Allen, Barren counties to receive awards for various projects

GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) – At a presentation inside the Barren County YMCA on Thursday afternoon, Governor Andy Beshear presented more than $1 million in funding to assist various projects across Barren and Allen counties.

The governor provided funding to benefit tourism industries, local nonprofits, and local law enforcement. These groups are among the latest to receive funding allocations appropriated by the Kentucky General Assembly and other top state officials.

“We provided dollars for tourism to both counties. We provided dollars to law enforcement to better protect us,” Beshear said. “We provided dollars to non-profits that are doing incredible work lifting everybody up.”

Among the groups to receive money Thursday afternoon were Scottsville and Allen County-based parks, programs, and camps.

Tourism Marketing Funding

$30,804 to the Scottsville-Allen Chamber of Commerce;
$269,249 to the Cave City Convention and Tourism Commission;
$72,832 to the Glasgow/Barren County Tourist and Convention Commission;
$60,694 to the Park City Tourist and Convention Commission; and
$100,000 to the Caveland Marketing Association.

The awards are part of the $75 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding supported by the Governor and allocated by the General Assembly in the 2022 legislative session. The funds are used to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy following the decline in visitors brought on by the pandemic. Funding is distributed by the Kentucky Department of Tourism to eligible tourism organizations throughout the commonwealth.

Land and Water Conservation Fund

Gov. Beshear recapped his announcement that he selected Park City as one of 37 Kentucky communities to receive funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. If approved by the National Park Service, Park City will use $26,838 to construct a full outdoor basketball court and outdoor bocce ball court at Bell’s Tavern Park.

The funding is administered at the state level by the Department for Local Government. To receive the funds, selected applicants must first undergo review and receive approval from the National Park Service.

“We’re excited to get the ball rolling on improving Bell’s Tavern Park,” said Larry Poteet, mayor of Park City. “The addition of the basketball and bocce court will be a great addition to the park. We will continue to support projects that improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Park City.”

Law Enforcement Protection Program

Gov. Beshear announced over $88,000 in funding to law enforcement agencies in Allen and Barren counties from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security through the Law Enforcement Protection Program. The funds will be used to better protect police officers. The awards include:

$12,700 to the City of Scottsville;
$38,237.57 to the Barren County Sheriff’s Office;
$21,482 to Cave City; and
$15,854.50 to the City of Glasgow.

Flood Control Funding

The Governor awarded $155,000 from the Department of Local Government to Ritters Mill Low Water Ford in Barren County. The funding will go toward replacing the existing low water crossing with a box culvert, which will help decrease the number of closures of nearby roads due to flooding. The outdated low water crossing was built 40 years ago and has become a safety hazard.

Boys and Girls Club Funding

Gov. Beshear announced Cave City will receive $750,000 in funding to renovate an old grocery building to serve as a new Boys and Girls Club in Cave City. This will be an extension of the existing Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County Center, which is in Glasgow. This new center will make the services of the Boys and Girls Club more accessible to the children of Cave City.

“With this funding support, we will be able to offer something truly transformative for Kentucky youth right here in Barren County,” said Mallie Boston, chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Clubs of Glasgow-Barren County. “This commitment to youth will provide the opportunity for a better future to Cave City youth that only Boys & Girls Clubs can provide.”

The funding will come from the Community Development Block Grant Program, which is administered at the state level by the Department for Local Government.

Nonprofit Assistance Fund

Gov. Beshear awarded over $427,000 in awards to local nonprofits in Allen and Barren Counties. The awards come from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which is helping organizations across Kentucky recover from the impacts of the pandemic. The funding comes from ARPA, and Gov. Beshear supported the allocation of funds by the 2022 General Assembly. This funding will provide one-time direct relief payments to support the mission and long-term sustainability of each eligible nonprofit.

For Allen County, the awards include:

$14,526.32 to Christ the King Parish of Scottsville, KY;
$49,386.16 to Friends of Dugas Community Park; and
$77,187 to Project C.A.M.P.

For Barren County, the awards include:

$100,000 to the Barren County Family YMCA;
$100,000 to the Boys and Girls Club of Glasgow-Barren County;
$68,352 to the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce;
$14,778 to The New Far Off Broadway Players; and
$3,019.39 to The Salvation Army of Barren County.

“I am grateful for each taxpayer dollar we can bring back to Allen County and the 16th Senate District,” said Sen. Max Wise. “The General Assembly made a concerted effort to maximize the use of one-time federal dollars with the objective in mind being to mitigate the considerable harm brought on by COVID-19 and the unintended consequences of its mitigation.”

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