This morning a new report focusing on growing Louisville's food and bourbon economy was announced on Metro Newroom at Louisvilleky.Gov.
The article, which can be viewed here, states that the goal is to make Louisville a good and spirits capital by taking advantage of the global popularity of bourbon and the city's nationally-recognized culinary scene. Louisville is becoming a prominent tourist location and has this unique opportunity to grow develop the tourist economy
"As we all know, bourbon is 'hot' right now," Fischer said. "Fortune Magazine recently said we're in a 'Billion-Dollar Bourbon Boom.' But while trends come and go, bourbon is a proud part of Louisville's history, a big part of our present, and with this plan, will be an even bigger part of our future. This is our chance to increase the momentum so that Louisville and bourbon are as classically paired as Napa Valley is to wine."
Last December, The Bourbon & Food Work Group, appointed by Mayor Greg Fischer, unveiled a 22-page report that detailed many strategies that would take Louisville to the heights of being the best spirits and bourbon capital in the world. This report can be viewed here. This group has more than 60 members and the work is divided among three groups. These groups include: Food Committee, Bourbon Committee, and Bourbon Built Environment Committee. The men and women in charge of these committees are prominent figures in the community involved with culinary and bourbon.
This report poses six recommendation and many smaller ideas that will be aid in growing the food and bourbon economy, including but not limited to: creating a bourbon visitor center, creating an annual world-class signature Bourbon and Food Festival (that will focus particularly on Louisville), creating a bourbon certification and recognition system, incorporating bourbon and food into Louisville International Airport, creating a common marketing strategy for the city based upon bourbon and food, and using bourbon to market and sell the city. These suggestions and ideas will integrate bourbon and food immensely in the Louisville community, thus making Louisville the go-to bourbon capital and increasing the tourist economy.
Louisville Metro and Mayor Greg Fischer want to hear from the public about these ideas and any other suggestions you may have. Mayor Fischer will be accepting suggestions and public opinion about this report until May 31. You can email your comments or ideas to chris.poynter@louisvilleky.gov or emalee.lundin@louisvilleky.gov or by tagging the mayor on Twitter at @Louisvillemayor or Facebook at Mayor Greg Fischer.
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