Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 10, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development, a decrease in the property tax rate, funding awards to support communities recovering from severe weather, severe weather recovery, driver licensing, declining highway fatalities, the Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs virtual job fair and the upcoming renovation of the State Capitol. Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, joined the Governor to provide an update on the Our Healthy Kentucky Home initiative. Ahead of her birthday tomorrow, the Governor named First Lady Britainy Beshear as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star.
Economic Development
The Governor highlighted further manufacturing growth in Kentucky as Powell Valley Millwork announced a $29.6 million investment across two projects in Powell and Montgomery counties. The company will retain a total of 214 jobs and create 33 new ones.
Gov. Beshear emphasized further investment in the commonwealth’s manufacturing sector as Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems announced a $17 million expansion of its Simpson County facility that will create 76 new full-time jobs.
ValorFlex Packaging President and CEO Thomas Hazlette joined the news conference to talk about the company’s transformative $23.4 million investment in Bowling Green, which will create 82 quality Kentucky jobs and was announced during a previous Team Kentucky Update.
Gov. Beshear announced further investment in Kentucky’s build-ready, job-ready site development efforts as Boyle, Hopkins, Laurel, Montgomery, Pulaski and Taylor counties were approved for over $7 million in state funding to spur future investment and job creation.
Gov. Beshear announced that eight innovative Kentucky companies will receive $750,000 in state matching grants to support high-paying jobs and further grow the state’s technology sector.
Property Tax Rate Drops for Fifth Consecutive Year
Gov. Beshear shared that the state real property tax rate is being lowered, dropping from 10.9 cents to 10.6 cents per $100 assessed value. This is the fifth consecutive year the state property tax rate has decreased.
“Right now, the federal government wants you to think that the only way to lower taxes is to leave the most vulnerable behind. But we’ve proven the opposite,” Gov. Beshear said. “We’ve lowered taxes and also expanded health care, invested in schools and students and celebrated the largest budget surpluses in our history. We will always put our people first and politics last.”
Our Healthy Kentucky Home
Dr. Stack provided an update on Our Healthy Kentucky Home, a one-year initiative to promote simple, positive and attainable goals to inspire and motivate Kentuckians on a journey to health and wellness. For July, the initiative is highlighting addiction, and Dr. Stack encouraged Kentuckians to maintain a strong social support system and have serious conversations with friends and family members about addiction. Dr. Stack also highlighted resources like the searchable website to help people in recovery find housing – FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org – and the website to help Kentuckians access life-saving naloxone, which is used to reverse opioid overdose – FindNaloxoneNowKY.org.
$10 Million in SAFE Fund Awards
The Governor announced the next seven awards from the State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) 4860 fund to assist communities impacted by February’s severe storms and floods, declared as FEMA Disaster 4860. The Governor signed legislation in March to create this new SAFE fund and announced the first 14 awards in May, totaling more than $25 million.
Awards announced today total more than $10 million and assist with financial strains caused by the natural disaster. Click here to see the full list of awards.
In 2022, the Governor worked with legislators to establish the West Kentucky and East Kentucky SAFE funds to respond to devastating tornadoes in the west and floods in the east. Today, he also announced a $130,492 financial assistance award for Caldwell County from the West Kentucky SAFE fund.
$14 Million in Community Development Block Grant Awards
Gov. Beshear announced more than $14.4 million to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in four communities across Eastern Kentucky impacted by the 2022 floods. The City of Beattyville in Lee County, the City of Fleming-Neon in Letcher County, the City of Booneville in Owsley County and the Knott County Fiscal Court will each receive funding. For a full list of awards, see the full release.
Severe Weather Recovery
Gov. Beshear provided an update on severe weather recovery in the commonwealth. For the May 16-17 severe weather and tornadoes: Click here for a list of Disaster Recovery Centers open to those affected and click here for a fact sheet on how to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance. Since the commonwealth received approval, FEMA has disbursed over $2.2 million in assistance. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is July 23, 2025.
For the May event, 25 households are being housed in travel trailers at Levi Jackson Wilderness Road Park, eight households are being sheltered in hotels and 52 households have transitioned out of the Commonwealth Sheltering Program. The contractor hired by Laurel County has collected more than 41,518 cubic yards of debris for disposal.
For February’s severe weather, more than $52 million in Individual and Households Assistance has been disbursed. The deadline to apply was May 25, 2025. For the April floods, so far, more than $26 million in federal assistance has been disbursed. The deadline to apply has been extended to July 25, 2025. Click here to view the hours and locations of the Disaster Recovery Centers for both February’s and April’s floods.
