19,520 seen the expansion of industry across the south. I think all of our states are struggling a little bit 91 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:23,600 with that and what we're going to do to make sure that they have enough energy. So, I think it's 92 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,360 the biggest thing they're ready for right now is does this state have the resources that we need 93 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:33,680 to operate our business? I think outside of that second, do they have the workforce that we need 94 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:39,680 to make sure that we can operate part? Absolutely. Economic competitiveness often requires states to 95 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:45,920 think ahead about emerging industries and future opportunities. This year, you sponsored House Bill 545, 96 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:53,440 legislation designed to support alternative aviation fuel production while creating new opportunities 97 00:08:53,440 --> 00:09:00,000 for Kentucky's agriculture and transportation sectors. So, what opportunities did you see that 98 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:06,080 led to you sponsoring House Bill 545? And how does it fit into Kentucky's broader economic development 99 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:12,880 strategy? Kentucky's a large agriculture state. We have, cattle is one of our primary industry, 100 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:17,440 but also crops is wailed. And one of the things that we look at is how can we help our farmers, 101 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:22,560 but plus how are aviation community because it's our fastest growing industry. And our largest 102 00:09:22,560 --> 00:09:29,440 industry right now in the state is the aerospace industry. And so, we were trying to help them in 103 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:35,760 that way. We worked with many of the airports, many of the airlines, UPS, Amazon, 104 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:42,400 those cutters on making sure that we could give them what they need. And right now, a lot of them 105 00:09:42,400 --> 00:09:47,120 in their business plans are looking for alternative aviation for you. They're kind of forced into that, 106 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:53,760 especially in the European market. Right now, our largest airport up in Cincinnati is looking to 107 00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:59,920 add some European flights into Germany. And Germany requires that those flights have that 108 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:04,960 aviation fuel in them when they come into the cutters, sir. We're trying to help them with that and 109 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:10,080 be a producer here in the state. What we did was we made a producing tax credit. So our refineries 110 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:15,440 will get a credit for producing the fuel, but our farmers get a large credit as well for 111 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:20,240 producing the soybean and the foreign that will go into this fuel. And so, we're trying to help our 112 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:25,280 farmer for them anything right now as well as our industry. And I think we're on the right path. 113 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:31,760 Yeah. And the South leads the way for aviation and aerospace also ag production. So it does seem 114 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:40,080 like a great fit for Kentucky to have stepped out as one of the leaders in that space. And to your point, 115 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:46,160 kind of forward looking and creating those opportunities that weren't available years ago, a decade 116 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:52,720 ago weren't things that y'all are grappling with. But what does that next step look like? And I heard 117 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:58,640 you blabbing clear and I agree. I've heard this across multiple southern states that, you know, our 118 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:05,360 resources available in our states in order to support the industries that create the jobs that 119 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:12,480 create innovation and the future. So thanks for taking the lead on something in Kentucky and 120 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:17,280 we're watching. I'm sure you've got a couple other things up your sleeves as well for that. So in the 121 00:11:17,280 --> 00:11:24,000 future, your legislative work this year has also touched on higher education, workforce development 122 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:31,120 and prison education programs. So looking ahead, what industries or sectors do you believe are most 123 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:36,800 important to Kentucky's long term economic future? And how can the Commonwealth position itself to 124 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:43,200 compete for those opportunities? Well, I think that as I'm already midgey, we have the aviation 125 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:47,760 industry of course is going to continue to expand. I think you're going to see the automotive industry 126 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:52,400 continue to expand. But it's not just about those larger companies either. It's our small businesses 127 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:57,280 and we need to make sure that all those small businesses are on main streets in our small towns 128 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:02,160 are successful as well. And they're primary, the ones that are going to be more and most of 129 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:07,840 your people in your state are your small businesses. So we just need to create an environment that 130 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:14,400 with our tax structure, with our policies