Greater Louisville Inc.
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Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Greater Louisville Inc. is an organization that promotes the growth of businesses in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. It began as the Louisville Area Development Association (LADA), established in 1943 by mayor Wilson Wyatt. By 1950, LADA had absorbed the Board of Trade (established in 1862), the Retail Merchants Association and the Convention Bureau. It was renamed Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce, and was one of the first such groups accredited by the United States Chamber of Commerce.
The Louisville Development Committee was launched in 1971 to promote Louisville nationally, using direct mailings of Louisville magazine, published by the Chamber. The chamber also revitalized the Kentucky Derby Festival in the 1970s by providing car pooling and business support services.
In the 1990s, the chamber moved to the Commerce Center at 600 W. Main and sold Louisville magazine. In 1997 the Louisville Area Chamber of Commerce merged with the rival group Greater Louisville Economic Development Partnership, which had been founded in 1987, and in January 1998 the board voted to rename the chamber as Greater Louisville, Inc.
President/CEO
- K. P. Vinsel (1950–1966). Former University of Louisville professor
- Charles F. Herd (1966–1983). Previously headed Knoxville's Chamber of Commerce
- James O. Robertson (1983–1991). Economic development expert
- Robert H. Gayle (1991–1996)
- Douglass Cobb (1996–1997)
- Steven Higdon (2000–2005)
- Joe Reagan (2005–2011)
- Craig Richard (2012–2014)
- Kent Oyler (2014–present)
