NICHOLASVILLE / LAWRENCEBURG, Ky– On Feb 17th, Governor Andy Beshear presented $3,790,619.88 in Jessamine County and $2,070,103 in Anderson County to support tourism marketing, cleaner water projects and local nonprofits.

“Every family deserves to know that when they turn on the faucet, they’re going to be able to give their kids clean water,” Gov. Beshear said. “That’s why we’re committing this funding in Jessamine and Anderson counties today, and we’re also supporting local tourism and amazing community organizations helping our people.”

Tourism Marketing Funding
Gov. Beshear awarded $139,301 to the Nicholasville, Wilmore – Jessamine County Joint Tourism Commission and $19,402 to the Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Joint Tourism Commission to support travel marketing and promotion.

“The Nicholasville, Wilmore – Jessamine County Joint Tourism Commission is extremely excited to use this funding for the betterment and revitalization of tourism in Jessamine County as a whole. The negative impact of COVID on our county will be seen for years. However, tourism in Jessamine County is starting to rebound, and this funding will allow us to accomplish projects to help drive tourism to Jessamine County,” said Charla Reed, executive director of the Nicholasville, Wilmore – Jessamine County Joint Tourism Commission. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to move Jessamine tourism forward, not only now but for years to come. We are so grateful to the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Department of Tourism for their investment in Kentucky’s tourism industry.”

“The money committed on Feb 17th, will improve Wilmore’s water infrastructure for years to come,” said Wilmore Mayor Harold Rainwater. “This project is much needed, and we’re grateful to the legislature and Gov. Beshear for allocating this funding.”

“It’s like we won the lottery,” said Robbie Morgan, executive director of the Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Joint Tourism Commission. “It is rare to have such a transformational opportunity to change the story for the future of our community and the surrounding area. We have our chance to dream big, think big and have a big impact. It’s pretty exciting.”

Additionally, the Governor awarded $100,000 to Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Joint Tourism Commission to attract meetings and conventions and $500,000 to the Joy Ride Campaign, a collaborative tourism project with a focus on the Bluegrass Tourism region to support multicounty collaborative destination marketing.

“This funding will help the Bluegrass Region drive leisure tourism into our commonwealth like never before,” said Lori Murphy-Tatum, Bluegrass Region treasurer. “The use of these funds will generate economic impact from visitors in 16 communities throughout our region. We are so grateful to Gov. Beshear, the General Assembly and the Kentucky Department of Tourism for this opportunity.”

The funding is part of the $75 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding announced by the Governor in July and allocated by the General Assembly in the 2022 legislative session to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy following the decline in visitors brought on by the pandemic. The funds were distributed by the Kentucky Department of Tourism to eligible tourism organizations throughout the commonwealth.

Cleaner Water Program Awards
The Governor committed funding for six Cleaner Water Program awards.

• City of Nicholasville: $1,931,353 committed to help construct a new water main from the treatment plant.

“On Feb 17th, was a great day for Nicholasville as we celebrated funding that will uplift our entire community,” said Mayor Alex Carter. “We are investing in our water infrastructure, inviting more people to see our city and bolstering our incredible nonprofits. We look forward to more good days here in Nicholasville.”

• City of Wilmore: $321,892 committed for the inspection of wastewater collection lines.
• Jessamine County Water District No. 1: $482,838 committed to improve water pressure to residents in the Sussex Estates, Turkey Curve and Ashgrove Pike areas, as well as upgrade an existing water main.

“The Cleaner Water funds will be used to supplement three areas of concern in our District,” said Carl Waits, chairman of Jessamine County Water District No. 1. “All the project areas have undersized lines that are over 50 years old. Replacing aging infrastructure, addressing growth and placing fire hydrants in our rural neighborhoods has been a priority of the district. These funds are greatly appreciated and will help a small water district like ours keep their rates down.”

• Jessamine-South Elkhorn Water District: $321,892 committed to repaint aging water district infrastructure.
• City of Lawrenceburg: $724,441 committed to help construct a new water storage tank.

