FRANKFORT, Ky.— Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton today joined Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon at the Kye’s II Conference Center in Jeffersonville, Indiana to announce a shared vision for the Kentuckiana region. The two governors were keynotes speakers at the Regional Leadership Coalition conference, a cooperative effort of Leadership Southern Indiana and Leadership Louisville.
“States and cities can no longer afford to view themselves in an isolated fashion,” Governor Patton said. “In today’s high-tech, fast-paced world, the key to success is erasing borders, forging new partnerships and collaborations and building on the strengths of entire region.”
The two governors pledged to be partners in strengthening the educational attainment among Kentucky and Indiana students, developing a skilled workforce, building on the region’s competitive assets and supporting region-wide cooperative transportation planning efforts for the area. “The role of good government is to provide local communities and regions with the infrastructure, programs and policies they need in order to grow and thrive in the manner they choose,” Patton said. “Governor O’Bannon and I are here today to give you our commitment that we will work with you to ensure that both state governments support, not hinder, your efforts.”
Patton announced that, over the next four months, he has directed members of his staff to work with members of Governor O’Bannon’s staff and Jefferson County officials to develop recommendations and potential state policies to accomplish these shared goals for education, workforce development, new economy and transportation.
Governor Patton pledged to assign representatives of the Kentucky Cabinet for Workforce Development and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System to work with Governor O’Bannon’s representatives to build “a seamless, coordinated strategy that links local businesses with skilled workers.”
“Louisville is at a critical crossroads,” Governor Patton said, comparing the region’s opportunities to Lewis and Clark’s boundless vision and undaunted courage. “As leaders we must show the same determination and spirit Thomas Jefferson described of the two explorers when he wrote…Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose which nothing but impossibilities could divert from its direction.”
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