[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14405]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING COMMERCE LEXINGTON INC.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I wish to recognize an organization in 
my home State that has been honored for the fine work it is doing for 
the people of central Kentucky. Commerce Lexington, Inc., the chamber 
of commerce organization for greater Lexington, has been named Chamber 
of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, ACCE. 
In doing so, it beat other chambers of commerce from across the 
country, including those representing Brooklyn, NY; Jacksonville, FL; 
and Tacoma, WA. This is the first time Commerce Lexington Inc. has won 
this award.
  ACCE's Chamber of the Year award recognizes the leadership role 
chambers of commerce play in both their respective business communities 
and in civic life. To win the award, Commerce Lexington Inc. had to 
compete against hundreds of other chambers, including those from 93 of 
the top 100 U.S. metro areas.
  ACCE presented the award to Commerce Lexington Inc. at its annual 
convention in Savannah, GA, this past August. Commerce Lexington Inc. 
has been a finalist for the award 3 years in a row--2014, 2015, and 
2016. And in addition to receiving the Chamber of the Year award, 
Commerce Lexington Inc. also earned one of ACCE's top communications/
marketing honors, the Grand Award.
  Commerce Lexington Inc. has about 1,700 members, and its mission is 
simple: to promote economic development, job creation, and growth in 
the greater Lexington area. It works to foster both the creation of new 
businesses and the growth of existing ones. Formed in 2004, its roots 
trace back to 1797. Commerce Lexington Inc.'s president and CEO, Bob 
Quick, leads a talented and dedicated staff, and he is doing a great 
job leading the organization, as it receipt of this award so ably 
demonstrates.
  Of course, Commerce Lexington Inc. is successful because they have a 
great product. Lexington is widely regarded as one of the most livable 
cities in America and ranks high on lists of best places to start a 
business, find a job, or pursue higher education. It is a major 
economic driver of the Bluegrass State, location of the preeminent 
University of Kentucky, and home to the famous Keeneland Race Course.
  I congratulate Bob Quick, Andi Johnson, and the leadership and staff 
of Commerce Lexington Inc. for winning this prestigious award. Of the 
thousands of chambers of commerce across our Nation, it is quite an 
honor to be recognized as one of the very best. I am grateful for 
Commerce Lexington Inc. and all they do for the Commonwealth.

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