Franklin, Ky – On Feb 24th, Governor Andy Beshear presented $5.7 million in Simpson County to support career and technical education, tourism marketing, cleaner water projects and six local nonprofit organizations.

“My administration will always put education first, and that includes helping our students discover technical fields where they can get hands-on experience, serve others and find great jobs that can support a family,” Gov. Beshear said. “That’s why we’re awarding more than $4 million to support career and technical education here in Simpson County. And we’re also providing funding for tourism marketing, cleaner water projects and local nonprofits.”

Career and Technical Education
Gov. Beshear presented $4,033,400 to Simpson County Schools to support career and technical education. The award will fund renovations at the district’s Local Area Vocational Education Center at Franklin-Simpson High School, including new dedicated spaces for nursing and technology students to practice their skills.

“Vocational centers pioneer the path for alternative education for those who decide that a four-year institution is not the next step in their educational career. While a traditional four-year college advances professional development of many in the commonwealth, it is exciting to see an alternative for those wishing to pursue a trade,” said Rep. Shawn McPherson of Scottsville. “The legislature is dedicated to educational access for all. It is such an honor to be here for the announcement. I look forward to seeing this funding go to use.”

Tourism Marketing Funding
Gov. Beshear awarded $145,640 to the Simpson County Tourism Commission to support travel marketing and promotion. The funding is part of the $75 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding allocated by the General Assembly and announced by the Governor in July to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy following the decline in visitors brought on by the pandemic.

“The ARPA funds have opened many doors for Simpson County Tourism. We will use the funds to promote Franklin and Simpson County by approaching group tour coordinators, attending consumer travel shows, and advertising Franklin on a larger scale than what our office has previously been able to do,” said Amy Ellis, Executive Director of the Simpson County Tourism Commission. “We plan to embark on a wayfinding signage campaign with the city and county to improve the existing signage so that visitors can easily find their way through Franklin to attractions, dining and lodging. Simpson County Tourism is grateful for this funding which has enabled us to bounce back from the effects that the pandemic had on the travel and tourism industry.”

Cleaner Water Program
Gov. Beshear announced $1,190,231 in Cleaner Water Program funding commitments, as part of his Better Kentucky Plan.

• Gov. Beshear announced the commitment of $876,010 to the City of Franklin to replace old water mains and rehabilitate a lift station.

“Every resident in Franklin deserves to continue to have top quality, clean water,” said Mayor Larry Dixon. “These funds are greatly appreciated and will assist us in continuing to provide that access for our citizens. We want to thank our state officials for working together to get communities like ours these funds. We have bright days in our future here in Franklin and across Kentucky.”

• Gov. Beshear also announced the commitment of $314,221 to the Simpson County Water District to replace water mains that have experienced leaks and breaks.

“The funding announced on Feb 24th, will help us replace leak-prone water mains,” said Jacob Cuarta, general manager of the Simpson County Water District. “This project will improve service to our customers and improve their daily lives. We’ll celebrate these funds today and continue our work to bring clean water to the residents of Simpson County.”

Funded by ARPA and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, $500 million has been appropriated through a bipartisan agreement with the General Assembly to provide clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky since 2021. The 2022 funding will be allocated 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. As the project progresses, the utility will be reimbursed by Cleaner Water Program funds.

Nonprofit Assistance Fund Awards
The Governor also presented six awards totaling $328,615.92 from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which is helping organizations across Kentucky recover from the effects of the pandemic. The funding comes from federal ARPA dollars, and Gov. Beshear supported the allocation by the 2022 General Assembly. This fund will provide one-time direct relief payments to support the mission and long-term sustainability of each eligible nonprofit. Gov. Beshear presented:

• $100,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of Franklin-Simpson;
• $100,000 to the Simpson County Literacy Center;
• $64,750 to the Simpson County Historical Society;
• $34,903.92 to St. Mary’s Parish of Franklin, Kentucky;
• $23,645 to Habitat for Humanity of Simpson County; and
• $5,317 to the Franklin-Simpson Educational Coalition.

Nonprofit Leader Quotes
“The mission of the Simpson County Historical Society is to collect, preserve and educate in all aspects of history and genealogy relating to Simpson County and its citizens, including operating the History Center & Old Jail Museum & Archives. After some months of forced shutdowns, this money will help us continue to provide these services at no charge to our community and to visitors from around our nation and world,” President and CEO Dr. James Henry Snider said. “Marcus Garvey said, ‘A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.’ We try to help people discover their roots and then build on that foundation, and this funding will help and we greatly appreciate it.”

“Even though we had to stop allowing club members access to the Boys & Girls Club of Franklin-Simpson during the height of COVID-19, we were still serving our kids virtually with great success on a daily basis,” said Board Treasurer Lydia Johnson Latham. “That required us to keep our staff on our payroll during a time when we were not able to get out and fundraise as we would normally. The money offered by the Kentucky Non-Profit Network was essential to us for recovery from that unprecedented time. We have been able to continue serving our members at the high standard we have always served them by offering programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character and leadership development. The board of directors are grateful for the opportunity to apply for the grant and receive this money.”

“The Simpson County Literacy Center is a vital nonprofit in the community providing essential services in the areas of literacy, having existed for over 35 years,” Executive Director Dana Patterson said. “English language classes are offered in the office so non-native English speakers can better communicate with employees, employers and community members. Basic literacy for low reading levels is offered, as well as classes for GED preparation. We also offer digital literacy instruction for basic hardware and software skills. In Kentucky, 22% of residents are at or below a Level 1 literacy. Our mission is to help adults reach their personal goals with free services so they become thriving community members, and to break the cycle of low literacy.”

Dana Hester, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Simpson County, said, “The need for affordable housing continues to rise across the state. We are gracious that Team Kentucky, through the Nonprofit Assistance Fund and beyond, is working closely with us to provide solutions. This funding allows us to partner with another local family here in Simpson County through our homeownership program. We are currently in the process of selecting a family and will begin constructing a new home beginning this year. In addition, we reserved a portion of the funding to provide critical repairs to help low-income individuals have a safe place to call home.”