Kentucky Announces Funding Package: $22.4 Million for Riverports and Rail, 12 Eastern Kentucky Projects Seek Over $18 Million
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear issued his weekly Team Kentucky update in Frankfort on November 12, covering economic development, transportation infrastructure and community investment: riverports and railroads will receive a combined $22.4 million, 12 projects in Eastern Kentucky are recommended for more than $18 million in federal-state funding, and five Community Development Block Grant projects will share $4.3 million.
On economic development, Beshear said his administration has announced nearly 1,400 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $55 billion in announced investment and more than 72,000 jobs, the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any Kentucky governor; 47 counties have seen their largest economic development investment on record, including smaller communities such as Allen, Barren, Henderson, Owsley and Whitley counties.
On transportation, the Kentucky Public Riverport Construction and Maintenance program will fund 15 projects with $15.1 million for equipment upgrades and replacement, warehouse and storage expansion, barge staging capacity and safety improvements. The Kentucky Short Line Infrastructure Preservation program will fund six railroad projects with $7.3 million, including new rail lines, preservation of existing lines and drainage improvements.
On regional investment, the Governor has recommended 12 projects to the Appalachian Regional Commission that would bring over $18 million to Eastern Kentucky, subject to federal-level review. In Western Kentucky, all 11 developments in the state's largest-ever housing announcement, more than $223 million to build over 900 rental units, are now under construction and expected to begin leasing by next spring; at Commonwealth Court in Mayfield, two of three buildings are complete and the third is expected by the end of November, for 66 affordable units.
The Community Development Block Grant program awarded five projects totaling $4.3 million: Augusta, in Bracken County, and Jamestown, in Russell County, will each receive $1.5 million to upgrade water treatment facilities; Flemingsburg, in Fleming County, receives $900,000 to upgrade 12 affordable rental units for seniors; Adairville, in Logan County, receives $323,328 for a new water tower; and Pineville, in Bell County, receives $137,000 to design a storm sewer along Park Avenue.
The Governor also recognized November 16-20 as Family and Community Engagement in Education Week in Kentucky, and November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month, with November 14 as Lung Cancer Screening Day; Kentucky's early lung cancer diagnosis rate has increased 12 percent in five years. The second annual Team Kentucky Food Drive accepts non-perishable donations on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays through November 18, distributed through Feeding Kentucky to 900 partner food pantries across all 120 counties. Through its April and October prescription drug take back days this year, Kentuckians disposed of 31,674 pounds of prescription drugs, the most collected in a year since the initiative began in 2011.
Beshear also said he sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging the immediate removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services, and joined 15 other governors in a letter to congressional leaders urging passage of the SAFE Banking Act, which would give state-sanctioned cannabis businesses access to the regulated banking system. Following historic turnout in last week's midterm elections, in which 1,447,030 Kentuckians cast ballots, up from the 2022 midterms, the Governor named Kentucky voters this week's Team Kentucky All-Stars.
(Source: Office of the Governor of Kentucky)
Source: Office of the Governor of Kentucky
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：肯塔基州州长 Andy Beshear 官方肖像（GSM 州长固定图库）。 / Photo: Official portrait of Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (GSM governors library).
