Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman on Wednesday presented more than $7 million for cleaner water, nonprofit organizations, safer roads, and law enforcement in Daviess and McLean counties.
Coleman said such community investments “provide Kentucky a solid foundation for building tomorrow’s economy. What excites me, as a rural Kentuckian, is that opportunity is coming to all corners of the commonwealth, not just our big cities.”
More than $6.5 million was allocated to agencies in Daviess County from the state’s Cleaner Water Program.
“These funds will move our community forward and improve the quality of life of our fellow citizens,” said Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen. “We appreciate this partnership as we continue working to improve our community.”
The largest grant was presented to Daviess County Fiscal Court, with $2,224,154 to be used for new fire hydrants and to replace 33,000 feet of water lines throughout the county.
“I will say this is a project we’ve been anticipating for a while and it will be very beneficial to our community,” Castlen said.
Other funding in Daviess and McLean counties will go toward these projects:
- The Regional Water Resource Agency will use $1,250,000 to rehabilitate 120 manholes and upgrade pump stations.
- The Daviess County Water District will use $1,066,500 to replace waterlines and upgrade a pump station.
- East Daviess County Water Association will use $636,000 to install new waterlines.
- Owensboro Municipal Utilities will use $590,000 for well construction and to replace water mains.
- The City of Whitesville will use $509,000 to upgrade a pump station and replace waterlines.
- The North McLean County Water District will use $190,048 to repair water storage tanks.
- The McClean County Regional Water Commission will use $150,000 to rehabilitate water storage tanks.
- The City of Sacramento will use $107,358 to replace waterlines.
- Beech Grove Water System will use $62,883 to repaint a water storage tank.
- The City of Island will use $40,646 to replace 479 water meters.
Fiscal Court also received $325,000 to go toward the resurfacing of Griffith Station Road.
Coleman additionally announced the City of Owensboro was receiving $84,806.16 from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security through the Law Enforcement Protection Program, with funding to go toward body armor, weapons, ammunition and tasers.
“We actually appreciate this funding a great deal. As you all know, public safety is at the very core of our mission and what better way to protect those who serve than by protecting the officers and providing that service to men and women in our department that put their lives on the line all the time,” Owensboro Police Department Chief Art Ealum said.
Coleman also announced $116,979.09 in funding to three McLean County nonprofits from Gov. Beshear’s Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which helps organizations across Kentucky recover from the effects of the pandemic. The recipients are St. Sebastian’s Parish of Calhoun, St. Charles of Livermore, and McLean County Historical & Genealogical Museum.
Coleman went on to say that she is sure the funding is going to go a long way for the communities and organizations that received it.
“I know this gonna go a really long way and it is great because I know that this is bigger than roads and water mains,” she said. “This is about improving your community and that’s what today is all about.”
