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technical issue, along with all of the other food projects that were dropped off the list, too. The staff is now trying to get it back on the list as a technical amendment.
The request was to do two phases of the center's renovation. Phase one is to enhance the footprint of the facility by cleaning it out and putting it back on square to give better seating, better accommodations, and electronic displays, and to make it more appealing so that it will be at least a breakeven situation, if not profitable. His thinking now is to go forward with phase one on that project. He said that he has numbers for it, and he would give the Board a more definitive presentation, probably in another month.
Objective 7. Continue to develop relationships with Kentucky State Government segments. President Todd reported that he had met with over 100 legislators on the Top 20 issue and the Top 20 Business Plan in particular. He met with a lot of them on the preliminary side of it, and several of them after it had been done. In many cases, he has met with them in a one-on-one session throughout the last six months.
Over 70 legislators, along with 45 staff members, attended the University of Kentucky Advocacy Network (UKAN) meeting in Frankfort a few weeks ago. All of the members of the house leadership attended the meeting as well as all but one of the members of the senate leadership. It was quite a marvelous event. President Todd thanked Steve Byars and Rachel Webb for their successful efforts with the event because the legislators had to be bused from the state Capital over to the History Center. It was one of those things that the legislators could easily have chosen not to do.
President Todd reported that he had several meetings with the Governor and several of his cabinet members on the Top 20 issue in particular and the Top 20 Business Plan. He noted that he has spent a lot of time in Frankfort. He mentioned that he would be speaking to the Economic Development Committee the Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m. if any of the Board members wanted to attend.
Objective 8. Work with the Development Office to increase endowment dollars and expand the donor base. President Todd said that Mr. Richey had covered the donor base earlier in the meeting. With regard to the endowment, it is now at $587 million, which is a significant increase if you look back prior to HB 1 and the formation of the "Bucks for Brains" program, when the endowment was under $200 million.
To be close to $600 million and triple the endowment in a tough financial time is a real commendation, not only to Mr. Richey and Mr. Mobley but also to the Investment Committee. This achievement was noted earlier with respect to the decisions that the Investment Committee has made in the last several years, and the way the money has been invested. A lot of credit has to be given to Mr. Wilcoxson and the team for getting the endowment where it is today.
Objective 9. After working with outside consultants, Board members, and internal personnel, present to the Board in 2005-06 a plan for obtaining Top 20 status. President Todd said that he has been extremely pleased with the way the business plan