West Louisville has been plagued with broken promises. One nonprofit is changing that.
Though The Partnership has been met with criticism, it is committed to improving West Louisville through community engagement and tax revenue.
The West End Opportunity Partnership (The Partnership) is a nonprofit public agency established in 2021 by the Kentucky General Assembly to strategically invest in the West End of Louisville through $30 million of seed capital and incremental tax revenue generated in the development area. The Partnership is a new model designed to invest in economic development projects and homeowner stabilization. Greater economic support will help provide residents in the nine neighborhoods with better-paying jobs, greater access to healthcare, stable housing and foodsecurity. The board plans to work closely with the nine neighborhoods and focus on projects supported by residents and businesses in the area to ensure both short and long-term success.
The Partnership’s board is not just a group of individuals but a true reflection of the community it serves. Comprising 21 members, nine representing each neighborhood in West Louisville, the board is a testament to The Partnership's community-oriented approach and mission to give every member an equal voice at the table. These members, including representatives from Simmons College of Kentucky, The University of Louisville, Louisville Urban League and Volunteers of America Mid States, all of which have a long-standing history of involvement and work in West Louisville, are deeply committed to the community's welfare and development.
OneWest:Giving the West End responsible development with a community focus.
The Partnership brings projects to West Louisville that others can't
As an autonomous body, The Partnership is uniquely positioned to fund and endorse projects that might be unattainable for Louisville Metro or the Commonwealth. It leverages insights from its board and, most importantly, the community to allocate resources to projects that resonate with the community and yield tangible benefits. For instance, this year, The Partnership joined forces with LHome to assist West End homeowners in paying their incremental residential property taxes, a decision that was guided by the community's needs and concerns.
A tale of two cities:I toured two neighborhoods on opposite ends of town. The differences were heartbreaking.
West Louisville has a long history of underinvestment and broken promises, leaving the nine neighborhoods without the economic stability and growth they deserve. This new way of doing business is met with skepticism and mistrust by residents and organizations who fear The Partnership will do more harm than good. However, the legislation guarantees that the organization will have support for a minimum of 20 years by guaranteeing that 80% of new tax revenue generated within the development area will be returned to The Partnership. With an initial funding of $30 million, $10 million each from local, private, and state resources, the Partnership has the foundation to make the right investments in the most needed projects, as deemed necessary by the community and determined by The Partnership’s board, members of the West Louisville community. In other words, we have the unique opportunity to determine how our tax dollars are spent, as opposed to those decisions being made in Frankfort or Metro Hall. Community meetings were held earlier this year, and residents voiced their opinions about needed and desired projects, which will be taken seriously.
The Partnership’s board and staff are unwavering in their commitment to the mission. West Louisville deserves no less. As new opportunities or challenges appear, we will face them head-on, always staying focused on maximizing the opportunity to give West Louisville what it needs to ensure all residents have a brighter tomorrow.
Laura Douglas is Interim President and CEO.