U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Kentucky State Director Dr. Tom Carew today announced over $8.2 million in federal funding to help rural Kentucky.
Funding comes by way of USDA Rural Development and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
“From solar systems to water systems, the projects I’m announcing today will help improve the quality of life and economic prosperity of those who call rural Kentucky home,” said Carew. “These projects are the latest proof that the Biden-Harris administration’s Rural Partners Network initiative is working.”
Community Ventures will use a $1,000,000 USDA Rural Development Intermediary Relending Program loan to capitalize an existing revolving loan fund to serve 21 Mississippi Delta counties (Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Henderson, Hickman, Hopkins, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, McLean, Muhlenberg, Todd, Trigg, Union, and Webster). This project will result in 15-20 jobs being created and/or retained.
Harlan County Board Of Education will use a $40,500 USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Grant to purchase a law enforcement vehicle. The vehicle will be used by a school resource officer in compliance with Kentucky's 2022 law mandating a school resource officer on each school's campus. The investment will serve about 27,000 residents in a persistent poverty county.
J.R. Hoe Inc. (Bell County) will use a $108,288 USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program grant to purchase and install a 75.2-kilowatt roof-mounted solar system. J.R. Hoe Inc. is a cast iron foundry, structural steel fabricator, and custom machine services company. The project is expected to save $11,325 per year in energy costs and generate 97,703 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 8.97 homes.
Kentucky Highlands Investment Corporation (Laurel County) will use a $150,000 USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program Technical Assistance grant to help 23 agricultural producers or rural small businesses obtain either a Rural Energy for America Program grant or loan. This three-year project will focus on Bell, Clay, Clinton, Cumberland, Estill, Harlan, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Lincoln, Madison, McCreary, Owsley, Perry, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, and Whitley counties.
Kentucky Mist Moonshine Inc. (Letcher County) will use a $51,543 USDA Rural Development Rural Energy for America Program grant to purchase and install a 40.2-kilowatt solar system. The project is expected to save $6,724 per year in energy costs and generate 42,054 kilowatt hours of energy per year, which is enough to power approximately 3.86 homes.
In addition to the USDA Rural Development-funded projects, the agency will also administer the following Appalachian Regional Commission grants.
City of Harlan will use a $1,000,000 grant to make renovations to the municipal water treatment plant and raw water intake. The renovations include several improvements such as new chemical feed systems, sedimentation and filtration systems, improvements to the clear well, new high-service pumps, interior and exterior painting of a 100,000-gallon storage tank, and telemetry equipment. The renovation will allow the system to meet state requirements for reliability and redundancy and improve service for about 1,623 households and 290 businesses.
City of Hazard will use a $304,160 grant to construct a new tie-in between the Southern Perry County water feeder line and Lothair area of Hazard. A new meter vault will be constructed at the Hazard Community and Technical College connection, and flow meters will be placed at the College and Hank Street tie in. This project will allow for the abandonment of approximately 8,000 feet of existing leaking and repair prone lines with 1,790 feet of new water line constructed and improved service for 650 customers.
City of Hazard will use a $1,017,848 grant to replace a 70-year-old, cast-iron water line with 1,850 feet of high density polyethylene pipe, 4,000 feet of ductile iron pipe, and various tie-ins, mag meters, and additional improvements. This project will improve service for roughly 2,000 households and businesses.
City of Hazard will use a $972,000 grant to replace a total of 15,992 linear feet of water line. New gate valves and boxes will be installed along with new fire hydrants to improve public safety. All existing water lines will be abandoned in place. The new water lines will be installed along Christopher Road, Railroad Court, Diablock Road, and Cornett Hill Drive improving water service for 181 households and seven businesses.
City of Hazard will use a $1,977,000 grant to make improvements to the primary sanitary sewer outfall in downtown Hazard, Kentucky. The work will consist of extension bypass pumping and cleaning of existing pipe, video inspection of interior, and relining. Locating and rehabilitating man holes as necessary will also be included in the project's scope of work. Total length of the project is approximately 6,375 feet. This investment will improve service for 2,500 customers.
Perry County Fiscal Court will use a $1,591,000 grant to replace concrete asbestos waterlines in numerous branch line service areas that are densely populated. The project will lead to a significant reduction in water loss as well as removal of a hazardous toxic material that has been present in the system for decades. The project will serve 230 customers within the city of Vicco's water and sewer system.
Background – Rural Partners Network
Launched in April 2022 and expanded in November 2022, Rural Partners Network is now active in 36 community networks across 10 states and Puerto Rico.
Community networks receive support from full-time USDA staff who live and work locally. These staff members provide technical assistance based on each community’s needs, helping them navigate federal programs, build relationships and apply for funding. In addition to USDA staff, there are staff at 24 other federal agencies dedicated to Rural Partners Network and making resources across the government easier to access for people in rural communities.
Rural Partners Network communities also benefit from coordination through other federal efforts such as the Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization and President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative and Investing in America agenda. The Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council, co-led by the White House Domestic Policy Council and USDA, advises the Rural Partners Network program and ensures rural voices are heard and reflected in national policies that will benefit all people in rural communities.
During the Biden-Harris administration, USDA Rural Development has supported economic prosperity and quality of life improvements in rural Kentucky by obligating over $3.3 billion. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ky.