STANFORD / SOMERSET, Ky. (Feb. 13, 2023) – Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman today announced $7,010,141.67 in funding to Lincoln and Pulaski counties. The funding will provide clean water, assist local nonprofit organizations, increase tourism funding and provide housing for youth aging out of foster care.

Funding comes through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the Cleaner Water Program (CWP), the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response (CDBG-CV) and the Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Fund.

“Investments in our communities through clean water, nonprofits, tourism and community development provide Kentucky a solid foundation for building tomorrow’s economy,” Lt. Gov. Coleman said. “What excites me, as a rural Kentuckian, is that opportunity is coming to all corners of the commonwealth, not just our big cities.”
 

Lincoln County

• City of Crab Orchard: $300,000 committed to improving roadside flooding.

“Improving our stormwater drainage is crucial to making sure Crab Orchard is better prepared for rain, sleet and snow,” said Mayor Jesse Harris. “This project is going to make our community a safer place to live. Our thanks to all the state officials who worked together to help make this possible.”

• City of Hustonville: $300,000 committed to replacing 2,000 water meters.

“The City of Hustonville is very thankful for the support of the Cleaner Water Program,” said Mayor Tim Smith. “The grants announced today will play a significant role in preserving the clean drinking water for our Hustonville Water Customers. We as a community look forward to working with the state on future investments as well.”

• Stanford Water Commission: $300,000 committed to replacing the Will Chancellor Pump Station.
• McKinney Water District: $287,289 committed to replacing a water main.
• Lincoln County Sanitation District: $287,288 committed to providing sanitary sewer to 363 households in the Moreland area.
• Lincoln County: $55,649.49 was awarded through the Nonprofit Assistance Fund for the Lincoln County Senior Citizens Center.

“Lincoln County welcomes and appreciates funding that improves the quality of life in our community,” said Lincoln County Judge/Executive Woods Adams. “Our community vows be good stewards of these funds entrusted to us. Many thanks to the Lt. Governor Coleman and the leadership in Frankfort for delivering this funding to Lincoln County!”

“On behalf of Lincoln County Senior Citizens Center, I would like to thank Gov. Beshear, Lt. Gov. Coleman, our state legislatures and staff for making available funds to nonprofits through the Team Kentucky Nonprofit Fund. Agencies such as ours worked tirelessly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide senior citizens with meals and keep them connected through a variety of supportive services. This fund allows us to move forward for those who need us most,” said Miranda Perkins, executive director of Lincoln County Senior Citizens Center. “We take great pride in serving our community and thank you again for allowing us to continue to make this impact for the aging population in Lincoln County.”

“Today, Lincoln County is receiving necessary funds in order to improve water systems across the county,” said Rep. David Meade, whose district includes Lincoln County. “It is crucial we fund projects like these because they help improve the lives of those who call Lincoln County home. Every Kentuckian deserves access to safe water systems whether it be their drinking water, storm systems, or sanitary systems and these grants are vital to our community. This is a step in the right direction in strengthening the commonwealth’s infrastructure and the legislature is committed to ensuring grants like these are funded.”

Pulaski County

• City of Burnside: $790,094 committed to water improvements.

“These funds will be a big win for the students at the new Burnside Elementary School and everyone in our community,” said Mayor Robert Lawson. “By providing water service to our new school, we’re prioritizing the future of our city. By updating our water storage tanks, we’re improving water service for hundreds of residents. Today is a good day for our town, and for Kentucky.”

• City of Science Hill: $790,094 committed to wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

“Our current treatment plant is in need of repairs, and these funds will help us make them,” said Mayor Mike Hall. “This project prioritizes the health and safety of every member of this community. Infrastructure projects like this can be overlooked, but this will provide a big lift for the city of Science Hill.”

• City of Somerset: $790,094 committed to water treatment plant improvements.

“Today’s announcement not only shows our commitment to maintaining and improving Somerset’s infrastructure, but it also demonstrates public safety is our top priority,” Mayor Alan Keck said. “These funds will help us make important updates to the filtration system at our state-of-the-art water treatment facility – just another way we’re working to improve the lives of our residents and make our community even better than it was the day before.”

• Western Pulaski County Water District: $790,094 committed to improving the Faubush/Nancy water main.
• Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission: $104,357 committed to increasing tourism in the region.

“Lake Cumberland is growing hand over foot, and after the pandemic removed the travel bans, we offered a drivable vacation destination with wide open spaces. We have more visitors now than we ever have, and that is in part due to the tourism industry and how powerful it can be for a destination like ours,” said Danielle Wilson, Lake Cumberland Tourist Commission executive director. “The ARPA Funding is allowing us to revive the ideas we had that were put on hold during the pandemic. We are utilizing the funding on several major projects, some of which include a renowned research company, entering new digital advertising markets and upgrades to our website to bring it to 2023. We are so very thankful for this opportunity to grow our community and our culture here in Russell County, and without the ARPA Funding, these things would not be possible.”

• Burnside Tourism & Recreation Commission: $66,629 committed to marketing tourism in the region.

“The pandemic hit our community hard – much like other small rural communities across the commonwealth. The funding will be instrumental in marketing our locally owned and operated attractions,” said Alison Pyles, executive director of the Burnside Tourism & Recreation Commission. “We are the only town on Lake Cumberland, and we cannot wait to use this funding to showcase what a special place Burnside is to visit!”

