Gov. Beshear?s Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins Presents $3.9 Million To Benefit Perry, Breathitt and Johnson Counties
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HAZARD / JACKSON / WITTENSVILLE, Ky. (Oct. 27, 2023) ? Today, Gov. Andy Beshear?s senior advisor, Rocky Adkins, visited three communities in Eastern Kentucky, presenting $3.9 million in awards. The funding will expand heavy equipment training opportunities, improve water and sewer service, resurface local roads and boost economic development.
Adkins also took part in the groundbreaking for the W.R. Castle Fire Station renovation project, which Gov. Beshear supported with a $300,000 grant.
?Every Kentucky family deserves clean water, safe roads and opportunities that will prepare them for the jobs of the future that are coming our way right now,? Gov. Beshear said. ?Today?s awards are helping make sure that none of our kids and grandkids ever has to leave home to pursue their dreams. That?s so important to me as Governor, but also as a dad to two young kids who are growing up so fast.?
?I?m not just from Eastern Kentucky, I live here. I?m all in on making sure hope and opportunity return again,? said Adkins. ?I believe we?re the most resilient people in the world right here in Eastern Kentucky. We helped build America and we are not going to be overlooked anymore. The Governor has had a laser focus here, and we are building the infrastructure of the future.?
Hazard Community and Technical College
In Hazard, Adkins presented $999,919 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) to expand their heavy equipment training program. The college is the only institution of higher education in Kentucky that offers this program.
HCTC will use this funding to certify and train more students to meet the growing demand for heavy equipment operators in their service area by adding training equipment and another instructor. The new equipment includes: two dump trucks, an excavator, a skid steer, a small dozer, a truck and equipment hauler and a passenger van.
HCTC also seeks to support students with transportation needs to and from practice sites that are crucial for experiential learning in the program. Approximately 32 students will benefit from this grant funding, and the project will primarily impact Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Owsley, Perry and Wolfe counties.
?These funds will be instrumental in advancing HCTC?s goal of producing hardworking, intelligent students for Eastern Kentucky?s growing infrastructure needs,? said HCTC President and CEO Dr. Jennifer Lindon. ?HCTC has and continues to provide support to our community partners who are helping to rebuild our region after the July 2022 flood, and our Heavy Equipment program is one tool used in rebuilding.?
Breathitt County Water and Sewer Improvements
In Jackson, Adkins presented $1,480,000 from the ARC to the city of Jackson to rehabilitate parts of the city?s sewer system, improving service for 300 homes and 30 businesses. The sewer lines have far exceeded their service life since they were installed in the 1960s.
He also presented $984,000 in ARC funds and $134,648 in Cleaner Water Program funds to the Breathitt County Water District. The district will use the grants to extend waterlines in Breathitt County, improving water service for 1,997 households and provide new water service to 18 households in the areas of Freeman Fork and Mill Creek/Lawson Road. The project will also provide necessary updates and equipment to the system to allow the district to provide excellent customer service.
Adkins also presented $213,675 in Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Discretionary Funds for badly needed repairs to Town Hill Road and Miller Branch Barwick Road. Town Hill Road, in particular, was rendered impassable when an embankment failed.
?We are grateful to Governor Beshear and his administration for supporting infrastructure projects that help us better serve the community,? said Jackson Mayor Laura Thomas.??Providing clean water and wastewater management are essential to our recovery and for economic growth.?
?The funding announcement today marks a pivotal investment in the development of our community,? said Rep. Chris Fugate of Chavies, whose district includes Breathitt County. ?For years, eastern Kentucky has been dealing with inadequate access to clean drinking water. The Cleaner Water project will improve water service by extending water lines in Breathitt County. This is the next step for getting cleaner water to all of the residents of the community.?
Groundbreaking for W.R. Castle Fire Station Renovation Project
In Wittensville, Adkins joined state and local leaders to break ground on the W.R. Castle Fire Station renovation project and rescue station addition. In March 2022, Gov. Beshear presented $300,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for this project.
The project includes a 2,000-square-foot addition to the current W.R. Castle Fire Station along U.S. Highway 23 near Wittensville. The original structure was constructed in 1981. The new expansion will include the addition of a large training area, additional equipment storage, additional secure storage, office space and a working kitchen.
At the groundbreaking, Adkins also presented:
- $217,500 to One East Kentucky, which has partnered with the Johnson County Fiscal Court to expand its existing Build Ready-certified industrial park in Hager Hill. These funds come from the Kentucky Product Development Initiative. To learn more, see the full release.
- $73,134 to the Johnson County Fiscal Court for resurfacing on Noisy Branch Road.
- $30,682 to the Johnson County Fiscal Court for resurfacing on Meadow Fork Road.
- $28,698 to the Johnson County Fiscal Court for resurfacing on Lick Branch Road.
Adkins also said Gov. Beshear has recommended $40,740 for Johnson County from the Recreational Trails Program. This funding would help improve the visitor experience on the Dawkins Line Rail-Trail by adding signage, benches and a station for bike repair and air pumps. The project will undergo federal review for approval.
Commitment to Eastern Kentucky
Today?s awards follow other major projects announced this week to benefit Eastern Kentucky.
Yesterday, Gov. Beshear visited Letcher and Floyd counties to announce the sixth and seventh high-ground community sites for flood-impacted families.
He also helped open the doors at Sandy?s Racing & Gaming ? a $75 million entertainment facility in Ashland that creates nearly 250 new jobs and millions of dollars in new tax revenue.
Yesterday, the Governor highlighted further momentum of the state?s manufacturing sector as automated machinery manufacturer Chism Machine and Gage Inc., doing business as Chism Automation, will expand its existing operation in Somerset with an $800,000 investment, creating 10 full-time Kentucky jobs.
On Monday, Adkins presented more than $5.3 million in funding to benefit Lawrence County that will go toward supporting cleaner water and increasing tourism. He also presented $1.5 million to help establish a new STEAM Career Center for Paintsville Independent Schools.
On Monday, Gov. Beshear announced the first round of Rural Housing Trust Fund Awards, which will build 115 new homes in disaster-impacted counties and repair 45 homes for disaster survivors in Eastern and Western Kentucky. The Governor awarded $13.5 million to nine nonprofit housing agencies.
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