Gov. Beshear Announces Second Round of Selectees To Receive Medical Cannabis Dispensary Licenses
Earliest Kentuckians can apply for medical cannabis card is Jan. 1, 2025
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 16, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the results of Team Kentucky’s second medical cannabis dispensary license lottery held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation. Twelve applicants were selected through a random number generator.
“Today’s drawing concludes the process for the medical cannabis business licenses lottery at this time,” said Gov. Beshear. “Team Kentucky remains focused on building this emerging industry the right way. Ultimately, this program is about the patients, and we are excited about building this program so that they have access at the soonest possible date.”
Two drawings were held for the following regions:
Region 1: Kentuckiana: comprising Bullitt, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties.
Region 2: Bluegrass: comprising Bourbon, Boyle, Bracken, Casey, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Harrison and Jackson counties.
Also, both Fayette and Jefferson counties exclusively received an additional drawing for a dispensary license.
Click here for the complete list of businesses that were randomly selected in the second license lottery for dispensaries.
Jan. 1, 2025, will be the earliest possible date to apply for a medical cannabis card, and eligible Kentuckians will need to obtain a written certification along with the additional required information as outlined at kymedcan.ky.gov.
“It’s important to note that physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) do not issue medical cannabis cards,” said Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis Executive Director Sam Flynn. “Rather, they write certifications into our electronic monitoring system so when a patient applies for a card – which allows purchase of medical cannabis – their written certification will populate and the patient can click on it to associate the certification with his or her card application.”
Flynn added that the Office of Medical Cannabis will review the card application and approve or deny it within 30 days. If approved, the office will email a digital registry ID card (medical cannabis card) to the patient. The medical cannabis card can be kept on a personal device. If the patient drives, the office also recommends the patient print a copy to keep in their vehicle.
Since Dec. 1, Kentuckians with eligible medical conditions have been able to receive their written certification for medical cannabis from authorized practitioners. A statewide directory is updated in real-time as more practitioners become authorized. The directory allows Kentuckians to find the nearest practitioner by searching within a specific ZIP code or county, or by a specific specialty.
“Team Kentucky has put in a tremendous amount of work to ensure Kentuckians with qualifying conditions have access to medical cannabis as soon as possible,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander. “The beginning of the year will mark an important milestone, providing eligible Kentuckians with an additional option to support their health care needs.”
“The Kentucky Lottery is honored to have been asked to conduct the required drawings, and we thank the Governor for allowing us to be a part of this impactful initiative,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville. “Over the 35 years of its existence, the Lottery has been known for conducting drawings for a plethora of its draw-based games, first with machines and balls, and now, with state-of-the-art random number generators. These drawings are conducted with the highest level of integrity and are in accordance with industry established procedures. We are happy to be able to bring this level of integrity to the cannabis drawings.”
The Beshear administration is committed to ensuring Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions have access to safe, affordable treatment.
On Nov. 25, the Governor announced the results of the commonwealth’s first license lotteries for medical cannabis dispensaries where 36 applicants were selected.
On Nov. 21, the Governor announced that Kentuckians can find authorized practitioners on the Medical Cannabis Practitioner Directory beginning Dec. 1 at kymedcan.ky.gov. Additionally, authorized medical cannabis practitioners were able to begin issuing valid written certifications to Kentucky patients on Dec. 1.
On Nov. 7, the Governor announced that all 106 cities and counties that had medical cannabis on the ballot voted to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in their communities.
On Oct. 28, the state’s first-ever medical cannabis license lottery was held, which selected 26 awardees of cultivation and processor licenses.
In September, the Governor issued Kentucky’s first medical cannabis business license to KCA Labs, a hemp testing lab currently operating in Nicholasville. Since then, the Office of Medical Cannabis has issued 28 total licenses.
In April, the Governor signed House Bill 829 into law, which among other things, took the important step of moving up the timeline for cannabis business licensing from Jan. 1, 2025, to July 2024.
In March, five regulations were filed to provide the framework for how Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions can become cardholders.
In January, 10 regulations were filed to provide direction for how medical cannabis businesses, including cultivators, processors, producers, dispensaries and safety compliance facilities, will operate in the commonwealth.
In March 2023, the Governor joined lawmakers and advocates to sign Senate Bill 47, which legalizes medical cannabis in the commonwealth.
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Gov. Beshear Joins Local Leaders and AT&T Officials To Celebrate 115 New Jobs at Grayson Call Center
Hiring for new customer service representatives to continue into 2025
GRAYSON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear joined leaders with the Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and officials with AT&T to celebrate 115 new full-time jobs the company’s Grayson Call Center in Carter County.
