Martin County to receive funds for infrastructure and law enforcement

BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PRESTONSBURG — Martin County Sanitation and the Martin County Sheriff were recipients of funding announced Monday by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear at the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg.

Beshear announced $8.5 million in awards for eastern Kentucky infrastructure, cleaner water, law enforcement, nonprofits, tourism and transportation.

The governor announced $3.6 million in awards through the Cleaner Water Program. Of that, Martin County Sanitation District will receive $685,625 for improvements to the wastewater system. According to MCSD project documents, the money will go for engineering design services at the Inez and Tug Valley wastewater treatment plants.

Martin County Judge/Executive Lon Lafferty accepted the award and thanked the governor.

“I appreciate this,” Lafferty said. “We certainly know you’re no stranger to eastern Kentucky and neither was your father. You’ve been here so many times, and you understand the infrastructural needs of eastern Kentucky and how important it is if we’re going to talk about economic development and community development. Infrastructure needs are first and foremost.”

Lafferty drew applause when he gave a shoutout to the 15th Region basketball champion Martin County High School.

“We’ll see you all Thursday in Lexington,” said the judge.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office will receive $9,690 through the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security’s Law Enforcement Protection Program.

Beshear emphasized that the funding he was in Prestonsburg to announce was part of ongoing investments in the region meant to bring jobs and economic prosperity.

“It’s our job in Frankfort, working with you, to land a lot more jobs in eastern Kentucky,” said Beshear. “And let me tell you they are coming.”

Beshear referenced his administration’s success in negotiating a deal to build the world’s largest battery factory in Glendale, Kentucky, near Elizabethtown.

“I believe every Kentucky county, every Kentucky community deserves its Glendale,” said Beshear.

Below is a list of awards announced Monday by the governor in addition to the Martin County awards.

Appalachian Regional Commission

Gov. Beshear announced $2.9 million in funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for projects in Breathitt and Johnson counties.

The Johnson County Fiscal Court will use $2.3 million to install over 20,000 feet of sewer line. This will provide sewer service to 70 homes, four businesses, three commercial properties and a future campground site.

The Breathitt County Water District will use $600,000 to install 16,000 feet of waterline. This will improve water service for 1,900 homes and provide first-time water service to nine homes.

Cleaner Water Program

The governor announced the following Cleaner Water Program funds:

The Paintsville Utility Commission will use $1.3 million to install over 3,000 feet of sewer line and roughly 13,000 feet of waterline to unserved areas of Johnson County.

The Knott County Fiscal Court will use $865,672 to improve the water supply for 250 homes.

The Magoffin County Water District will use $706,886 to extend waterlines to unserved areas in Magoffin County. This project will provide water service to 65 unserved homes.

The City of Jackson will use $698,648 to extend water service to 13 homes, increase the water system’s storage capacity and make improvements to the sewer system.

The Breathitt County Water District will use $134,648 to improve water service for 1,900 homes and provide first-time water service to nine homes. This project will also receive $600,000 in ARC funds.

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.

Law Enforcement Protection Program

In addition to Martin County’s award, Gov. Beshear announced that the City of Paintsville will receive $5,886.84, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office will receive $10,739.34 in grant funding through the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security’s Law Enforcement Protection Program.

LEPP provides approximately $500,000 annually to the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to provide grant funds for city, county, university and school law enforcement. Agencies can apply for the program through the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security to acquire essential protective equipment for Kentucky peace officers. Items can include body armor and tasers, as well as body-worn cameras.

Nonprofit Assistance Fund

The governor awarded $716,423 to 10 nonprofits in Floyd, Johnson and Knott counties. The awards come from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which is helping organizations across Kentucky recover from the effects of the pandemic. The funding comes from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, and Gov. Beshear supported the allocation of funds 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. The awards include:

$100,000 to the Appalachian Artisan Center of Kentucky;

$100,000 to the Appalachian Research and Defense Fund of Kentucky (AppalRED);

$100,000 to the Christian Appalachian Project;

$100,000 to the Hindman Settlement School;

$100,000 to the Lotts Creek Community School;

$100,000 to Mountain Comprehensive Care;

$78,164 to God’s Appalachian Partnership;

$19,575 to the Wayland Historical Society;

$10,763 to the Mountain Sports Hall of Fame Foundation; and

$7,921.63 to St. Vincent Mission.

Tourism Marketing Funding

Gov. Beshear awarded $111,674 to the Prestonsburg Tourism Commission and $55,094 to Paintsville Tourism Commission to support travel marketing and promotion. These awards are part of the $75 million ARPA funding supported by the governor and allocated by the General Assembly in 2022 to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy following the decline in visitors brought on by the pandemic. They were announced by the governor in July.

Transportation Funding

The governor presented $255,375 in Kentucky Transportation Cabinet funding, which will help the county resurface Big Lick Branch Road and Cannel Coal Gap Road.