LOUISVILLE, KY – Today, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) hosted U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and other local and national leaders for its second annual South Summit in Louisville, KY. The event, with support from South Initiative Chair Coca-Cola, brought 150 local business, veteran, and community leaders and an online audience of 65,000 together for a critical discussion on the importance of diplomacy, development, and democracy and why it matters to the national and economic security of communities, families, and businesses across Kentucky and the South. The South is the fastest growing region of the United States, and this growth has bought an influx of international investment and expanded export markets for companies in states like Kentucky, where nearly one in five jobs are supported by international trade.

In addition to Leader McConnell, the event featured Ashli Watts, President & CEO of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Denise Sears, President & CEO of SOS International, CNN’s Scott Jennings, Lt. General Lawrence D. Nicholson, USCM (Ret.) and Nick D’Andrea, Head of State Public Affairs of UPS.

Kentucky has recently grown its share of global exports, exporting $40.2 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2023, a 17% increase compared to 2022, largely on the strength of its transportation equipment and chemical industries. Exports of Kentucky’s renowned livestock and world-famous bourbon distilleries generate millions of dollars in profits and thousands of jobs. In Kentucky, 483,700 jobs are supported by trade, representing 18.8% of all jobs in the state underscoring how America’s investments in diplomacy and development benefit Kentucky locally.

For more and to see the full program: https://www.usglc.org/south-initiative/.

“The most enthusiastic supporters of foreign assistance that I’ve ever met are members of the military, because they know you can get support through diplomacy, particularly with all of your friends, much more cheaply than you can be involved in warfare… Nobody realizes how little we actually spend on the diplomatic side to help avoid a war… It’s not charity, it’s in America’s best interest,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell.

“Deterrence plays into everything. And you do that by investing in your partners and your allies. It’s about understanding that the world looks at the United States in a way that it looks at no other country and is very dependent on us for leadership on a daily basis,” said Lt. General Lawrence D. Nicholson, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.).

“If there’s anything I can say today, it’s that trust, transparency, and inclusion are the three important things that need to be enhanced with [public-private] partnerships,” said Nick D’Andrea, Head of State Public Affairs of UPS. “So the key is to make sure we’re all involved upfront. That’s where the best collaboration occurs and what can strengthen us the most.”

“We bring together a diverse network of leaders from all 50 states, including 9 states from the American South, the fastest growing region in the United States,” said Jeremy Tolbert, Deputy National Outreach Director of the Eastern Region. “Our engagement in the world has a direct impact on our kitchen table issues and we believe that strategic investments in diplomacy and development are essential to protecting and projecting the very best of American values.”