Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update
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FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 21, 2024) ? Today, Gov. Andy Beshear updated Kentuckians on a federal grant to build a pumped storage hydropower facility in Bell County; economic development; G.R.A.N.T. Program selections; efforts to honor Kentucky?s women veterans; the upcoming Kentucky Women Remembered portrait unveiling; new leadership at the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet; addiction recovery housing centers in Eastern Kentucky; and recent severe weather. He also named the Simmons College women?s basketball team as this week?s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Federal Grant To Build Pumped Storage Hydropower Facility in Bell County
Gov. Beshear joined the U.S. Department of Energy to announce that the Lewis Ridge Pumped Storage Project has been approved for an up-to-$81 million federal grant to help construct a first-of-its-kind $1.3 billion coal-to-pumped storage hydropower facility in Bell County. The project will create about 1,500 high-quality construction jobs, 30 operations jobs and enough energy to power nearly 67,000 homes each year.
Rye Development CEO Paul Jacob, Senate President Robert Stivers, SOAR Executive Director Colby Hall, Sen. Johnnie Turner of Harlan, who represents Bell County, and Rep. Adam Bowling of Middlesboro, who also represents Bell County, attended today?s briefing to speak about and show support for the project.
Economic Development
Gov. Beshear highlighted continued momentum of the commonwealth?s site development efforts with the announcement of a new Build-Ready location in Adair County, positioning the community for future investment and job creation.
The Governor congratulated Vista Metals as Kentucky?s metals industry continues to grow at a rapid pace. Vista Metals ? a market leader in the manufacturing of specialty aluminum products primarily supporting aerospace, commercial aircraft, defense, automotive and general industrial applications ? plans to locate a new specialty aluminum products operation in Bowling Green, creating over 50 well-paying full-time jobs through an approximate $60 million investment.
G.R.A.N.T. Program Selections
Gov. Beshear announced the selection of eight projects to receive funding from Kentucky?s G.R.A.N.T. Program, which is administered by the Department for Local Government (DLG).
Several representatives from the projects ? including West Kentucky Community and Technical College President Dr. Anton Reece, Paducah-McCracken County Riverport Board Chair Inez Rivas-Hutchins, Hickman-Fulton County Riverport Authority Executive Director Greg Curlin and Paintsville Independent Schools Superintendent David Gibson ? spoke about what the funds mean to their communities.
In 2023, the General Assembly appropriated $2 million to DLG to get the G.R.A.N.T. Program operational and fund a small batch of projects. The Governor recommended more funds go to this program in his proposed budget. Many federal funding programs require matching funds by local governments, public agencies and nonprofits. The G.R.A.N.T. Program provides those matching funds, relieving a financial burden off applicants as they secure federal dollars.
Honoring Kentucky?s Women Veterans
Today, First Lady Britainy Beshear and Karen Lamberton, wife of Kentucky?s adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, met with Kentucky National Guard service women and veterans to commemorate Women?s History Month by visiting the ?Our Stories Our Service: Kentucky?s Women Veterans? exhibit at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History in Frankfort. The Governor recognized several of the servicewomen at the news conference.
?Our state has produced brave women who shattered barriers in the armed forces,? said Gov. Beshear. ?We will continue to push to have the important stories of our servicewomen told here in Kentucky.?
Kentucky Women Remembered Preview
Tomorrow, March 22, at 11 a.m. EDT, the Governor and First Lady will join Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman and members of the Kentucky Commission on Women, including the commission?s chair, Marita Willis, to unveil portraits of the seven women who were inducted last year into the Kentucky Women Remembered exhibit in the state Capitol.
New Leadership at Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
Gov. Beshear announced several new appointments at the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, furthering the administration?s mission to increase public safety, reduce recidivism and support addiction treatment and at-risk youth. The Governor has made Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson?s position permanent. Jackson has been interim secretary since former Secretary Kerry Harvey retired at the end of January. Gov. Beshear also announced that Randy White will take over as commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Recovery Housing in Eastern Kentucky
On Tuesday, Gov. Beshear attended the grand opening of The Journey, a women?s residential recovery center managed by Pathways. Last year, The Journey was awarded a $925,000 grant from the state?s Recovery Housing Program, which is administered by the Department for Local Government. This is the first project from the program to be completed.
?This is the first center to open in Kentucky as part of the Recovery Housing Program, and we are very proud of that. We are eager to put our grant dollars to use by serving women who are pregnant, women newly postpartum with their babies or any woman suffering from substance use disorder,? said Pathways CEO Jennifer Willis. ?We appreciate the collaboration, the work of the state and all who were involved in making this possible.?
The Governor also attended the ribbon-cutting for Pathways Residential Crisis Stabilization Unit in Ashland and Addiction Recovery Care?s Bellefonte Hospital and Recovery Center Psychiatric Unit in Russell. At the event in Russell, East Tennessee State University announced a report showing that the commonwealth is leading the nation in residential treatment beds per capita.
Severe Weather Update
The Governor provided an update on recent inclement weather in the commonwealth after storms produced a tornado, heavy rain, large hail and strong winds that damaged private property and public infrastructure and disrupted utilities. Gov. Beshear declared a state of emergency and activated the state?s price gouging laws. On Saturday, the Governor visited the city of Milton in Trimble County to see the damage and visit with affected families.
No fatalities and only a couple of minor injuries were reported. General Butler State Park is sheltering 26 individuals, down from 33 on March 15. Around 760 total customers are without power statewide. No outages are reported in the hardest hit areas, including Carroll, Gallatin and Trimble counties. Kentucky Emergency Management is requesting an Individual Assistance and Household assistance program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
The Governor congratulated the Simmons College of Kentucky women?s basketball team for winning the NCCAA Division II National Championship and named them as this week?s Team Kentucky All-Stars. This is the first national championship in the institution?s history. He commended the Lady Falcons, head coach Earl Ruffin and assistant coach Angel Thomas, who were present at today?s briefing, for winning the championship in just their second season.
?Simmons College is one of Kentucky?s great HBCUs, and this team has just etched their name in history,? said Gov. Beshear. ?We are so proud of the Lady Falcons, head coach Earl Ruffin and assistant coach Angel Thomas for all their hard work and for being named the 2024 NCCAA Division 2 National Champions.?
Gov. Beshear also congratulated the four Kentucky teams playing in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The men?s basketball teams playing in the tournament include those from Western Kentucky University, Morehead State University and the University of Kentucky. The University of Louisville?s women?s basketball team made it to the tournament.
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