“Creating new jobs in the commonwealth means even more opportunities for our families to thrive,” said Gov. Beshear. “AT&T is helping us create our New Kentucky Home with this new investment in the Grayson community. I want to thank company leaders for this investment and congratulate their team at the Grayson Call Center.”
Hiring of new customer service representative will continue in 2025, with an open recruiting session scheduled at the Eastpark Drive facility on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Representatives handle incoming calls from AT&T mobility and high speed internet customers. In addition to their full-time salaries, the new employees are eligible to receive medical, dental and vision coverage, a 401(k) plan, tuition reimbursement program, paid time off and holidays, along with opportunities for thousands of dollars in commissions each year.
“Our AT&T employees play a key role in allowing us to be the best connectivity provider, including through 5G and fiber,” said AT&T Kentucky President Carlos E. Sanchez. “We’re proud that these new investments in our Grayson Call Center will help us connect more people to greater possibility, providing excellent service to our customers and our communities.”
Northeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Scott Martin highlighted the new job opportunities. “This investment in more than 100 new full-time AT&T employees pays dividends not only to the people hired, but also to other businesses across Northeast Kentucky. It’s evidence of the rising tide that lifts all the boats in our communities. We thank AT&T for their commitment to this region.”
Many of the new employees are members of the AT&T union-represented workforce as members of the Communications Workers of America District 3, Local 3371. AT&T is the only major U.S. telecommunications company with a fully unionized frontline workforce. In fact, 42% of all AT&T employees are union-represented.
From 2019 to 2023, AT&T reports investing more than $1.2 billion into its network infrastructure in Kentucky. The company continues to modernize its network in the commonwealth, with a fiber network available to 410,000 customers in nearly 110 Kentucky cities.
AT&T’s investment in the Grayson Call Center builds on the best four-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,000 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $35 billion in announced investments, creating roughly 58,000 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $13.5 billion more than the next highest total.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. The average incentivized hourly wage in 2022 and 2023 topped $26 in consecutive years for the first time.
Gov. Beshear has announced some of the largest economic development projects in state history, which have solidified Kentucky as the electric vehicle battery production capital of the United States: Ford Motor Co. and SK On’s transformative $5.8 billion, 5,000-job BlueOval SK Battery Park in Hardin County; AESC’s $2 billion, 2,000-job gigafactory project in Warren County; Toyota’s $1.3 billion investment in Scott County; Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment, creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby County; and INFAC North America’s $53 million investment in Taylor County, among others.
The Governor’s administration also secured the largest General Fund budget surplus and Rainy Day Fund, as well as the most jobs filled in state history. Last year, Kentucky set the record for the longest period with the lowest unemployment rates in state history.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
In March, Site Selection magazine ranked Kentucky third nationally and first in the South Central region for economic development projects per capita in its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings. In April, Site Selection placed Kentucky second in the South Central region and in the top 10 nationally in its 2024 Prosperity Cup ranking, which recognizes state-level economic development agencies for their success in landing capital investment projects.
Gov. Beshear announced a Supply Kentucky initiative with the goal of boosting job growth, reducing costs and providing more security in the supply chains of our Kentucky companies. And last month, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
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First Lady Announces New Free Literacy Resource Available to All Kentucky Schools, Libraries and Families
Mrs. Beshear also encourages gifting books to children with ‘Winnie’s Christmas Book Club’
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2024) – Today, as part of her commitment to Kentucky students, First Lady Britainy Beshear announced that TeachingBooks is now available and free to use at all Kentucky schools and libraries throughout the commonwealth, as well as online from a laptop or cellphone. This website provides learning resources about approximately 100,000 books for children and young adults.
“Reading to children, either in the classroom or in our public libraries, is one of my favorite things to do,” the First Lady said. “On my visits around the state, I’ve learned that teachers, librarians and families are always looking for ways to bring stories to life for their kids, just like Andy and I loved to do for Will and Lila. That’s exactly what TeachingBooks is all about.”
She also shared “Winnie’s Christmas Book Club,” a list of picture books that would make great gifts for Kentucky kids this Christmas season. These include holiday books, Kentucky books and some of the Beshear family’s all-time favorite stories. They are all featured on TeachingBooks here, with book cover jigsaw puzzles, videos, discussion questions and more.
The First Lady also encouraged buying from local bookstores and supporting Kentucky authors when shopping.
