Holiday weeks feel different—and so does this Spark.

GE Appliances announced a $490M expansion at Appliance Park. That’s 1,000 new jobs. Between this and Midea, Louisville’s is still a hub for high-skill U.S. manufacturing.

Garage Bar is closing—it’s being revived by the team behind Taj, who plan to bring new life to the corner. A quick reminder: businesses ending is natural. And I’m grateful for what the original owners did to help shape NuLu and downtown into what it is today.

I joined a group for coffee with Mayor Greenberg for a surprising convo on crime (it’s down), construction costs (they’re up), and downtown momentum (rates suck).

Got in a round at UofL’s Cardinal Club with Sam Stone (from our first-ever Spark Live) and his dad, Dave. The course was mint—and I played my best round of the year. ⛳️

Inside: confessional we can all relate to, where to watch fireworks, drink recipes, and a Louisville holiday conspiracy theory. Let’s Spark it.

Hot job 💼: Market CMO, Medical – IN/KY at CenterWell Senior Primary Care ($203K–$299K). Lead clinical operations and strategy across 14 senior-focused clinics in KY and IN. 10+ yrs healthcare leadership required, with proven success in value-based care models and physician team development.

Birthday Cheers 🎉: Happy birthday to my friend Dr. Tom Coppola—a standout GI doc (4.9 / 5 ⭐️ rating!) at Norton, great dad, and proud New York transplant. One of the good guys—hope it’s a great one, Tom!

-Todd

🇺🇸 July 4th Starts with a Sip

Your Friends Brought Beer—You Brought the Wow

We had your back on Memorial Day with all the can’t-miss events—this time, we’re mixing things up. Literally.

Here are 3 Louisville-inspired drink ideas (yes, with and without booze) to make your July 4th hangout a hit. Porch-ready, crowd-friendly, and full of summer flavor, these aren’t your average red-white-and-blue slushies.

🍹 Bourbon Porch Punch – Fruity, fizzy, and made for sharing
🍋 Sparkling Mint Lemonade – Cool, citrusy, and zero-proof-friendly
🍓 Strawberry Basil Smash – Bright, herbal, and totally Farmers Market-core

👉 [Click here to see the full recipes and graphics]
And yes—we’ve still got your holiday event list down below. Keep scrolling.

🗓️ Presented by: ISCO Championship

🏌️ One Week Until the PGA TOUR Hits Louisville

This isn’t just a golf tournament—it’s the PGA TOUR. The real deal. National spotlight. World-class players. And it’s all happening right here in our backyard.

You missed your shot at a hospitality suite—those sold out weeks ago.

But good news: you can still snag tickets to see the PGA TOUR live, right here in Louisville.

For those with kids not away at camp, don’t forget 15 and under get in free with a ticketed adult. 🎟️ Get Tickets

🤫 Confess & Tell

Real Opinions. No Filters. No Names. [Submit yours here]

☕ Coffee with the Mayor: Growth, Crime & Downtown

From crime trends to downtown development, Mayor Greenberg shared updates—and what’s getting in the city’s way.

I had the chance to sit down with Mayor Craig Greenberg for a small-group conversation over coffee.

He covered a lot—crime is trending down, GE and Foxconn are fueling economic momentum, and he offered useful context on what’s in the city’s control vs. the state’s.

I asked how our concerns stack up against other neighborhoods. His answer was direct: the themes are consistent—people want safety and to afford a good life.

I brought up downtown development—something I see as essential to the city’s future. The Mayor’s outlook was more optimistic than I expected. He made it clear the bigger obstacles right now aren’t incentives, but construction costs and interest rates.

A good conversation. Glad he showed up to listen.

🏢 Louisville Spark Job Board

Who’s hiring in Louisville? 5 Trending jobs

Workday SCM Senior Consultant at Deloitte ($103K–$189K). 4+ yrs Workday Supply Chain Mgmt experience. Lead client implementations, optimize workflows, and provide post-launch support. Strong communication and Workday certification preferred.

