Kentucky

Package would help recruit Sprint Cup Series race, increase investment in Kentucky businesses

June 05, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Completing his agenda for a special legislative agenda, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today proposed an economic incentives package and legislation to help spur building mega-transportation projects – items that would create jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in investment for Kentucky.    » read more »

VLTs would be limited to tracks, provide needed revenues

June 04, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Saying Kentucky’s horse industry is threatened with extinction, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today added a proposal to this month’s special legislative session to allow expanded gaming at the state’s racetracks to increase purses and breeder incentives.

“Kentucky’s horse industry – a living, breathing part of our cultural heritage and one of our strongest, most precious commodities abroad – is in a state of crisis,” Gov. Beshear told reporters today in announcing his proposal. “Some even say it’s dying.”    » read more »

Record shortfall a challenge; stimulus dollars, cuts help

June 03, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Faced with the largest shortfall in modern Kentucky history, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today unveiled a proposed budget for next year that does not raise taxes on working families and businesses while preserving basic funding for classroom instruction, health care programs for the most vulnerable and key areas of public safety.    » read more »

June 01, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky.—“We’ve been in communication with GM today and anticipate GM will continue to produce the Corvette as they have for years right here in Kentucky.

"We will do whatever we can as a state to ensure the viability and longevity of the Bowling Green Assembly Plant.

"GM's impact is not only felt through the assembly plant in Bowling Green, but with its supplier network throughout Kentucky. Suppliers have dealt effectively with the known shutdowns to date, minimizing the impact on its workforce.

"While production levels at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant aren't what they've been, suppliers are still preparing to supply GM for the new model change-over.”

Source: Kentucky Governor

More than 400 new “green collar” jobs to be created

June 01, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today applauded General Electric’s (GE) decision to build its new line of energy-efficient, hybrid electric water heaters in Louisville, creating approximately 420 jobs.    » read more »

First U.S. Manufactured ENERGY STAR® Qualified Water Heater Will Be Made in Kentucky Creating 400 New “Green Collar” Jobs

June 1, 2009 -- LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- GE’s (NYSE:GE) Consumer & Industrial division announced today that it will manufacture highly energy efficient hybrid electric water heaters in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Company’s Appliance Park facility - creating about 400 jobs.

The new hybrid patented technology will make GE the first manufacturer to introduce a water heater that will meet the new 2009 Department of Energy ENERGY STAR standards for heat pump hot water heaters, putting GE well ahead of the competition.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky.—“The Consensus Forecasting Group has made clear today the significant budgetary challenge before us. We now face a $996 million shortfall for the General Fund and a $239.1 million shortfall for the Road Fund next budget year, beginning July 1, 2009.    » read more »

Individual Assistance In 4 Counties

May 29, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear late today announced that President Obama had granted his request for pubic disaster assistance for 22 counties rocked earlier this month by massive storms and flooding.

In addition, the President approved four counties for individual assistance.

“We are pleased that President Obama has issued this disaster declaration and look forward to quickly receiving the assistance people are entitled to in Kentucky,” Gov. Beshear said. “We have been working day and night with the federal government to get this declaration issued and now look forward to ensuring that the assistance is forthcoming as so many of our people work to rebuild their lives and their homes.    » read more »

Project will result in approximately 150 new jobs, $2.8 million investment

May 28, 2009 -- MARION, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today joined company and community leaders in Crittenden County to announce the expansion of one of its corporate citizens. Safetran Systems Corporation, part of the Invensys Group, a worldwide leader in railroad crossing technology and crossing warning systems, will invest up to $2.8 million into its Marion facility, creating approximately 150 new jobs in the Commonwealth over the next few months.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, along with Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) Chief Executive Officer Richard L. McQuady, and Kentucky Interagency Council on Homelessness (KICH) Chair Kentucky Sen. Gerald Neal, today announced that Kentucky has applied for more than $18.5 million for a new program to provide rental assistance and services to prevent people from becoming homeless and to help those who are experiencing homelessness.

On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. In Kentucky, this program is called Kentucky’s Housing and Emergency Assistance Reaching The Homeless (KY HEARTH) Program.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – USDA has expanded the Livestock Gross Margin insurance program for dairy cattle to producers in Kentucky, New Mexico, Tennessee and Washington, bringing the total number of states where this program is available to 33.

"Livestock Gross Margin provides convenience to producers who can sign up for the insurance 12 times per year and insure all their milk production they expect to market over a rolling 11-month insurance period," said Acting Administrator William J. Murphy. "This is a customized product and can be tailored to any size farm and is considered a bundled option insurance, similar to buying both a call option to limit higher feed costs and a put option to set a floor on milk prices."    » read more »

ARRA dollars support broad sectors of Kentucky’s economy

May 21, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, KY – Underscoring his vision to make Kentucky a national leader in energy, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced today a $52 million blueprint to create nearly 600 jobs by increasing efficiency and renewable energy efforts in schools, farms, homes, government buildings and private sector initiatives throughout the Commonwealth.

The funding for the plan is part of the federal stimulus plan or the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Kentucky’s allocation for energy initiatives and planning is $52,533,000 that will be utilized over the next three years, pending approval by the U.S. Department of Energy in the next several months.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear will travel Tuesday for a three-day economic development trip to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) international convention, which is being held this year in Atlanta, Ga.

The trip will mark the second visit by Gov. Beshear to BIO and the ninth consecutive year that Kentucky has exhibited at the convention, which draws over 20,000 attendees and 1,800 exhibitors from more than 60 nations.

Joining the Governor will be Economic Development Cabinet Interim Secretary Larry Hayes, Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Len Peters and the Economic Development Cabinet’s Department of Commercialization and Innovation Commissioner Deborah Clayton.    » read more »

May 13, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky.—Following the devastating storms and extensive flooding that have ravaged parts of the state and forced hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians from their homes, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear asked President Barack Obama this afternoon to declare a major disaster for impacted areas of the state.    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that the Housing Authority of Bowling Green (HABG) has been awarded $2,032,551 from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to help low-income families and individuals purchase homes that have been foreclosed and abandoned in the wake of the country’s economic crisis.

“Vacant housing can have a very negative impact on neighborhoods by inviting crime and blight and bringing down surrounding property values,” said Gov. Beshear. “The Housing Authority of Bowling Green’s plan will benefit communities by returning vacant lots to productive use while providing new opportunities for homeownership to deserving families.”    » read more »