“There is no gift more magical for our kids than the gift of reading – opening up a world of opportunity and imagination,” Mrs. Beshear said. “A book off of Winnie’s list would make the perfect present for any young Kentuckian. These stories feature our commonwealth’s rich heritage, teach important lessons and spread holiday cheer. Give a Kentucky book to a Kentucky child this year.”
This isn’t the first time Kentucky’s First Dog, Winnie, has jumped in to help Kentucky children learn. The Beshears have released two coloring books featuring Winnie, “Winnie Tours the Kentucky State Capitol” and “Winnie Goes on a Kentucky State Parks Adventure.” Both are available for download.
TeachingBooks Now Available Across Kentucky
TeachingBooks is designed to help students from kindergarten through high school learn more about their favorite books and authors while also enhancing reading comprehension and instruction.
“We want to instill a love of reading in every Kentucky student by helping them find meaningful connections to books,” said TeachingBooks Founder Nick Glass. “Whether in the classroom, library or home, we want students to know these resources are available to them 24/7. And, we want all Kentucky families to feel empowered to encourage reading engagement at home with fun family involvement.”
TeachingBooks, provided free by the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives (KDLA), currently features over 376,000 resources for approximately 100,000 books for children and young adults.
The available resources include:
- Discussion and activity guides;
- Read-along audiobook performances;
- Video book trailers and video recordings of the book being read out loud;
- Book-themed activities, including concentration games, word searches and jigsaw puzzles;
- Author name pronunciation recordings, featuring more than 3,000 authors who reveal and personalize the backstory about their names;
- A feature to help discover books similar to others that readers have enjoyed; and more.
To access TeachingBooks, go to TeachingBooks.net, enter a favorite book, series, author or subject in the search box, and begin exploring! Public libraries that wish to initiate customized access for their library should visit TeachingBooks.net/KYSetup. For questions about TeachingBooks, call 800-596-0710 (option 2) or email accounts@TeachingBooks.net.
Statewide TeachingBooks access is provided using existing agency funds from the Library Services Division of KDLA and is funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
First Lady Helps Kentucky Students Learn and Grow Through Reading
The First Lady has made it a priority to instill a love of reading in Kentucky’s students, visiting classrooms across the commonwealth each year to read with children. The Beshears are also committed to helping young Kentuckians access the books they need to learn and grow.
In August, the Governor and First Lady celebrated the statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a program that provides Kentucky children one free book per month, from birth to age 5. All Kentucky families can now sign their infant and preschool children up at ImaginationLibrary.com.
In March, the Governor, the First Lady and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman shared video recordings of read-aloud stories with Kentucky children as part of Read Across America Week.
In September, Mrs. Beshear was named Honorary Chair of the 2024 Kentucky Book Festival.
The Beshears are proud, longtime volunteers with Family Scholar House, which was founded in Kentucky and has built a national model for helping single parents pursue their education. Last week, the Governor joined the organization’s leaders to break ground on their new campus in Elizabethtown.
Mrs. Beshear also encouraged Kentuckians to shop in Kentucky bookstores and read books by Kentucky authors as part of the “New Kentucky Home” initiative Gov. Beshear launched in November to celebrate what makes the commonwealth special and attract business, tourism and future residents to Kentucky.
Throughout the year, she encourages Kentuckians to explore their local libraries.
About TeachingBooks
TeachingBooks is the two-time recipient of the “Association of School Libraries Best Digital Tool of the Year for Teaching and Learning” (2024 and 2020). In 2021, TeachingBooks was awarded the “Common Sense Selection for Learning” as a best-in-class resource for students and educators. The service is available to more than 25 million students worldwide in more than 55,000 schools, public libraries and higher education institutions. TeachingBooks, founded in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2000 and acquired by OverDrive in October 2021, received more than 115 million clicks, investigations and searches last year. The service complements OverDrive’s Sora and Libby reading apps, which are popular in Kentucky schools and libraries. For more information, please visit TeachingBooks.net.
About KDLA
The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA), located at 300 Coffee Tree Road in Frankfort, is an agency of the Education and Labor Cabinet. KDLA provides many services in support of libraries, archives, records management, state employees, and the blind and print disabled through the Kentucky Talking Book Library. For more information, please visit kdla.ky.gov.
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For official news and updates from the Beshear/Coleman administration, visit governor.ky.gov/news
Gov. Beshear: 2024 Tourism Development Projects Set New All-Time Record With 10 Projects, $256 Million Invested
10 tourism development projects will provide 356 full-time jobs, 1,340 part-time jobs once operational
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2024) – Gov. Andy Beshear announced today that the state has achieved another historic tourism milestone in 2024, demonstrating the continued strength of tourism in the commonwealth, which marked a new record for economic impact and the launch of the New Kentucky Home initiative. Ten new tourism development projects are set to generate an estimated $256 million in economic investment. These projects are also expected to create approximately 1,696 jobs once they become operational.
