Southwest Dream Team, Inc.

About the Southwest Dream Team The Southwest Dream Team (SWDT) was founded in 2008 in response to harmful narratives about South and Southwest Louisville that impede the economic growth of the region. We advocate for a unified vision for our future community to improve the quality of life for residents in target neighborhoods of Jefferson County, a region we have branded as the South Points Scenic Area.

The Greater Louisville Project reports that, compared to residents in the northern and eastern regions of Jefferson County, residents in the southern and western regions experience the fewest workers in high wage occupations, lower median household income, and higher rates of unemployment. These factors reflect the historical under-investment of the southern and western regions of Jefferson County. To address this under-investment, the SWDT advocates for more economic development and community cohesion through two initiatives:

South Points Scenic Area The South Points Scenic Area (SPSA) tourism initiative focuses on improving perceptions, increasing revenue, engaging current businesses, and attracting new businesses by promoting the natural and cultural attractions of the region. The SPSA promotes family-friendly, often free activities to address the need for healthy and educational activities for residents. The SPSA map is in its seventh year of production and continues to grow annually, adding new, independently owned businesses to promote tourism and drive economic development.

Future Dreamers Civic Leadership Academy The Future Dreamers Civic Leadership Academy develops and highlights emerging community leaders who live, work, or learn in South or Southwest Louisville. Participants engage in a series of workshops where they learn about the assets and opportunities specific to South and Southwest Louisville and build on skills and resources necessary to address these priorities. The Academy has graduated 40 diverse Louisvillians from 13 zip codes.

Who We Are

The Southwest Dream Team is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working towards the betterment of SW Louisville.

Formed in 2008, the Southwest Dream is an organization consisting of business and civic leaders in Southwest Louisville. We came together to raise community expectations and promote the wonderful attributes of our community, with our goals being to:

• Attract more quality businesses and employers
• Retain the educated and skilled workers currently living in our community and encourage more to relocate to the area
• And improve the quality of life for all SW Louisville residents.

Our mission is: we will lead a united Southwest Louisville to take action, to raise expectations and to energize our community.

Our vision is for Southwest Louisville to be the best place to live and do business by promoting and enhancing the qualities of our community.