Louisville’s Ambitious Talent Growth Plan

Louisville has set an ambitious goal: add 41,000 working-age individuals to the regional workforce by 2030.  

At the center of this effort is Live in Lou, a campaign that started in 2016 as a way to share Louisville’s story beyond bourbon and horses, and has since grown into a nationally recognized model for talent attraction and retention. 

On this episode of Talent Wars, host Patience Fairbrother speaks with the Vice President of Marketing, Talent Attraction and Retention at Greater Louisville Inc., Kelly Gold, to explore how Live in Lou is building a long-term talent ecosystem that goes beyond job listings. From AI-powered job matching and targeted digital campaigns to the City Champs ambassador program and a nationally acclaimed K-12 workforce program, Louisville is taking a holistic approach to connecting talent, employers and community. 

Listen in to learn: 

• Why Louisville decided it was time to completely revamp the Live in Lou website  

• How Greater Louisville Inc. balances attraction, retention and workforce development under one umbrella 

• The role of private-label digital campaigns in filling high-demand roles 

• Why consistency, partnerships and human stories are central to Live in Lou’s success 

If you’re building or scaling a talent campaign, Louisville’s story shows how a clear vision, long-term commitment and strong community alignment can move the needle on population growth. 

Listen and subscribe to Talent Wars on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. To submit guest or episode topic ideas, email patience.fairbrother@aboutdci.com.