and our procedures and our regulations in our state, 131 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:19,200 to reduce those enough that these folks can operate in the way that government gets out of their 132 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,680 way and that allows them to live their lives. And that's actually kind of the next direction is 133 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:29,280 that rule economic development piece. So one issue that resonates across much of the South is ensuring 134 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:35,040 economic growth reaches every region of a state. So you've been involved in effort supporting 135 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:40,080 regional development projects, including major investments in economic infrastructure in central 136 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:47,360 Kentucky. So Kentucky includes, let's start that question over, Kentucky includes major metropolitan 137 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:52,080 areas as well as many rural communities. So what lessons has the Commonwealth learned about 138 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:57,600 ensuring economic growth reaches every region of your state, every district? Well, like I said, 139 00:12:57,600 --> 00:13:02,800 a lot of your larger companies who are now starting to come back to the United States are going to 140 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:08,880 need expansive areas to build on. And most of that is going to be in those rural areas. And so that's 141 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:14,080 what we're doing is comparing that in my district, we at my district in Representative Josh Brage 142 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:21,200 Difter, we established a very large industrial market, some megacytes of 1600 acres. We've got 143 00:13:21,200 --> 00:13:26,240 all the infrastructure there, it's there to go. We want to be ready for the future. And that site now is 144 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:32,320 one of the top 10 sites in the nation as far as the data sites go. And so we're hopeful and 145 00:13:32,320 --> 00:13:36,000 we're in discussions with some folks now and hopefully thanks for paying out very soon. Okay, 146 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:41,200 we heard it here. Central Kentucky has a megacytes ready for you. So they're open for business. 147 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:46,080 So call speaker, protein, mead, oh, really probably call the economic development folks in Kentucky, 148 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:51,600 but we're I can you treat contact with it, but they're ready. So that brings us to the broader picture. 149 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:57,200 Kentucky has experienced significant economic momentum in recent years while continuing to navigate 150 00:13:57,200 --> 00:14:03,360 workforce, infrastructure and competitiveness challenges that many states are facing. Where do you 151 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:10,320 see Kentucky leading or making the most meaningful progress right now when it comes to economic development? 152 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:16,640 I think that energy is one of our areas that we have always led in, you know, with the coal industry 153 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:20,960 that is kind of transitioned open natural gas, most of our power plants and things like that. 154 00:14:20,960 --> 00:14:28,080 But it's something that we're facing in the future as far as the difficulty, do we have enough energy 155 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:32,080 for these companies that are coming because a lot of these larger companies, the more especially 156 00:14:32,080 --> 00:14:38,720 things like data centers or some of our larger automotive industries, they're digging so much energy 157 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:43,520 that we're trying to prepare for that. And part of that is making sure that your electric infrastructure 158 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:48,160 was up to date as well. So we partner with our co-offs, we partner with our electric companies to try 159 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:54,080 to make sure that we're advancing in that area. So I think that's something that a lot of our states 160 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:58,240 are scurrying with all across the South is how are we going to have the easier for these companies 161 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,240 that is needed. One of the greatest resources we have across the South of course, water and 162 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,360 water these companies need, need that resources as well. So we're positioned very, very well, 163 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:12,000 don't be in the South. And I think that as we come together, especially when we come to get at 164 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:17,760 CSG South, all of our states come together and being able to work through these things and 165 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:23,120 partner together and developing solutions. It's been a good thing for all of us and being able 166 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:27,120 to reach out to each other and say, "Hey, what are you doing in your state to advance this? What are 167 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:31,200 you getting doing in your state to be prepared for this?" So it's a good collaboration of states. 