The “ Bluegrass State” will roll out the “red” carpet for metal finishers, suppliers, end users, and OEMs on June 16–17, 2009. That’s when the participants of SUR/FIN 2009—the North American surface finishing industry’s premier trade show and technical conference—are expected to descend on the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville to network, preview new products, and share best business and operational practices.
“Louisville is looking forward to hosting SUR/FIN 2009,” said Louisville Mayor Jerry E. Abramson. “Were a city on the move—our downtown is abuzz with activity, and we are a hub of manufacturing jobs. There’s a reason we call ourselves ‘ Possibility City,’ because in Louisville, anything is possible.”The National Association for Surface Finishing—the show’s organizer and chief sponsor—hopes industry members will “explore the possibilities” when next summer rolls around. And with all that Louisville has to offer, the case to come to Kentucky is very compelling. “The venue just fits SUR/FIN,” said Eric Olander, vice chairman of the SUR/FIN 2009 Steering Committee. “ Louisville is a good convention town, has great accommodations and area attractions, and it’s easy to move around in. Plus, it’s a quick trip from the airport.”
More importantly, the state of Kentucky in general is very “industry-friendly,” which is critical for manufacturing sectors such as metal finishing. In fact, Louisville was recently anointed as the “Southeast’s leader in manufacturing” by Manufacturers’ News magazine. Louisville’s auto manufacturing sector is particularly appealing to finishers. “It’s the gateway to the automotive south,” said Olander, citing Ford, Toyota, and Corvette plants operating in the state. Louisville is also strategically located near some of the world’s largest OEMs and applicators, he added.
The importance of Louisville’s role in the auto manufacturing sector was recently demonstrated when Ford Motor Company unveiled a $200 million investment plan to expand operations in the city. Specifically, Ford plans an additional $100 million investment at its Kentucky Truck Plant—on top of the $200 million in retooling over the past two years—to allow the plant to produce the Navigator and Expedition models starting in spring 2009. Ford also plans to invest at least $100 million in the Louisville Assembly Plant to provide the manufacturing flexibility to produce a new, fuel-efficient car for the U.S. market by 2011.
Attractions
The allure of Louisville goes well beyond its industrial attributes. Dubbed America’s “ Most Livable Large City” by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Louisville offers world-class performing arts venues, sports and entertainment complexes, fine dining establishments, and a bustling downtown area. Among the main attractions: the famed 4th Street Live District, Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby Museum, Waterfront Park, Muhammad Ali Center, Speed Museum, Louisville Slugger Museum, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Zoo, Louisville Science Center, and Six Flags/Kentucky Kingdom, among others.
According to the Mayor’s office, more than $2.5 billion in investment and development is currently under way for downtown Louisville. Recent highlights include the multi-purpose arena, $150 million in new development surrounding Louisville Slugger Field, the proposed Iron Quarter Development, and nearly a half-billion dollar proposed expansion of the Fourth Street entertainment district.
“The Center City District will be an epicenter of electricity that connects the high-energy areas of our downtown—from the waterfront and throughout the heart of the city,” Mayor Abramson said. “It’s a quarter-of-a-billion-dollar investment that takes our downtown to a new level—from a project-by-project approach to a system of strategically connected districts that serve as economic magnets to draw millions of people, and dollars, to Louisville.”