Hardware Design Engineer at Belcan ($100K–$125K). Design and test electronic systems for aerospace and defense. Requires BSEE and 3+ yrs in PCB design and circuit analysis. Ideal for engineers with Altium or OrCAD experience.

Primary Care Physician – MD – Medical Director at Abode Care Partners ($187K–$230K). Lead clinical care for home-based seniors across KY. Requires board certification, strong leadership, and experience in value-based or geriatric care models.

Project Engineer at DSJ Global ($140K–$170K). 10+ yrs project engineering in chemical manufacturing. Requires Mechanical or Chemical Engineering degree. PMP and PSM experience a plus.

Vice President Finance (Banking) at LHH ($180K–$210K). Drive financial strategy, forecasting, and capital planning. Banking or financial services experience required, with strong regulatory and compliance background.

Presented by: Kentucky Speedgolf Open

The Kentucky Speedgolf Open is back—powered by golf carts, scramble rules, and vibes over vanity.

📍 GlenOaks CC (Back 9)
📅 Saturday, July 12 | First tee at 8:30 AM
👯 2-person scramble
⛳ 9 holes
⏱️ 4-minute tee intervals
💵 $70/team | Prizes + bragging rights

Not a great golfer? Don’t run? Perfect.
The cart makes it fast. The scramble makes it fun. The whole thing’s over before brunch.

🏆 Low score wins. Tie goes to the fastest time.
💬 Translation: play quick, laugh a lot, and maybe win something.

No pressure. No walkers. Just chaos and cart-speed golf with your buddy.

🔗 Register now—and start practicing your “we meant to hit that” face.

🎆 Louisville Lights Up: Your Fireworks Game Plan

From riverfront spectacles to small-town charm—here’s where to catch the biggest booms this weekend.

Waterfront Park Fourth of July
Enjoy family activities, local music, and a massive fireworks display over the Ohio River in downtown Louisville.

Crescent Hill Fourth of July Festival
A beloved neighborhood tradition with music, food vendors, and fireworks lighting up the night sky.

Paristown Fourth of July Celebration
Live music, food trucks, a doughnut-eating contest, and fireworks at Christy’s Garden.

Belle of Louisville Fireworks Cruise
Watch the show from the river on this scenic steamboat cruise with food, drinks, and prime views of the fireworks.

Cowley Park Celebration
A family-friendly evening in Prospect with food, games, and fireworks under the stars.

Riverview Independence Festival
A full evening of entertainment, community fun, and fireworks in Independence, KY.

Jeffersonville Freedom Celebration
Festivities on the riverfront capped off with fireworks across from downtown Louisville.

Locust Grove Independence Day
A historic Fourth at one of Louisville’s oldest sites, with reenactments, family activities, and fireworks.

Sellersburg 4th of July Celebration
Live entertainment, food vendors, and a booming fireworks finale just across the river in Indiana.

🎆 BONUS! Watch Fireworks on Saturday, the 5th!

Caesars Southern Indiana Fireworks
A free fireworks extravaganza on Saturday night at 10 PM, best viewed from the top of the hotel parking garage.

🥃 Final Sip

Whether you’re lighting up the grill or watching the sky light up over the river, I hope this holiday brings some good people, good food, and maybe a story worth retelling.

Speaking of stories… did you know Louisville was (allegedly) the site of a zombie gas leak on July 4, 1984?

It’s the plot of a cult horror movie called The Return of the Living Dead—set right here in Louisville. A fictional military chemical called Trioxin accidentally reanimates the dead, and by sunrise on the 4th… well, it doesn’t end well.

Totally fake. Completely entertaining.
And if you browse Reddit, there are still people debating whether it was based on a true story.

Just another entry in Louisville’s long list of “wait, that really happened?” legends.

Happy 4th!

-Todd