168 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:38,400 Yeah, we're seeing energy bills pass across the Southern states. I know you all are talking and 169 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:42,800 sharing that information and I think that we'll see more and more of those over the next several 170 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:50,320 sessions, particularly to address the data concerns and opportunities around data centers as well 171 00:15:50,320 --> 00:15:57,040 as the energy usage that beyond data centers that we're consuming as individuals but also as these 172 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:02,160 industries are consuming. So a lot of our states are working on that issue. So I'm glad that Kentucky's 173 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:07,520 at the table being that you all are such a strong energy-producing state as well as to your point 174 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:13,360 a water forward state. So where do you believe Kentucky still has the greatest opportunity for 175 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:19,280 improvement when it comes to long-term economic competitiveness? I think that one of the areas that 176 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:24,240 we continue to need to work on is preparing our workforce, making sure that they're educated, 177 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:30,560 making sure that we have the perfect number of people out there. Kentucky is a heavily dependent 178 00:16:30,560 --> 00:16:36,400 Medicaid state. We're then cracking down on making sure that the fraud or the use of that program 179 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:43,360 is cut out and that is what built on our focus is recently. And so we're trying to make sure also 180 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:48,240 that we partner with our economic development and our health and family services can for those who 181 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:53,520 are on the program completely able by that we partner in order to get them to training necessary 182 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:59,120 and help them to get back out into the water force. And it's interesting. I don't think the just normal 183 00:16:59,120 --> 00:17:05,360 citizen would think about how Medicaid and economic development actually do have to work together. 184 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:11,280 They are not two separate things with separate conversations that don't ever intersect in these 185 00:17:11,280 --> 00:17:17,920 really complex issues, really for a state. So when you think about the next five or ten years, 186 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:22,800 what would convince you that Kentucky is not just attracting investment but truly building a 187 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:28,400 strong and more resilient economy? Well, I think that we focus on who we're going 188 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:33,520 partner here when it comes to economic development through our budget process and also through the 189 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:39,840 camera for economic development. We look at long-term growth. We look at people that we're going to 190 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:45,360 partner with that we're going to try to incentivize that we're going to introduce to this state 191 00:17:45,360 --> 00:17:50,560 are going to be long-time partners. And so when especially when we develop a plan for those 192 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,800 companies or the incentive package or where it may be it's a long-term package they're going 193 00:17:54,800 --> 00:17:58,240 to actually be here for a while. And so we know that they're going to be good partners from 194 00:17:58,240 --> 00:18:06,880 again to stir. Nice. Well, kind of looking more at the regional lens right now as chair of CSG South, 195 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:12,240 you have the opportunity to engage with leaders from across the region and really across the country 196 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:17,840 who are facing many of the same challenges. So what economic development trends are you seeing 197 00:18:17,840 --> 00:18:23,520 across southern states that excite you the most? Well, I think you're seeing a large amount of 198 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:27,680 growth across the entire southern region and I think it's because a lot of our policies line up 199 00:18:27,680 --> 00:18:34,560 with each other. We worked very hard to develop those policies and we've gotten feedback from these 200 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:39,680 business leaders to say what do we do to help you? What can we do to make sure that growth 201 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:44,880 is to suck these good for you, sustainable for you, how can we help? And so those are the I think 202 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:49,440 that's the biggest thing that gives me hope across the South is because we're all most of us are 203 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:55,920 like minded, we're all taking the same way trying to work on the same type of policies and if you look 204 00:18:55,920 --> 00:19:00,880 across the nation right now the South is the leader in this industrial boom where the ones bring 205 00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:08,320 most of the companies to our areas. And still looking through that lens of CSG South chair, 206 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:13,280 what is one economic development challenge that nearly every southern state seems to be talking 207 00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:19,680 about right now? I think I think energy, water, data centers is kind of that natural fit. Is there 208 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:24,560 anything beyond that that you think is really taking center stage as a big challenge? Medicaid right now 209 00:19:24,560 --> 00:19:30,000 is drawing to hit us probably pretty hard in our budgets across the South, across the country, but the 210 00:19:30,000 --> 00:19:39,520 South there is a heavy dependence on Medicaid in our areas and so when that reduction in our budgets 211 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:44,880 come we're going to have less money to spend on those economic development projects and things 212 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:49,840 like that because when I back there are some holes. So we're going to have to do some some 213 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:56,160 