FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 27, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development, Severe Weather Awareness Week and recovery from recent storms. First Lady Britainy Beshear joined the news conference to provide an update on the recent Shop & Share donation drive, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library enrollment, a new child care program for executive branch employees and awards recognizing the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. The First Lady also named all those who responded to the recent floods and those who are helping with recovery as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Economic Development
Gov. Beshear highlighted further job growth as Earth Breeze, a producer of environmentally friendly laundry detergent sheets, announced plans to locate a roughly $5.9 million facility in Harrodsburg, creating 226 Kentucky jobs.
The Governor announced an exciting project for Kentucky’s distribution and logistics sector as Marquette Transportation Co., the leading independent provider of barge towing services on America’s inland waterways, announced plans to expand current operations at its Paducah facility with an over $5 million investment, creating up to 55 new Kentucky jobs.
Gov. Beshear highlighted exciting news within the state’s manufacturing and agritech sectors as Cornbread Hemp, a producer of full-spectrum organic hemp products, will expand its Louisville operation with a $1 million investment, creating 50 full-time, Kentucky jobs. Company co-founder Jim Higdon joined the news conference to talk about this latest expansion.
The Governor announced the final approval of the second round of the state’s growing site development initiative as a regional project between Knox and Whitley counties was approved for nearly $2.8 million in funding to prompt future investment and job growth.
Severe Weather Awareness Week
Gov. Beshear recognized March 1-7, 2025, as Severe Weather Week in the commonwealth. The week is an opportunity to empower Kentuckians to take proactive measures to protect themselves, their families and their communities from the potential impacts of severe weather. The Governor encouraged Kentuckians to participate in the state’s annual tornado drill on March 5 at 10:07 a.m. EST. Kentuckians can contact their local Emergency Management or National Weather Service offices for more information.
Weather Update
Gov. Beshear provided an update on the storm recovery response. The state recently opened its first two Disaster Recovery Centers at two Pike County public libraries: Lee Avenue Public Library and Belfry Public Library, with more to come. Kentucky also received approval from the federal government to allow households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase hot foods with program benefits in 22 counties in Kentucky.
The Governor announced that the commonwealth has waived the work search requirements for unemployment insurance during the state of emergency. Additionally, the state is seeking a waiver from the federal government to provide relief to Kentuckians unemployed due to the disaster.
Gov. Beshear announced that the Kentucky Department of Revenue will provide tax relief for individuals and businesses in the entire state of Kentucky affected by severe storms. This extension allows affected taxpayers whose filing deadline is on or after Feb. 14, 2025, until Nov. 3, 2025, to file Kentucky income tax returns and submit tax payments for individual income tax, corporate income tax and other taxes. The Internal Revenue Service is also providing this relief for federal taxes.
Earlier this week, the Governor announced that President Donald Trump approved his request for an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration, which includes public assistance for local governments and individual assistance for Kentuckians in 11 counties affected by the most recent storms. Additional designations and counties may be added if warranted by the results of further damage assessments.
The Governor said the state has opened temporary registration intake centers in Floyd, Knott, Martin, Perry and Pike counties. The first two Disaster Recovery Centers have opened in Pike County. Find locations at governor.ky.gov/flood-resources.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service – such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or other similar service – can give FEMA the number for that service. Read more.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has also approved Disaster Loans for 22 Kentucky counties. Applications for disaster loans may be submitted online using the MySBA Loan Portal at lending.sba.gov or other locally announced locations.
State highway closures have decreased to 68, which includes 18 from mudslides and rockslides. High water is still affecting travel, primarily in Western and Southern Kentucky. Preliminary estimates indicate more than 200 state highways have been damaged, many of them reduced to one lane, especially in southeastern counties. Engineering teams continue to respond and assess damage, committed to restoring roads to full service as quickly as possible.
Kentucky State Parks are sheltering 269 people at six state resort parks, occupying 101 rooms.
Click here and navigate to the “Emergency Shelters” tab for an up-to-date list of shelter locations. Flood survivors are encouraged to go to HousingCantWait.org to fill out an interest form for help with housing.
Shop & Share
The First Lady announced that this year’s Shop & Share event raised $349,370 in cash and in-kind donations to support the commonwealth’s regional domestic violence shelter programs.
“Thank you to Zero V, Kroger, all participating grocery stores and every Kentuckian who donated. You’ve made this possible,” said the First Lady. “Those supplies are going to help families rebuild their lives.”
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The First Lady announced that Russell County has achieved the state’s highest percentage of preschoolers enrolled in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Kentucky. In this community, more than 85% of eligible kids are signed up for the program, which provides one free book per month from birth to age 5. Last week, Mrs. Beshear visited the Russell County Public Library in Jamestown to celebrate this achievement. All preschool children in the state are eligible to enroll at ImaginationLibrary.com. Currently, 129,441 Kentucky kids, just over 48% of all eligible preschoolers in the state, are enrolled in the program.
“I want to congratulate Russell County on this milestone,” Mrs. Beshear said. “To the preschool parents out there, remember, it’s completely free to sign up. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library will help your child get ready for kindergarten – and have a lot of fun.”
Child Care Pilot Program
To further position state government as the commonwealth’s employer of choice, the Beshears announced that the administration is piloting a child care program for executive branch employee families. The Personnel Cabinet will be opening a child care center in Frankfort, which will be located at the Rosenwald Center on the campus of Kentucky State University. The goal opening date is Jan. 1, 2026. Anticipated hours of operation will be 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m., at a minimum, Monday through Friday. The center will enroll children ages 1-5. The request for proposals for those interested in operating the child care center is currently posted on the Finance and Administration Cabinet’s website.
“A lack of affordable and accessible child care can be a significant barrier for parents returning to the workforce,” said the First Lady. “This is the right thing to do for our state employees who have dedicated their careers to helping others.”
Kentucky Veteran Cemetery Awards
Mrs. Beshear announced that three Kentucky veteran cemeteries have been recognized by the National Cemetery Administration for their work. Kentucky Veteran Cemetery South East, in Hyden, and Kentucky Veteran Cemetery North, in Williamstown, both received the Stewardship Award. Kentucky Veteran Cemetery Central, in Radcliff, received the Operational Excellence Award.
Over the past 20 years, Team Kentucky members at these cemeteries have conducted burial honors for more than 22,000 veterans. The Beshears congratulated those who do this work for receiving this national recognition.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
The First Lady named all those who responded to the recent floods and are helping with recovery as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars, including emergency medical services, paramedics, firefighters, Kentucky State Police, local police, Kentucky National Guard, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, Kentucky Emergency Management, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Kentucky State Parks, Property Valuation Administrators, community support providers and those who are volunteering and donating.
“Road crews worked through long nights plowing our roads and clearing landslides, emergency personnel made sure our people received the medical treatment they needed, first responders jumped into waters to save lives and people from around the country have been donating to our relief fund,” Mrs. Beshear said. “You all are saving lives and helping our neighbors who are hurting, and we thank each and every one of you.”
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