250lex

What 250lex does

250Lex is a volunteer commission chartered in September 2023 by Mayor Linda Gorton of Lexington, Kentucky to plan and execute the city's 250th anniversary celebration (1775-2025). The organization functions as an event-management and community-engagement platform rather than a commercial enterprise, operating from municipal offices at 200 E Main Street under the legal name 250Lex Commission and classified as a government-sponsored state entity with no traditional ownership, equity funding, or commercial revenue model.

Its core product surface consists of seven components: an Event Calendar, an Event Submission Form, a Story Submission portal, a Volunteer Coordination System, a Community Cultural Grants Program (18 grants totaling over $300,000 with individual awards of $5,000-$20,000), a Corporate Sponsorship Program (42 sponsors), and a dedicated merchandise store at 250lexmerch.com. Underlying technology is a standard web-platform stack with no proprietary AI/ML, no API surface, and no mobile app. Pricing is predominantly free public access, with select paid events such as Tour de Lex ($10 youth, $15 adult) and the Sunday Supper Series ($20 per person).

The go-to-market motion is event-driven: 250Lex organized 100+ events and programs across themed months in 2025 (health/wellness, history, education, music, diversity, culinary, business, sports, equine, arts, future), drawing on 1,500+ musicians and vocalists. Funding flows inbound from 42 sponsors and 75 community partners (including University of Kentucky, VisitLex, Commerce Lexington, Central Bank, Keeneland, Alltech, Toyota, and healthcare systems) and the commission is treated as a civic platform rather than a revenue-generating business. Customer segments are Lexington residents, visitors/tourists, and local businesses/non-profits; there is no commercial customer base.

Name

250lex

Legal name

250Lex Commission

Website

https://250lex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Short description

250Lex is a Mayor-chartered volunteer commission that planned and executed Lexington, Kentucky's 250th anniversary celebration (2025) via 100+ events, community grants, sponsorships, and a web platform serving residents, visitors, and local partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Event Management and Civic Celebration

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD), Meet & Invitational Organizers (MPAKADAC)

Keywords

• Community event planning
• Anniversary celebrations
• Civic programming
• Community grants administration
• Volunteer commission operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lexington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Sponsorships: Financial and in-kind support from businesses and non-profits made the year of celebration possible. The commission has 42 sponsors providing funding and resources.
2. Community Cultural Grants: 18 Community Grants totaling over $300,000 of programming. The commission awards grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 to local organizations for cultural programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

250lex is a volunteer commission created by Mayor Linda Gorton in September 2023 to plan and coordinate Lexington, Kentucky's 250th anniversary celebration in 2025. The commission organizes a year-long series of over 100 events across themed months, administers a Community Cultural Grants program that distributed more than $300,000 across 18 recipients, coordinates 1,500 participating musicians, and runs corporate sponsorship and commemorative merchandise programs. Headquartered at 200 E Main St in Lexington, KY, the commission is staffed by two co-chairs, 25 commission members, and 22 ambassadors working alongside 75 community partners and 15 media partners.

Product overview

250Lex is a year-long celebration platform for Lexington, Kentucky's 250th anniversary, organized by a volunteer commission appointed by Mayor Linda Gorton. The platform operates as an event management and community engagement system, consisting of an Event Calendar for browsing and filtering celebration events, an Event Submission Form for community event inclusion, a Story Submission platform for sharing personal Lexington narratives, a Volunteer Coordination System for managing event volunteers, an online Merchandise Store (250lexmerch.com) for commemorative items, a Community Cultural Grants Program funding community-organized programming, and a Corporate Sponsorship Program for business partnerships. The celebration spans themed months throughout 2025 including health and wellness, history, education, music/literary arts, diversity, culinary arts, business, sports, equine, arts, and future planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 250lex Merchandise Store Online retail store offering commemorative merchandise celebrating Lexington's 250th anniversary; open to the general public and visitors
• Tour de Lex Ticketed community bike ride event with tiered pricing ($10 and $15 options); targeted at Lexington residents and cycling enthusiasts
• Sunday Supper Series Ticketed dining event series at $20 per ticket celebrating Lexington's culinary heritage; for residents and visitors interested in community dining experiences
• Community Cultural Grants Program Grant funding program awarding more than $300,000 across 18 recipients to Lexington-area nonprofits and cultural organizations producing anniversary-themed programming
• Entrepreneurial Showdown Free entrepreneurial competition event hosted as part of the anniversary celebration programming; open to aspiring and existing entrepreneurs

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 events and programs held with thousands of participants
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered key, minor and core.

• AlltechkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 December 2025Sponsor of the 20th anniversary Alltech Celebration of Song, which served as a bookend event to 250LEX.
• Commonwealth Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 6 December 2025Presenting sponsor of the Downtown Lexington Holiday Parade.
• LexArtskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Partnered on artwork design and installation for the 250th Birthday celebration unveiling at Central Bank Center.
• UK School of Art and Visual StudieskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Collaborated with LexArts on artistic design and installation of community-inspired artwork for the 250th Birthday celebration.
• Downtown Lexington PartnershipkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Partner for Downtown Holiday Parade and New Year's Eve celebration coordination.
• Historic Lyric TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 November 2025Venue for Winter Jazz, Blues, and Soul Series performances.
• Big Ass FanscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 11 June 2025Title sponsor of the Big Ass Bourbon Tasting event. Spokesperson Michelle Moore noted pride in celebrating Lexington's 250th anniversary.
• R.J. Corman Railroad GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 June 2025Title sponsor of Tour de Lex bike ride and provider of the railyard for Fourth of July fireworks display.
• Faulkner Morgan ArchivekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Received a 250Lex Cultural Grant to create 'Queer, Here, & Everywhere' exhibition celebrating LGBTQ history in Lexington.
• Lexington Public LibrarykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 May 2025Venue for LGBTQ history exhibition and other community programming.
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing KentuckykeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 April 2025Sponsor of the Entrepreneurial Showdown competition for young entrepreneurs, providing prize money.
• Carnegie Center for Literacy and LearningkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2025Received Cultural Grant supporting Kentucky Great Writers Series and Lexington Writers Walk as part of Literary Month.
• Greenroom ExchangekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2025Cultural Grant recipient that presented KODO Drummers performance in partnership with 250Lex.
• Lexington Parks & RecreationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2025Partner for Fourth of July events, St. Patrick's Parade, and general event support. Oversees city parks and venues.
• Transylvania UniversitykeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Host venue for Entrepreneurial Showdown and College Town Showcase. VP Megan Moloney serves on the commission. Founded 1780, five years after Lexington.
• Bluegrass Community and Technical CollegekeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Partner for College Town Showcase. Celebrating 85th anniversary. Hosted 250Lex Scholarship awarding $3,000.
• Kentucky Blood CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2025Partnership for 250 Blood Donors campaign during Health and Wellness Month.
• VisitLexcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2024Official tourism partner promoting the 250th anniversary celebration to visitors. VisitLex President Mary Quinn Ramer serves on the commission.
• Commerce LexingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024The local chamber of commerce partners on business-focused events including Business Month in August celebrating local businesses.
• University of KentuckycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2024Major sponsor and educational partner. UK Opera Theatre presented 'Sanctuary Road' with 250Lex support. UK Vice President Tom Harris serves on the commission.
• Central BankcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2024Venue partner for New Year's Eve kickoff event. General Manager Brian Sipe serves on the commission.
• City of LexingtoncoreOthers · 10 October 2024Official city government backing. Mayor Linda Gorton created the commission and provides municipal resources and oversight.
• Lexington LegendskeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2024Host venue for events including Business Month celebration at Legends Field and Festival of Lights holiday event.
• Kentucky Horse ParkkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Major venue partner for events including Tour de Lex start point, Back to Birthday Cake Celebration, and Alltech Celebration of Song.
• JMI SportsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 October 2024Sports marketing partner for Basketball Week and related athletic events.
• Keeneland AssociationkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Horse racing and breeding association. Commission member Christa Marrillia represents Keeneland. Partner for equine-related celebrations.
• Bluegrass Irish SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Co-producer of the Alltech Lexington St. Patrick's Parade and Festival.
• Urban League of LexingtonkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Partner for Black History Month programming. VP Annissa Franklin serves on the commission.
• Fayette County Public SchoolskeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Educational partner for Student Impacting Industry showcase and various youth-focused events.
• Kentucky High School Athletic AssociationkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Partner for Basketball Week celebration of high school and collegiate basketball heritage.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Boston250: Boston's 250th anniversary organization for events beginning in 2025 and culminating in 2030. Directly comparable in mission — coordinating citywide cultural programming, sponsorships, and community events around a municipal founding milestone with year-long themed programming.
• America250: The US Semiquincentennial Foundation established to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. Like 250Lex, it organizes national-scale civic celebration programming, sponsorships, and public engagement around a milestone anniversary — directly comparable in mission, structure, and approach.

Broad incumbents

• Kentucky Arts Council: The state government arts agency administering grant programs supporting arts organizations across Kentucky. Comparable to 250Lex's Community Cultural Grants program in grantmaking for arts and cultural programming, but at the state level and on a permanent basis.
• Commerce Lexington: The Lexington chamber of commerce and a Core partner of 250Lex for Business Month programming. Comparable in driving local economic activity, business promotion, and community engagement in Lexington, with a permanent institutional mandate.
• LexArts: Lexington's local arts council and a partner of 250Lex on the 250th Birthday celebration artwork. Both organizations fund and coordinate cultural programming in Lexington, but LexArts is a permanent ongoing arts-support entity compared to 250Lex's time-bound anniversary mission.
• VisitLex: Lexington's official tourism bureau and a Core partner of 250Lex. Both drive visitor engagement and city promotion, but VisitLex operates year-round and is the durable beneficiary of 250Lex's anniversary-driven tourism momentum.
• Blue Grass Community Foundation: A central Kentucky community foundation sponsoring 250Lex's celebration efforts. It administers philanthropic funds across the region — comparable grantmaking infrastructure and civic-engagement focus, but as a permanent foundation rather than a single-anniversary commission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/250LEXKY
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/250Lexington

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 250lex