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Kentucky Chamber of Commerce The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is a business-oriented advocacy group, lobbying for the progress of Kentucky businesses. It is a non-partisan organization, and is not affiliated with federal, state or local governments. It is independent of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and of local and regional chambers of commerce in Kentucky. The Kentucky Chamber is the state’s largest business organization in spends more money than any other lobbying organization statewide on a yearly basis Lexington Herald-Leader.

History The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce as it exists today, was founded in 1946. It was originally located in Louisville, Ky., but in [NEED YEAR], moved to Frankfort, Ky., for easier access to the state capitol. Chamber headquarters are now located off of Interstate 64, and the Chamber sometimes refers to itself as “the front door to Frankfort.” [KY GAZETTE SPECIAL SECTION]. According to a newspaper article in the Louisville Herald-Post, an organization known as the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1927. The article states: “The necessity of keeping the organization out of politics was stressed by speakers of the meeting. Support of the movement to make a national park of Mammoth Cave was urged by P.W. Holmes of Glasgow.” In addition to supporting the Mammoth Cave movement, the early state chamber was also instrumental in supporting the coal industry. “A letter thanking Judge Jay W. Harlan, executive director of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, for proposed co-operation with the railroads and coal operators of Kentucky in their lake cargo freight rate fight with the Interstate Commerce Commission was received Monday from R.C. Tway, a coal operator member of the general committee.” [Courier Journal, Sept, 13, 1927] On July 10, 1927, the Louisville Courier-Journal reported that the Kentucky Chamber had established temporary offices in the Starks Building in Louisville, and that Jay W. Harlan was the executive director of the organization. In 1928, the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act creating the Kentucky Progress Commission, which then took the place of the state chamber of commerce [kyhistory.com]. A Nov. 23, 1929 Danville Advocate article about Jay W. Harlan’s bid for congress cited Harlan as the driving force behind the state chamber and Progress Commission: “It was due to his efforts principally that the State Chamber of Commerce was organized, and from which grew the Kentucky Progress Commission. The latter is a State-aided institution to advertise and develop the resources of Kentucky.” Harlan tendered his resignation from the Progress Commission in June 1929. The Kentucky Advocate reported: Judge Harlan was managing director of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, which later merged with the Kentucky Progress Commission and has contributed much time and money during the past several years to efforts on behalf of the state.