Gov. Beshear Visits Western Kentucky To Dedicate 8 New Homes for Tornado Survivors and Present $21 Million for High-Speed Internet, Economic Development
Funds will connect more than 3,500 homes, businesses to high-speed internet in Daviess, Henderson counties
MAYFIELD / HENDERSON, Ky. (March 1, 2024) ? Today, Gov. Andy Beshear visited Western Kentucky to dedicate eight new homes for tornado survivors in Mayfield and to present more than $21 million in awards for high-speed internet and economic development.
?We made a promise to be with Western Kentucky after the tornadoes, until every home and every life was rebuilt,? Gov. Beshear said. ?We are keeping that promise today, giving eight families the keys to their new homes and announcing more than $21 million in investment for high-speed internet access and economic development. We?re making sure every Kentuckian has the safety and opportunity they need to thrive.?
Gov. Beshear Helps Dedicate Eight New Homes for Tornado Survivors in Mayfield
Today, Gov. Beshear joined local officials and nonprofit leaders to hand over the keys to eight new homes in Mayfield. The Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund contributed $500,000 to support seven homes built through the Hope Initiative.
?We are so grateful to welcome seven more families home today. We see God?s grace on display as this good work continues. We appreciate the hard work of our volunteers and contractors, along with the generosity of our donors and nonprofit partners,? said Pastor Stephen Boyken, president of the Hope Initiative. ?The commitment of Gov. Beshear and his office to see our community put back together remains strong. We are moving forward together.?
?It has been a long journey for me and my family since the tornado. Receiving this home means everything. We are beyond blessed,? said new homeowner Merry Padilla.
More than $21.6 million has been committed from the fund to construct or repair 300 homes. To date, 184 home-building projects are completed, under construction or approved to start construction. Launched just days after the tornadoes in December 2021, the fund has raised over $52.3 million, with donations from over 150,000 individuals and businesses. The money raised helped pay funeral expenses for the families of the deceased and provided assistance to survivors as well as local farmers. The remaining funds will be used to build houses. For more information and to donate, click here.
The Governor also dedicated one new home built by Christian Public Services in Mayfield.
?This home was built with funding from First United Methodist Church of Mayfield ? which was destroyed by the tornado,? Gov. Beshear said. ?But they?re still pitching in and helping out their neighbors and their community. That?s the spirit of resilience that we?ve seen throughout the past two years.?
Since the tornados hit, 130 new homes have been built in Graves County and over 50 businesses have rebuilt or repaired.
Connecting 3,500 Homes and Businesses to High-Speed Internet in Daviess and Henderson
Today, at Henderson County High School, Gov. Beshear announced a $20.4 million investment in high-speed internet, which will connect 3,574 homes and businesses in Henderson and Daviess counties.
The state awarded more than $10.2 million to electric cooperative Kenergy to complete the work, and the company is providing $10.2 million in matching funds. This project will add 652 network miles, bringing high-speed internet access to 2,353 homes and business in Henderson County and 1,221 homes and businesses in Daviess County.
?Right now, whenever school is on NTI, I?m always stressed because my internet has gone out lots of times,? said Drew Hagan, a junior at the high school. ?Broadband access will improve not only this but many parts of our daily lives.?
?Today?s broadband needs are what electricity was to the commonwealth in the 1930s,? said Tim Lindahl, Kenergy president and CEO. ?By installing infrastructure that is owned by the people it serves, giving all of the benefits back to those people, we are on pace with this funding to solve this problem for generations. A project of this magnitude and this pace cannot be done without everyone working together, and I commend Gov. Beshear, the Office of Broadband Development, legislators, county judge executives, all of the contractors who are calling Kentucky home for the next few years, and the board and employees of Kenergy. Together we will get this done and be the example for the nation to follow.?
?Conexon Connect has enjoyed a long and successful partnership with Kenergy as we work together to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved communities in Kentucky,? said Randy Klindt, CEO of Conexon Connect, Kenergy?s internet service provider partner. ?And we share a commitment to deploying world-class fiber to the areas Kenergy serves as quickly as possible. The funding award announced today by the Governor?s Office helps accelerate our progress and we look forward to putting these funds to work across Daviess and Henderson counties.?
While at the school, the Governor toured its Career and Technical Education (CTE) unit with current students. In November 2022, the Governor awarded $3.9 million to Henderson County Schools to improve the unit. With 15 different programs, it is the largest career and technical program in the state under one roof.
?We are honored to have Gov. Beshear visit Henderson County High School and appreciate his support of career and technical education,? said Principal Amber Thomas. ?Our CTE facilities are set to undergo a $4 million renovation made possible by a state grant, which will further cement Henderson?s place as a leader in vocational education.?
Governor Presents $700,000 for Site Development in Henderson County
The Governor also presented $700,000 to the Henderson County Fiscal Court to complete a site grading plan with an approximately 1 million-square-foot building pad at the Sandy Lee Watkins site. The county applied for the funds on behalf of the West Kentucky Regional Industrial Development Authority, through the Kentucky Product Development Initiative (KPDI). To learn more, see the full release from when the award was announced in June 2023.
The Governor said KPDI investments had already been transformational for Henderson County. In May 2020, Gov. Beshear awarded $175,000 to Henderson County to help extend a natural gas line along the Kentucky Highway 425 bypass so it could support an economic development site. Later, Pratt Industries chose that site for its new $500 million paper mill, which opened in September 2023, creating more than 320 jobs.
?Folks, this shows how investing in our communities pays off,? the Governor said. ?An award for $175,000 helped this region secure its largest investment in over 25 years ? one that was worth $500 million. So, we?re back today with another check, and this one?s even bigger!?
?Even as the priorities of counties in Northwest Kentucky have evolved over the last decade, there have been two constants ? helping create more and better jobs here and helping bring affordable, high-speed broadband internet options to all our citizens,? said Henderson County Judge/Executive Brad Schneider. ?Today?s visit by Gov. Beshear celebrates significant progress in both those categories, and we appreciate the work his administration, the members of the General Assembly, Henderson Economic Development, the 4 Star Industrial Park board of directors, Kenergy and Conexon have all done to make it happen. There?s much more work still to do, but I believe these two investments will have a positive and long-lasting impact on the people of our region.?
###
|
