Kentucky

May 11, 2009 -- MAYFIELD, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that the Purchase Area Housing Corporation (PAHC) has been awarded $1,372,500 from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to help stabilize communities in southwestern Kentucky that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment.

PAHC, which serves the eight-county Purchase Area Development District region, will use the funds to acquire, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed and abandoned properties that might otherwise become sources blight within neighborhoods.    » read more »

May 11, 2009 -- HOPKINSVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that the Pennyrile Housing Corporation (PHC) has been awarded $1.3 million from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) to stabilize communities that have suffered from foreclosures and abandonment.

PHC will use the funds to purchase, rehabilitate and resell foreclosed and abandoned properties in Christian County that might otherwise become sources of abandonment and blight within their communities.    » read more »

Three projects awarded to contract

May 08, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Dirt will be moving soon on Kentucky’s first transportation projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), the federal stimulus bill.

Three stimulus-funded highway improvement projects received bids from interested contractors on April 24 and were approved by the Transportation Cabinet’s awards committee this week. These projects include:

* Repair of Interstate 24 in Lyon and Caldwell counties, awarded to the Rogers Group Inc. for $11.1 million.

* Construction of a connector route in Marion County awarded to Nally & Haydon Surfacing LLC for $3.7 million.    » read more »

ARRA dollars to help laid-off workers and low-income adults

May 08, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that over $18 million in stimulus funds will be distributed to the Commonwealth’s 10 local workforce investment boards. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is providing a one-time appropriation to Kentucky of $11.2 million for dislocated workers and $6.9 million for low-income adults to pay for training opportunities and employment services.

The Recovery Act authorized the additional funding through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The goal is to substantially increase the number of adults who have the skills to fill jobs that are in demand in the Commonwealth.    » read more »

Stimulus funding will create jobs, serve as a catalyst for future investment in Kentucky

May 07, 2009 -- SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced the approval of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the South Bullitt Waste Water Interceptor Project.

Surrounded by state and local officials and leaders in the business community, Gov. Beshear applauded the efforts of public officials and private citizens in working together to make this project a reality.    » read more »

Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining Violations Point to Widespread Unlawful Stream Destruction; TECO Coal and Appolo Fuels to Pay for Illegal Mining

May 6, 2009 -- Eastern Tennessee & Eastern Kentucky - Sierra Club, Kentuckians For The Commonwealth (KFTC), Save Our Cumberland Mountains (SOCM) and Tennessee Clean Water Network (TCWN) today announced two settlements over separate legal claims against coal companies that operated mountaintop removal coal mines without permits.

Appolo Fuels, Inc. will pay for having destroyed streams at its Jellico mine site in Claiborne County, Tennessee. TECO Coal and subsidiary Clintwood Elkhorn will pay for its illegal coal mining practices in Pike County, Kentucky.    » read more »

April 27, 2009 -- LEXINGTON, Ky. − The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) has created a consortium with government agencies, electric utilities and their research organizations to seek cost-effective technologies to reduce and manage carbon dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants. It is anticipated that Kentucky state government and the industrial partners will provide $24 million over 10 years to support the research.

At a news conference today, accompanied by representatives from the industrial partners, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and UK Pres. Lee T. Todd Jr. announced the consortium, which builds on ongoing carbon management research at CAER initiated by E.ON US in 2006.    » read more »

ARRA dollars to provide employment and training programs

April 24, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that over $15 million will be distributed to the Commonwealth’s 10 local workforce investment boards. The funds, provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), will be used to conduct the Kentucky Summer Youth Employment Program and provide other training opportunities to approximately 6,000 at-risk youth and young adults across the state.    » read more »

April 24, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – As a leader in advancing new sources of energy in a state highly dependent on fossil fuels, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced that he is joining the U.S. Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition. Gov. Beshear also announced that he is endorsing the national 25x’25 Action Plan.

“The increased use of renewable energy sources in Kentucky will greatly increase our energy security and minimize our carbon footprint, while relying on Kentucky’s vast natural resources and boosting Kentucky business sectors, such as agriculture and various emerging growth companies,” Gov. Beshear said.    » read more »

April 22, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced today a special initiative by Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC) to offer up to $4,500 for down payment and closing costs for first-time home buyers who obtain a KHC home loan. The program will begin on May 1, 2009 and continue through Nov. 30, 2009.

The First Home Advantage Program provides a second mortgage with principal and interest payments deferred until July 1, 2010 for KHC-approved, first-time home buyers.    » read more »

Canaan House receives energy efficiency improvements as part of a program to reduce energy costs

April 22, 2009 -- LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear recognized Earth Day in Lexington today at a shelter that is receiving extensive energy efficiency improvements as a part of Kentucky’s Clean Energy Corps (KCEC).

Joined by Lexington Mayor Jim Newberry, environmental and business representatives and volunteers, Gov. Beshear toured the Canaan House, a residential facility for homeless persons with severe mental illness. The visit was part of the Clean Energy Hybrid Bus Tour, which made stops in five counties today to tour some of the more than a dozen low to moderate-income homes receiving energy efficiency improvements through KCEC.    » read more »

Project includes $5 million in stimulus money, creates 150 jobs

April 17, 2009 -- Kentucky at WorkLOUISVILLE, Ky. – The West Louisville Pumping Station, a 50-year-old system which protects 135,000 homes from flooding, will be rebuilt, thanks in part to federal economic stimulus dollars.

Gov. Steve Beshear has dedicated $5 million in state stimulus money for the project, which will be matched by $12 million from the Metropolitan Sewer District, the agency that will oversee the work.

The project will completely renovate the pumping station, at 1300 Southwestern Parkway in the Chickasaw neighborhood, by replacing seven large pumps, motors, drives and electrical switch gears. Expected to take 18 months, the project will create 150 jobs.    » read more »

ARRA Dollars to help lower diesel emissions

April 17, 2009 -- Kentucky at WorkFRANKFORT, Ky. – Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division for Air Quality (DAQ) announced that DAQ will be administering at least $1.73 million in funding for Clean School Bus programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.

“This is an example of how President Obama’s three pillars of education, economy and environment can come together in one initiative,” Gov. Beshear said. “The Clean School Bus programs will create more than 30 jobs, benefit air quality, and reduce student absenteeism due to allergies and asthma. I encourage all of our school districts to apply for this funding.”    » read more »

National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Batteries Selects Kentucky as Site for Proposed Domestic Battery Manufacturing and Headquarters Facility; Hardin County’s Glendale site chosen for potential investment in excess of $600 million, nearly 2,000 new jobs

April 13, 2009 -- FRANKFORT, Ky.—Underscoring his commitment to positioning the Commonwealth as the center of the nation’s automotive industry of the future, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear today announced Kentucky has been selected as the site for a proposed domestic battery manufacturing and headquarters facility.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC, Wednesday, April 8, 2009 -- U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood today announced that airports around the country will receive $258 million under the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

“Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act we are creating jobs across the country while investing in the long-term safety and economic vitality of our airports,” said Secretary LaHood.    » read more »