subdating on that and figure out ways that we can make sure that we are defining it ready for 214 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:02,960 those economic development projects. That's also as I mentioned before is getting those 215 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:08,560 folks that we can back out to work as the Medicaid roles decrease and making sure that we can help them 216 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:15,040 and have a sustainable life that we're yeah and actually we have a data center session at the Southern 217 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:20,160 Legislative Conference in July as well as we have our main policy planaries actually Medicaid 218 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:25,440 and President Stivers is going to moderate that so we'll have a very thoughtful conversation 219 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,680 about Medicaid so it's a great point and then we are also hosting on July, 220 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:34,960 love it the first day of SLC the regional energy summit so we are very much though highlighting 221 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:41,440 two of those big topics at SLC next month under your leadership so thank you for that and 222 00:20:41,440 --> 00:20:48,480 and you brought it full circle. So before we close I'd like to end with a question we ask all 223 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:53,600 of our guests what is the best piece of professional advice you've ever received and how does it 224 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,000 shape the way you approach leadership today? I don't know that it's just one piece of the 225 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:06,400 advice that I've received I think it's over time folks pretty used as mentors who you know kind of lead 226 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:11,280 you along and tell you how to conduct yourself I think one of the best things that I've been told 227 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:18,720 is when I first came in the general assembly was that mood to sit back listen get a full grasp of 228 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:24,320 the issue that you're talking about before you speak on it and be knowledgeable about it and so 229 00:21:24,320 --> 00:21:30,320 that's one of the things I'll be about but also I think that it goes back to how you know I was raised 230 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:35,280 and it grew up and I believe that two of the three of the greatest qualities that a leader can have are 231 00:21:35,280 --> 00:21:40,480 kindness, compassion and humility and so I try to operate in that way with your kind to everyone 232 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:46,240 show everyone respect there within willing to work with you work for you and so that's still I 233 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:51,840 try to free everybody as good as possible can you compassion you have to have your heart in it you have 234 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:59,680 to you have to make sure that you you do things in a way that you're caring I can't allow motions to 235 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:04,880 drive policy but we do need to have a heart in it would know that we're helping people and why we're 236 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:11,040 helping people with your and then of course humility is I don't think that though you know I think 237 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:15,120 the greatest leaders are the ones who do create it there to want us and don't take that credit 238 00:22:15,120 --> 00:22:20,880 themselves so I try to make sure that my colleagues in the caucus or in the house get most of the 239 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:27,120 good at anytime I speak ammunition well I can attest you being my chair you've led with kindness as 240 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:33,120 well as your heart and I have watched your skill the art that you explained of sitting back and 241 00:22:33,120 --> 00:22:38,400 listening and really understanding and I've had several conversations that you're not aware of 242 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:45,440 where people said he listens he is absorbing everything and then when he speaks he means it but 243 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:51,200 he has been listening and learning so that's it's interesting that you that was your professional 244 00:22:51,200 --> 00:23:00,000 advice I have watched you live that many many times and it's working for you so speaker pro to 245 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:04,960 mead thank you for joining us and for sharing your perspective on Kentucky's economic future and 246 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:09,600 the opportunities ahead for the Commonwealth and the South also want to thank you for your 247 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:14,480 leadership as chair of CSG South and for your continued commitment to strengthen collaboration 248 00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:18,720 among Southern states we can't wait for the Southern Legislative Conference in Lexington, 249 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:23,840 Kentucky this July under your leadership. Well, if I get lazy and I can't say enough great things about 250 00:23:23,840 --> 00:23:29,200 even and our work working relationship this year and how much work you have done not just on the 251 00:23:29,200 --> 00:23:36,320 conference but for CSG South our year. I appreciate that sir and to our listeners thank you for tuning in 252 00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:42,160 to real estate for more conversations like this and to register in advance for the Southern Legislative 253 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:47,360 Conference visit csg south dot org I'm Lindsey Gray let's keep it real. 254 00:23:47,360 --> 00:24:01,360 Thank you for joining us today on real estate where we keep it real about what really matters.