“This project is going to increase the water pressure for our entire city, increase our water storage capacity and make us more resilient when leaks occur,” said Mayor Troy Young. “Ultimately, this will make the day-to-day lives of people in Lawrenceburg better and help us prepare for future growth. When we can improve the daily lives of our people, we’ve done our jobs. Thanks to the state legislature and Gov. Beshear for helping us secure this much-needed funding.”

• South Anderson Water District: $724,441 committed to help install a water main, remove an old pump station, improve a storage tank and rehab an aging pump station.

Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act 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 10 awards totaling $595,162.88 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 for the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation;
• $100,000 for Saint Joseph Health System;
• $100,000 for the Methodist Home;
• $88,750 for the Kentucky Equine Humane Center;
• $67,315 for Hope’s Embrace;
• $57,718.88 for Go International;
• $45,921 for Confrontation Point Ministries;
• $25,776 for the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition;
• $7,863 for Brookside Baptist Church; and
• $1,819 for the Anderson Independent Youth Soccer Association.

Nonprofit Leader Quotes
“The Kentucky Equine Adoption Center is honored to receive this award on behalf of our horses,” Executive Director Carrie Wosicki said. “Our mission is to provide humane treatment and shelter while seeking adoptive homes and providing second chances for Kentucky’s equine, regardless of breed. We will utilize this award to help feed our herd and cover their medical expenses. We will also continue to educate the public and raise awareness for responsible equine ownership so that fewer horses end up in crisis. Thank you for your help to further our organization’s reach.”

“At the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition, we say, ‘no perfect people allowed,’ and we live this out by focusing on the marginalized in our community,” Executive Director Johnny Templin said. “This unexpected grant helped us to focus on continued support for those experiencing homelessness in our community. During the pandemic we launched our case management program. This program improved our overall success rate by 50%. So these funds will go a long way toward continuing this program. This grant will also go toward continual operations expenses which will in turn allow us to continue the development of the Center for Growth and Hope. This new facility will offer a domestic violence prevention and veterans program, which are simply not available in Jessamine County today.”

Hope’s Embrace volunteers said in a statement: “Hope’s Embrace is here to guide women through one of the most crucial times of their lives: pregnancy, birth and postpartum. We are here to make this transition better for the ones who need our help and this makes a lifelong difference in a mother’s life.”

Legislator Quotes
“Utilizing the ARPA funds towards the Cleaner Water Project has benefited all of Kentucky, and I am happy these awards are making their way to Jessamine County,” Rep. Killian Timoney of Nicholasville said. “No Kentuckian should ever have to fear not having access to clean drinking water, which is why we in the legislature take pride in the work we have put towards making these funds possible. Representing Jessamine County is an honor and I look forward to bringing more quality solutions to Kentucky.”

“Working towards practical and needed solutions is what I have advocated for since coming to Frankfort to work for Jessamine County,” Rep. Matt Lockett of Nicholasville said. “By utilizing ARPA funds to advance the Cleaner Water Project, counties such as Jessamine across the commonwealth will have better access to clean drinking water. From tourism, nonprofits and access to drinking water, I am honored Jessamine County can benefit from the awards the legislature has worked to make possible.”

“We in the legislature take pride in our dedication to the Cleaner Water Project, and I am happy to see our efforts pay off in Jessamine County,” Rep. Kim King of Harrodsburg said. “Having access to clean drinking water is not something Kentuckians should have to worry about. I am thankful our great county will be able to benefit from these awards and will continue to build a better Kentucky.”

“On Feb 17th, Jessamine County is receiving awards that will not only benefit our county, but our state as a whole,” Rep. Daniel Fister of Versailles said. “Jessamine County has a lot to offer, and these awards supporting clean water, our nonprofit organizations and tourism will draw more people to our county and will give Jessamine County more reasons to be proud of where they live. I take pride in the work the legislature has done to make these awards possible and I look forward to continuing to work for the people of Jessamine County.”

“During the pandemic, one area of our economy that suffered greatly was tourism,” Rep. James Tipton of Taylorsville said. “I greatly appreciated the ARPA funds that have been designated for the Lawrenceburg/Anderson County Joint Tourism Commission. Tourism is a vital part of the local economy, and these funds will support that effort. I am also very pleased about the announcement of funds to the City of Lawrenceburg to improve vital water and sewer services for our citizens.”