Kentucky State Parks is sheltering 111 people at four state parks related to February’s and April’s floods. Jenny Wiley campground is sheltering 166 people, occupying 59 travel trailers.
Last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced that they have approved more than $12.6 million in federal disaster loans to support Kentucky businesses, nonprofits, homeowners and renters affected by severe weather occurring from April 2 to May 16, 2025. The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is July 25, 2025. The deadline to return economic injury applications is Jan. 26, 2026. Click here to learn how to apply.
Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians and anyone else who would like to help that the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund is open for monetary donations. To donate, click here. So far, the fund has raised more than $2.3 million in donations from 7,237 donors.
Driver Licensing
The Governor provided an update on steps his administration has taken to meet increased demand at Driver Licensing Regional Offices. The Governor announced that Team Kentucky has hired 125 new contracted full-time team members at these offices. These new staff members will assist with license renewal needs, REAL ID applicants and processing permits for 15-year-olds. Team Kentucky has also implemented a new line management system, held popup events in counties without a Driver Licensing Regional Office and made efforts to recruit even more employees.
The Governor noted that these changes are already making a difference. Kentucky Driver Licensing Regional Offices issued more credentials in April and May than ever before, with May setting a new record of 130,152 total issuances. This represents a 23% increase in the average monthly credentials issued. Additionally, since legislation went into effect under an emergency provision on April 1, more than 17,000 15-year-olds have successfully passed the written test and obtained their driving permit.
Gov. Beshear also reminded Kentuckians that there are ways they can skip the line when renewing their driver’s license. Take the quiz to see if you qualify to renew online or by mail.
Declining Highway Fatalities
Gov. Beshear announced that, compared to the same time last year, Kentucky has seen a 23% decrease in highway fatalities in 2025, as of July 2. The commonwealth has also seen a 13% reduction in injuries related to highway crashes. So far, 275 Kentuckians have been lost to crashes on Kentucky highways and 1,174 highway injuries have been reported in 2025.
“These trends are very encouraging,” said Gov. Beshear. “This shows that Team Kentucky’s commitment and innovative strategies to make our roadways safer are paying off. We’re going to keep pushing until that number is zero, because we know even one life lost to a highway crash in Kentucky is too many.”
Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Virtual Job Fair
The Governor encouraged Kentuckians to participate in the virtual job fair hosted by the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs, which takes place the third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. The next job fair is Wednesday, July 16. The first hour is dedicated to veterans and military families, then beginning at 11 a.m., the job fair is open to everyone. The event is free for employers and job seekers. Over 80 employers have participated in these fairs so far. For interested job seekers, click here. For interested employers, click here.
State Capitol To Be Fully Renovated for First Time in More Than 70 Years
Donna Farmer, an architect and statewide project manager on Team Kentucky, joined the Governor to update Kentuckians on the State Capitol’s first full renovation in more than 70 years. Farmer said the Kentucky General Assembly has appropriated $291.5 million for this project. The last major renovation of the facility occurred between 1952 and 1955.
The renovation team will:
- upgrade infrastructure;
- add new safety features, like automatic sprinklers and fire rated egress stairs;
- make the building more accessible for those with disabilities;
- improve security;
- enhance spaces for visitors and staff; and
- complete numerous maintenance projects that have been deferred over the past 50 years.
“The project will help preserve this historic and beautiful landmark, so that Kentuckians and visitors can enjoy it for generations to come and continue working together here to build a better commonwealth,” Farmer said.
State officials expect the Capitol building to close by the end of August 2025 and to reopen in 2029. However, the project timeline may change if additional needs are discovered. State offices currently housed in the Capitol will temporarily relocate to alternative offices in Frankfort.
To ensure safety, parts of the Capitol Grounds will be closed to visitors during the renovation period. However, many areas will remain open, including the Floral Clock, the flower beds and green space on Capital Avenue, the COVID-19 Memorial and the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument. Designated pedestrian and driving paths will also be added.
Team Kentucky All-Star
Ahead of her birthday tomorrow, the Governor named Britainy Beshear as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star.
“Anyone who has met our First Lady knows that she spreads kindness everywhere she goes,” said Gov. Beshear. “She’s an amazing mom, and that doesn’t just mean watching out for our kids, it means watching out for all Kentucky kids. The best choice I’ve ever made is choosing to spend my life with Britainy, because she makes every day brighter. Happy early Birthday.”
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