12,000 students and teachers to call Louisville home for six years beginning in 2015
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (January 18, 2008) -- SkillsUSA, a national organization of career and technical education students, instructors and business partners, announced today that it will return its National Leadership and Skills Conference to Louisville, Kentucky for six years beginning in June 2015. The organization has grown into one of the largest student groups in the country, and the national conference will rank as the fourth largest convention hosted by the city when it returns. It will generate nearly $12 million to the local economy each year.
The SkillsUSA National Conference and Championships is the nation's biggest and best showcase for career and technical education students and the skilled work force it prepares. Louisville hosted the conference in 1982 - 1984 and again in 1991 - 1993 when it was then called the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America (VICA). Since 1994, Kansas City has hosted the event. Over 12,000 students, teachers and business partners are expected to participate in the weeklong event when it returns to Louisville in 2015 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
"Bringing this prestigious group back to Louisville is yet another affirmation that Louisville is becoming a destination of choice for meetings and conventions," said Jim Wood, president & CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau. "We look forward to making more announcements like the one today as the city's convention package continues to grow and become more competitive."
"Louisville won a competitive bid process, which attracted five other cities along the way all vying to become the next home to the SkillsUSA Championships," said Shelly Coates, SkillsUSA associate director for conference management services. "We have made this agreement seven years out to be sure the dates and space are there for SkillsUSA when we need them."
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled work force. The organization serves more than 285,000 students and instructors annually, with 15,000 school chapters in 54 state and territorial associations. More than 15,600 instructors and administrators are professional members of SkillsUSA.
For more information about SkillsUSA, visit www.SkillsUSA.org.