Governor also presents $273,963 for new sidewalks in Nortonville
EARLINGTON / GREENVILLE, Ky. (March 23, 2022) – Today Gov. Andy Beshear awarded $2,765,765 to nine utilities and seven cities in Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties through the Better Kentucky Plan’s Cleaner Water Program. The program is expected to create 3,800 jobs across the state. The Governor also presented Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding to the City of Nortonville.
“After what the people of this region have been through the past few months recovering from a deadly tornado, you deserve some good news,” Gov. Beshear said. “I want you to hear it from me again – we will be here until every home and every life is rebuilt. We are here today taking another step toward recovery, announcing several grants that will fund major improvements to infrastructure in Western Kentucky.”
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA), $250 million was appropriated at the close of the 2021 General Assembly through a bipartisan agreement for clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky.
The Pennyrile Area Development District submitted funding requests for both counties to the KIA.
Hopkins County
In Earlington, Gov. Beshear presented 10 Cleaner Water Program awards totaling $1,641,140:
- $200,000 to Dawson Springs City Water and Sewer for sanitary sewer system rehabilitation and for wastewater treatment plant improvements;
- $110,000 to the City of Earlington for the South Atkinson Avenue Waterline Replacement Project that will help the city address water loss and maintain the quality of the drinking water to its customers;
- $110,000 to the City of Hanson for line upgrades and valve installation to better serve the subdivision at Compton and Livingston roads;
- $380,000 to Madisonville Municipal Utilities for the Bartlett Avenue line replacement project, which will ensure better serve for the south end of Hopkins County;
- $110,000 to the City of Mortons Gap for the White City Road waterline extension for nine families who are currently without water service;
- $160,000 to the Nebo Water District for pump station replacement, a SCADA system replacement and a new automated meter reading system;
- $150,000 to the North Hopkins Water District for water tank painting;
- $150,000 to the City of Nortonville for waterline replacements for better service;
- $161,140 to the South Hopkins Water District for water system improvements, a new administration office and an automated meter reading system; and
- $110,000 to the City of White Plains for waterline and service replacements.
Gov. Beshear presented $273,963 in TAP funding to the City of Nortonville to remove and replace existing sidewalks on Main Street and East Walnut Street and to construct new sidewalks on Greenville Road. The project will upgrade crumbling sidewalks to current ADA-compliance. Currently, city sidewalks are in serious need of repairs. A brand new 5-foot sidewalk will be constructed. This project will increase accessibility and safety for the community.
“Continued funding for the Cleaner Water Program is the bedrock of a thriving community,” Sen. Robbie Mills said. “I’m so pleased Hopkins County will be able to improve its infrastructure so the community will continue to flourish for generations to come.”
“This funding will help make improvements and increase access to resources Hopkins County residents need,” Rep. Lynn Bechler said. “Investments in our drinking water and sanitary sewer services are vital to improving our infrastructure. I’m thankful for the legislature’s commitment that’s bringing such significant funding here to our community.”
“Providing a clean water supply to residents is one of the most important jobs a government can do,” Hopkins County Judge/Executive Jack Whitfield Jr. said. “While many of our communities are in need of replacing aging infrastructure, others like Mortons Gap are using these funds to provide a necessary service to an entirely new and growing area. I, along with the Hopkins County Fiscal Court, appreciate the Governor’s Office and KIA’s support of funding to help our local municipalities continue to provide clean, safe and efficient water service to all citizens and visitors to Hopkins County.”
“I am proud to be a part of a system that works together to make our city and county stronger,” Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton said. “Under the leadership of our judge/executive, Jack Whitfield, and the Pennyrile Area Development District, our entire county government representatives were able to come together to prioritize infrastructure projects that needed to be addressed. For the City of Madisonville our mission is to elevate the quality of life for every citizen. Infrastructure projects like this will help us meet that mission. We have received $380,000 in grant funds from the Cleaner Water Program to repair the Bartlett Avenue waterline, which is a primary feeder to the south end of our system. Our water department works hard to prioritize the infrastructure that will ensure the future growth of Madisonville. As mayor, I am grateful for this funding opportunity and even more grateful to live in a place where government works in unity with others!”