• Lake Cumberland Wayfinding Signage: $175,000 committed to updating signage on and around Lake Cumberland.
• Somerset/Pulaski County Convention & Visitors Bureau: $199,886 committed to marketing tourism in the region.

Michelle Allen, executive director of the Somerset/Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Partnerships are a vital part of growing the tourism industry and we in Somerset, Pulaski County, are creating new experiences because of these partnerships between our city, county, and economic development organizations.  This funding will be used as a collaborative marketing effort to further entice our visitors to create new memories in The Capital of Lake Cumberland.”

• Pulaski County: $1,040,000 committed to the construction of the Foothills Academy Independent Living Center, for youth aging out of foster care.

“We, the citizens of Pulaski County, offer a big thank you to the Department of Local Government for providing these funds,” said Pulaski County Judge/Executive Marshall Todd. “We are more than happy to help expedite this more than three-million-dollar Pulaski County Foothills Multifamily Housing Project to provide housing for the young adults that are aging out of foster care. We are confident this will provide education and workforce development skills for these individuals to help meet the growing need for a prepared workforce in Pulaski County.”

Lt. Gov. Coleman has 12 awards from Gov. Beshear’s Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which helps organizations recover from the effects of the pandemic.

• The Center for Rural Development: $100,000
• God’s Pantry of Pulaski County: $100,000
• Hospice of Lake Cumberland: $100,000
• Somerset/Pulaski County Economic Development Authority: $100,000
• Southeast Kentucky Economic Development Corporation: $100,000
• Habitat for Humanity Pulaski County, KY: $91,486
• Be The Village: $42,641.03
• Eastern Kentucky PRIDE: $35,803
• United Way of South Central Kentucky: $25,802
• CASA of Southern Kentucky: $18,168.04
• The Salvation Army, Pulaski County: $17,608.87
• John Sherman Cooper Community Arts Center: $2,158.24

“Clean water and improving water infrastructure has been a top priority throughout the legislature and today our efforts are paying off,” said Rep. Shane Baker, whose district includes parts of Pulaski County. “Our investment into the Cleaner Water Program through ARPA funds will not only benefit Pulaski County but will benefit Kentucky as a whole as it shows the legislature is committed to alleviating pressures citizens face. Serving Pulaski County and helping deliver on these grants is an achievement I am most proud of, and I look forward to continuing my work for you in Frankfort.”  

“Today Pulaski County is receiving various necessary funds to improve our county’s water and tourism,” said Rep. Josh Bray, whose district includes parts of Pulaski County. “Through the legislature’s support of the Cleaner Water Program, grants such as these awarded today are made possible. From inflation to rising gas prices, Kentuckians should not have to worry about having a clean and reliable water source. The ARPA funds we allocated towards this program will continue to make a lasting impact on District 71.”

“The Salvation Army expresses our gratitude to the Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Fund and Gov. Beshear. These funds will allow us to continue ‘Doing the Most Good’ in Pulaski County. We thank the Governor for consistently thinking of and meeting the needs of our neighbors,” said Lieutenant Cornelius Walton, corps officer.

“The additional funding from Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Fund will allow CASA of Southern Kentucky to recruit and train more volunteers to advocate for children that have been affected by dependency, abuse or neglect. YOU- Can change a child’s story,” said Amy L. Marcum, executive director of CASA of Southern Kentucky.

“Hospice of Lake Cumberland is a recipient of an award from the Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Fund,” said Euretha Godby, CEO of Hospice of Lake Cumberland. “This financial assistance award will allow Hospice of Lake Cumberland to serve the patients of Pulaski, Russell, Casey, Clinton, Cumberland, Wayne and McCreary County. The specialized form of health care is designed for people facing serious illnesses. Hospice is unique in that it focuses on comfort and assistance with an interdisciplinary team approach that differs from other health care providers. Services are not based on the ability to pay so this award will allow Hospice of Lake Cumberland to continue the mission of providing excellent care to over 1,000 patients and families per year. Thank you to Lt. Gov Coleman for presenting our organization with this award.”

About ARPA Tourism Funding
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, $75 million was supported by the Governor and allocated by the General Assembly in the 2022 legislative session. The funds are distributed by the Kentucky Department of Tourism to eligible tourism organizations throughout the commonwealth.

About the Cleaner Water Program
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, $500 million has been appropriated through a bipartisan agreement with the General Assembly to provide clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky since 2021. The 2022 funding will be allocated based on each county’s proportion of the state’s population, with the exception of Jefferson County’s share, which is discounted by 50% based on its high per capita allocation from the federal act. As the project progresses, the utility will be reimbursed by Cleaner Water Program funds.

About the Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Program
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development allocated Kentucky’s Department for Local Government $38 million to help communities prevent, prepare for and respond to the Coronavirus pandemic from the CDBG-CV program. The CDBG-CV program guidelines can be found here.

About the Nonprofit Assistance Fund
The funding helps organizations across Kentucky recover from the effects of the pandemic. The fund provides one-time direct relief payments to support the long-term sustainability of eligible nonprofits. To learn more about the fund, see the full release from when it was announced last year.