Lt. Gov. Coleman Announces $7 Million in Funding to Seven Western Kentucky Counties

Funding provided for cleaner water, better roads, vocational education and community development

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 11, 2022) – On Thursday, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced more than $7,095,000 in funding to seven Western Kentucky counties: Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Fulton and Hickman. The funding comes through Gov. Andy Beshear’s Cleaner Water Program, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), a Better Kentucky Plan program that provides funding for Local Area Vocational Education Centers (LAVECs), and the Department for Local Government’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.

“Kentucky families deserve clean water – a basic human right – as well as access to safe and well-maintained roads, educational opportunities and support when they need help,” said Gov. Beshear. “These investments show what we can accomplish when we put our values into action.”

“Investments in infrastructure, like high-speed internet, clean water, roads and bridges, provide Kentucky a solid foundation for building tomorrow’s economy today,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman.

As part of Gov. Beshear’s Better Kentucky Plan, the Cleaner Water Program is funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and is administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA). At the close of 2021 General Assembly session, $250 million was appropriated through a bipartisan agreement for clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky. The Pennyrile Area Development District and Purchase Area Development District submitted the funding request for these projects to the KIA.

Lt. Gov. Coleman presented the following awards:

Ballard County

$72,424 to the City of Barlow to improve various components of the existing wastewater treatment plant.
$72,424 to the City of Kevil for improvements to the existing wastewater system.
$72,424 to the City of La Center for replacing cement waterlines and replacing customer water meters.
$72,423 to the City of Wickliffe for expansion of water lines to support industrial expansion.

“We are excited that Gov. Beshear’s office has partnered with our cities and the West Kentucky Riverport Authority in the current and new water and sewer projects. Without quality infrastructure, our residents and businesses suffer. We are thankful and appreciative of all the partners in our city water systems who have worked tirelessly to see these projects come to fruition,” said Ballard County Judge/Executive Todd Cooper.

$68,896 to Ballard County Schools through the Better Kentucky Plan for renovation of the Ballard County Career and Technology Center.

“Ballard County Schools is thrilled to welcome Lt. Gov. Coleman to our district,” said Superintendent Casey Allen. “In addition to accepting the generous grant for updating our Career and Technical Center, we are excited for her to see the hard work and proud programs that exist for students in our district.”

As part of his Better Kentucky Plan, Gov. Beshear awarded Kentucky school districts $75 million to upgrade LAVECs. The grants were approved by the Kentucky School Facilities Construction Commission Board. To learn more, see the full release.

Caldwell County

$220,000 to Caldwell County to replace aging hydrants that are no longer functioning and to install a control valve at the Hopkinsville Road Tank.
$220,000 to the Princeton Water & Wastewater Commission for improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.
$28,147 to the City of Fredonia to install valves along the water line from the interconnection with Eddyville to Fredonia to isolate leaks.
$530,000 was given to Caldwell County Schools through KYTC school safety funding to install turn lanes near Caldwell County Elementary School.
$88,300 to Caldwell County through KYTC to resurface portions of Old Madisonville Road and Rufus Road.

“I’m grateful for the continued leadership of Caldwell County Water District’s Jimmy Littlefield and Princeton Water’s James Noel for their work with Mayor Young, Mayor Seibert and Judge Curling to make critical water infrastructure improvements possible. I’m also thankful for the distribution of discretionary road funding and school safety funds for Caldwell County, both of which improve the quality of life and safety of our community,” said Sen. Whitney Westerfield, whose district includes Caldwell County.

“Infrastructure financing projects provide benefits to the larger economy of Caldwell, not just to a specific group of people. For this reason, I want to thank Gov. Beshear and all those involved for taking the steps to dramatically improve and modernize our infrastructure,” said Caldwell County Judge/Executive Larry Curling.

Calloway County

$932,352 to the City of Murray to relocate the 4th Street water main.
$300,000 to Dexter-Almo Heights Water District to extend water service to 60 unserved houses.
$200,000 to South 641 Water District for improvements to prevent collapsed water lines.

“Without a doubt, today’s announcement illustrates how government should work together to improve the quality of life for our commonwealth. This funding is exactly what the legislature intended when we crafted Senate Bill 36 and included funding to upgrade our aging and antiquated drinking and wastewater infrastructure. Our commitment continues and I’m proud to share that we plan on investing even more this year,” said Rep. Mary Beth Imes, who represents Calloway County.

“I’m particularly pleased and gratified with the approval of the three grant requests that have made the final hurdle in updating and expanding clean water and sewerage to the citizens of Calloway County. This major investment in our community, through our state and federal governments, will begin anew our commitment to move ahead with badly needed repairs to our infrastructure and will serve our citizens for at least the next two generations to come,” said Calloway County Judge/Executive Kenny Imes.

Carlisle County

$325,801 to Carlisle County through KYTC to resurface portions of Hopewell Road, Kindell Road, Mayfield Church Road, Old Clinton Road, Sawmill Road and St. Charles Road.
$174,816 to Milburn Water District to replace aging waterlines.

“As House Majority Floor Leader, I supported creating and funding the Cleaner Water Program because I know what a tremendous impact it will make in communities throughout this commonwealth. As the state representative for the First District, I’m glad to see those dollars come into our communities here in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman counties. This program is dedicated to ensuring that every person has access to safe drinking water and an efficient wastewater disposal system. This is a step in the right direction in strengthening the commonwealth’s infrastructure,” said Rep. Steven Rudy, whose district includes all four counties.