“As the Mayor of the City of Dawson Springs, I wanted to convey our appreciation to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the $200,000 KIA Cleaner Water grant,” Dawson Springs Mayor Chris Smiley said. “These funds will give us the opportunity to complete a much needed sewer upgrade to improve the infrastructure of the city and make our water and sewer available to more citizens. Since the tornado, we are all well aware of the need to upgrade our infrastructure and build a better Dawson Springs.”
“Earlington is not unique in the fact that we are a distressed area. But that doesn’t alter the fact that we still have projects that have to repaired or replaced such as this water project,” Earlington Mayor Phillip Hunt said. “With limited funds, these simply cannot be accomplished. That is why grant money is so important to our community, to improve infrastructure for our citizens.”
“The City of Hanson feels so blessed to receive this award, for without it we would not be able to upgrade our system,” Hanson Mayor Jimmy Epley said. “Thank you so much for the investment in our future growth.”
“This funding is a blessing for our community,” White Plains Mayor Joshua Slayton said. “It will help us with the excessive cost to maintain our waste water treatment.”
Muhlenberg County
In Greenville, Gov. Beshear presented six Cleaner Water Program awards totaling $1,124,625:
- $187,437 to Central City Municipal Water and Sewer for water system improvements including rehabilitation and painting of one of the city’s oldest water tanks, demolition of the Stringtown Road water tank, installation of tank mixing systems to improve water quality and valve replacements;
- $187,438 to the City of Drakesboro for water system improvements including the rehabilitation of its existing water tank and fire hydrant replacements;
- $187,437 to the Greenville Utilities Commission to replace lead and copper service lines throughout the system;
- $187,438 to Muhlenberg County Water District No. 1 for rehabilitation of the Lake Malone Water Storage Tank;
- $187,437 to Muhlenberg County Water District No. 3 for water tank improvements and to add a booster pump station; and
- $187,438 to the City of Powderly to rehabilitate its lift station.
“Clean water is a vital and an integral part of a successful community,” Sen. Whitney Westerfield said. “I am grateful for the funding for this project and for the strong leadership in Muhlenberg County that is seeing it through.”
“I’m extremely pleased to see this money come into these communities to help increase access to clean drinking water and safe wastewater projects,” Rep. Melinda Gibbons Prunty said. “It is expensive to invest in maintaining and upgrading our infrastructure, but nowhere near the cost of ignoring these needs. I’m looking forward to moving more resources into delivering the services our communities need.”
“On behalf of our community, I would like to express my appreciation to Gov. Beshear for his leadership and involvement in the Better Kentucky Plan, specifically the Cleaner Water Program,” Muhlenberg County Judge/Executive Curtis McGehee said. “It is refreshing that our county was assisted and rewarded grants that ensure we have opportunities to provide quality service and more importantly cleaner water for our community. I join other Kentuckians in applauding the Governor for his innovative approach to move Kentucky forward in the post-COVID economy. Better schools, better internet and better water will not only impact our economy but will impact our quality of life. This program is a huge win for Kentucky!”
“The City of Greenville is thankful for these funds to replace lead and copper lines for the safety of our water customers,” Greenville Mayor Jan Yonts said. “With a limited number of customers we have in our rule communities, these improvements are practically impossible without this help. On behalf of our counsel, the City of Greenville and myself, we are very appreciative of Gov. Beshear’s investment in our community and our people and would like to thank the Governor and all those involved for their support.”
“Drakesboro’s Water System Improvements is needed to improve the operations, safety, and water quality for our citizens,” Drakesboro Mayor Mike Jones said. “These improvements will also help with leak detections and fluctuating pressures throughout the system. This money comes at a pivotal time and is greatly appreciated. The city would also like to recognize the county as they reached an agreement with everyone who was participating and split the money equally among them all. Thanks to Gov. Beshear for helping our city, county and state with this much needed funding.”
About the Cleaner Water Program
More than $152 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 application deadline was Nov. 19, 2021; however, KIA will make awards continuously throughout the year. All grant awardees must obligate the funds by Dec. 31, 2024.
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 broadband expansion, school facility upgrades and vocational education center renovations, can be found at governor.ky.gov/BetterKy.
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