Louisville Downtown Partnership Director Honored For Vision & Community Impact
Rebecca Fleischaker, executive director of the Louisville Downtown Partnership (LDP), recently received the John Russell Groves Citizens Laureate Award.
It’s a service award for those who advocate, support and encourage the values of quality architecture in their community through leadership, service and dedication to a better living environment.
She was nominated through an application submitted by several Louisville architects — and secretly, her staff at LDP also weighed in.
“It was a nomination for Rebecca based on all that she does for downtown Louisville. There’s also an aspect of historic preservation to it, which Rebecca is a champion of as well,” says Bryn Alston, marketing and communications manager. “We worked together with a few members of our board and got the ball rolling. We’re so glad she was able to receive the award, and it was amazing.”
Fleischaker says she had never received anything like it.
“I actually found out by an email with a congratulations letter, and I thought they must have the wrong person,” Fleischaker says. “It was very nice and very, very humbling. I feel honored.”
Fleischaker joined LDP as executive director in the fall of 2021.
The organization serves as an umbrella over the Downtown Development Corporation (DDC) and the Louisville Downtown Management District (LDMD).
“The two groups were separate entities until 2013, and now they have been brought together. We have the same staff of eight of us that do the work for both entities,” Fleischaker says. “They both inform each other. We need a clean, safe, welcoming downtown, and we also need employers, developers, investors and tourists — and in order to be successful, they need a clean, safe, welcoming downtown.”
Fleischaker has a long career in economic development prior to joining LDP and has a passion for all the needs of downtown Louisville.
“Really, everything is economic development,” she says. “Patching potholes is economic development because it impacts the business environment and our experience on the streets. People are more likely to locate or invest in a city that takes care of itself. It’s the ability to package something and sell it, and it includes so many different things you need to put together. That’s the fun part.”
Within weeks of becoming executive director, Fleischaker began doing what she does best — reaching out.
She wrote a guest editorial article for The Courier Journal, simply introducing herself and what she hoped to do for downtown Louisville while encouraging others to join her.
“Every time I get a chance to talk about it, I talk about being a champion in the city you choose to live in,” Fleischaker says. “We need to be walking around on the street, so what can we do as an organization that helps you get out of your house and out of your neighborhood with unique experiences that you want to share with friends and family?”
Within the first three months, LDP installed the first several hundred of what is now 750 banners along the light poles in the downtown area, featuring colorful examples of all things downtown Louisville — from music to sports and everything in between.
Fleischaker then hired a marketing and communications manager (Alston).
“I wanted someone waking up every day thinking just about our downtown area. I don’t want to be a client of a PR agency or marketing firm,” Fleischaker says. “Then we hired a placemaking manager (Jenny Cutshaw). This is someone taking care of our public spaces so we could see what we need to maintain but also look at new ideas.”
Murals have been added along buildings downtown. Large swings have been installed at Fifth and Main streets. There are four pianos sitting in public rights of way, allowing residents and visitors to sit down and play a tune at any time. That number is expected to double in 2026.
In addition, they’ve implemented a rotating temporary public art installation program, placing new public art throughout the downtown area every six weeks.
“In my mind, every time you turn a corner, I want you to see something whimsical and fun,” Fleischaker says. “It’s something that tells you you’re in Louisville and you want to take a picture or share it with someone.”
LDP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. However, they do receive some support from the city. They regularly write grant requests and receive support from corporate donations and fundraising, but individuals can get involved too.
“We started a new program, Friends of Downtown, in 2022,” Fleischaker says. “It’s not a membership organization, but we do offer perks if you donate. For example, if you’d like to take a behind-the-scenes tour at the Actors Theatre, you have to become a friend first and then you can come along on the tour. I think we had 30 people at our last tour, and it was a lot of fun.”
Looking forward to 2026, Fleischaker’s goal is to see some of the long-term plans she’s envisioned come to fruition. Despite banners, public art and other events, there is still a lot of work going on behind the scenes.
There are approximately 10,000 residents in the core of downtown Louisville. Fleischaker would like to see that number double.
“We’re really pushing for residential development,” she adds. “Now that remote work has changed and people don’t come to the office as often, the third leg to the stool for a healthy downtown is residents who live in the downtown area. We know there is a pent-up demand here for a residential market. It takes time to put together location, plans and funding, but I’m looking for that 18- to 24-hour-per-day activity. You want people here all the time, and the other services will follow.”
In 2024, the 10-year Downtown Executive Summary was unveiled through LDP, and it details the three pillars — or legs of the stool — LDP is focused on to improve downtown Louisville.
For more information, visit louisvilledowntown.org.
