Henderson Downtown Partnership and Chamber of Commerce to merge

John T. Martin, Henderson Gleaner
·2 min read
Lindsay Locasto
Lindsay Locasto

HENDERSON, Ky. — The Henderson Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Henderson Partnership announced a merger of the two organizations, effective April 1.

Officials said the move will better allow both groups to pursue their shared goals. With the merger, Downtown Henderson Partnership will become a division of the Chamber, at 114 N. Main St.

Events sponsored by the Downtown Henderson Partnership such as Porchfest, Fourth of July Fireworks and Art Hop will continue.

The chamber last fall hired Downtown Henderson Partnership Director Lindsay Locasto as its new president, replacing the retired Ellen Redding, and the idea to explore a merger was launched then.

The boards of each organization worked through issues such as membership, charters, bylaws and finances.

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Downtown Henderson Partnership began as part of the Chamber organization, but it later branched off to focus on initiatives of the Main Street Program.

More recently, though, DHP's role evolved to include presenting downtown events, as well as work on beautification and streetscape improvements and supporting downtown businesses.

“We are encouraged and excited to see these two entities coming back together and working as one to grow Henderson and Henderson County,” said Doug Lawson, chairman of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce board of directors, in a news release.

Locasto said there will be “one streamlined membership” to both organizations, allowing members the benefits previously offered by each organization.

There had been 48 businesses that invested in memberships to both organizations that will now need only one to get every benefit available, according to officials, who said erasing that redundancy is another reason for the merger.

The move comes two years after the Henderson agency then known as Kyndle split into two organizations — the Chamber and Henderson Economic Development. Henderson Economic Development remains an independent agency focused on job recruitment and retention.

This article originally appeared on Henderson Gleaner: Henderson Downtown Partnership, Chamber announce merge organizations