“Thank you to the Governor’s Office and Lieutenant Governor for helping West Kentucky. We are always appreciative for the help they offer our communities. Our county would not be what it is today without them,” said Carlisle County Judge/Executive Greg Terry.

Christian County

$1,185,370 to the City of Hopkinsville to replace water meters, rehabilitate sewer manholes and construct a new pumping station.
$1,133,549 to Christian County Water District to extend water lines along rural roadways to reached unserved families.

$268,835 to the City of Oak Grove to replace 150 commercial meters.

“Clean drinking water and safe wastewater systems is something every person deserves access to,” said Rep. Walker Thomas, whose district includes part of Christian County. “This program will ensure that every person in Christian County will have access to safe water, and it will improve the lives of those living here. I was honored to support the funding for this measure during the 2021 Regular Session and pleased to see it make an impact on this community today.”

“Today, Christian County is receiving necessary funds in order to improve their water systems. The improvement of Kentucky’s infrastructure helps the citizens of this county and across the commonwealth live better and safer lives. I strongly supported Senate Bill 36, which included the funding for this initiative, when we considered it last session, and this is exactly the type of program we had in mind,” said Rep. Lynn Bechler, whose district includes part of Christian County.

“The improvements on the water systems in Christian County will ensure that every person will have clean drinking water and hopefully ease the minds of those who do not have access to clean water,” said Rep. Myron Dossett, whose district includes part of Christian County. “The money for the program came to us during a time of uncertainty, and the legislature made the decision to allocate the ARPA funds in last year’s budget to improve the lives of the citizens of the commonwealth. While we are still recovering from the pandemic and the ARPA funds which came to us last year, which is funding this program, will help this great state and the people who call it home.”

Fulton County

$109,609 to the City of Fulton to replace a sewer lift station to avoid sewer backup in residential homes.
$109,609 to the City of Hickman to replace the pump station that services Brownsville.

“Clean water is vital to creating a healthy environment for our children and families,” said Sen. Jason Howell, whose district includes Calloway, Fulton and Hickman counties. “I am so pleased that Calloway, Fulton and Hickman counties are able to create a flourishing community with this critical infrastructure.”

“Fulton County Fiscal Court appreciates the grant provided by the state to assist with the infrastructure needs of our two cities,” said Fulton County Judge/Executive Jim Martin. “We are eager to partner with the cities of Hickman and Fulton to assist with improving the quality of our utility system to server residents of our community. These grants will help to improve water safety in our county.”

“Infrastructure is the foundation for economic growth and development. These cleaner water funds help the City of Fulton upgrade a critical infrastructure piece of our wastewater system that has been in the ground since the 1950's. This project would not have been possible without this funding,” said Fulton City Manager Mike Gunn.

Hickman County

$160,860 to the City of Columbus for repairs to the water treatment plant.

“The funding for the City of Columbus water system will help make needed repairs and improvements to their water system. This will improve the quality of life for these citizens,” said Hickman County Judge/Executive Kenny Wilson.

“The City of Columbus is excited and grateful to receive this assistance to improve the water service in our small town. We will be able to move ahead with plans that will help us make our community a better place. Water is vital to the life of human beings and it is vital for communities to continue to sustain our city family as we grow,” said Columbus Mayor Kay Ferguson.

$750,000 to Hickman County, along with Mission House, through a Community Development Block Grant for a center serving as the central hub for the distribution of commodities to residents of Hickman County.

“The Mission House touches all citizens in Hickman County. This funding will help us in replacing an aging building that was built shortly after World War II. Not only will the building be more energy efficient, but it will give greater access to the food bank and thrift store the Mission House currently houses,” said Hickman County Judge/Executive Kenny Wilson.

The Department for Local Government administers approximately $26 million annually from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant program. The CDBG program provides assistance to communities for use in revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding affordable housing and economic opportunities, providing infrastructure and/or improving community facilities and services.

About the Cleaner Water Program
More than $106 million has been awarded to grantees to fund transformative projects since the call for projects was announced June 1. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and counties, collaborated with their local Area Development Districts and Area Water Management Councils to submit projects for Cleaner Water Program funding. There are 713 public drinking water and wastewater utilities in Kentucky.

Cleaner Water program funding is allocated in three ways:

$150 million based on each county’s proportion of the state’s population, with the exception of Jefferson County’s share, which is discounted by 50% based on its high per capita allocation from the federal act. A list of the allocations by county can be found here.
$50 million is available for utilities to provide drinking water services to unserved, rural customers or to utilities under a federal consent decree. The KIA shall consider social, economic and environmental benefits in determining the allocations.
$49.9 million is available to supplement a project grant for a project with a cost in excess of a county’s allocation amount and other available grant sources. The social, economic and environmental benefits shall be considered in determining project allocations. KIA will receive $75,000 to administer the grant program.

The American Society of Civil Engineers in 2019 projected that Kentucky faces nearly $14.5 billion in water/wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, including over $8.2 billion in drinking water upgrades and $6.2 billion in sewer system improvements.

Information about the Cleaner Water Program, as well as grants for high-speed internet expansion, school facility upgrades and vocational education center renovations, can be found at governor.ky.gov/BetterKy.

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