This year marks the second straight record-breaking year for the most projects granted final approval in a single year by the Kentucky Tourism Development Finance Authority since the tourism incentive was created in 1996. Today’s announcement reflects ongoing growth in Kentucky’s tourism industry, as last year, the state achieved its best year for tourism on record, generating an economic impact of $13.8 million and sustaining 95,222 jobs.
“These historic investments and record tourism numbers continue to help drive tourism, build a strong economy and welcome visitors to our new Kentucky home,” said Gov. Beshear. “Kentucky’s tourism industry is booming, and the best thing about these wins is seeing our neighbors thrive, communities grow and building a brighter future for every Kentuckian.”
This year, the commonwealth has given final approval to 10 tourism development projects, including:
- TKC Hospitality Group in Woodford County, with an estimated $15.2 million investment that is expected to create eight jobs.
- TKC Distilling Co in Woodford County, with an estimated $20.2 million investment that is expected to create 38 jobs.
- Pennyroyal Barrel Co. in Adair County, with an estimated $3.9 million investment that is expected to create 20 jobs.
- Maker’s Mark Distillery in Marion County, with an estimated $18.5 million investment that is expected to create 27 jobs.
- M&T Development in Livingston County, with an estimated $27.2 million investment that is expected to create 100 jobs.
- LSC Stadium Co. in Fayette County, with an estimated $30.8 million investment that is expected to create 1,045 jobs.
- Louisville Pickleball in Jefferson County, with an estimated $22.7 million investment that is expected to create 51 jobs.
- Keeneland Association in Fayette County, with an estimated $92.6 million investment that is expected to create 234 jobs.
- Franklin DevCo in Franklin County, with an estimated $20.5 million investment that is expected to create 155 jobs.
- Dossey Vineyards in Warren County, with an estimated $4.5 million investment that is expected to create 18 jobs.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this achievement in Kentucky tourism, which benefits all Kentuckians through new jobs and increased revenue,” said Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet Secretary Lindy Casebier. “These 10 projects will transform communities and make Kentucky an even more inviting and exciting place to live, work and thrive. Gov. Beshear has been an ardent supporter of Kentucky tourism, and his leadership has fostered an environment that encourages investment, and this year’s numbers prove the success of that. We look forward to fostering many more tourism development projects over the next few years.”
The projects are approved through the Tourism Development Act, which supports the development, rehabilitation and expansion of tourism projects. This program allows developers to recover up to 25% of the project’s development costs over a 10-year term through sales tax generated onsite. Projects including but not limited to lodging facilities constructed on state parks, federal parks or national forest lands are eligible to recover up to 50% of the development costs over a 20-year term.
The projects that received final approval in 2024 can collect a maximum potential incentive of $35.7 million. The Kentucky Tourism Finance Authority also granted preliminarily approved seven tourism development projects in 2024.
“These consecutive milestones underscore the strength and momentum of Kentucky’s tourism industry,” Kentucky Department of Tourism Commissioner Mike Mangeot said. “With these ten new projects, we’re not just breaking records – we’re creating opportunities, driving investment and showcasing the best of what the commonwealth has to offer to visitors and residents alike.”
The previous record was set in 2023, with nine projects receiving final approval and an estimated future investment of more than $292 million, expecting 550 jobs once operational.
Kentucky’s impressive economic growth is a direct reflection of the Beshear administration’s continued investments in the tourism industry.
To capitalize on Kentucky’s historic economic momentum and record-breaking tourism success, Gov. Beshear recently announced New Kentucky Home, a strategic initiative to further drive economic investment, attract and retain talent and increase tourism across the commonwealth.
Earlier this year, the Governor announced that 2023 was the best year on record for tourism. This followed a record-breaking 2022 when he announced that tourism had generated more than $12.9 billion in economic impact and secured 91,668 jobs in Kentucky that year.
The state’s bourbon and spirits industry recorded its best year for growth in 2022, with over $2.1 billion in new investments and approximately 700 new jobs for Kentucky residents. The sector followed with a strong 2023, including $713.8 million in new investments and 229 full-time jobs. Since the start of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced roughly 100 new location and expansion projects within the bourbon and spirits sector, contributing to over $4.2 billion in new investments and more than 1,800 full-time jobs for Kentuckians.
In 2022, Gov. Beshear announced $75 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to boost the state’s tourism industry and economy. Previously, the Governor dedicated $5.3 million in federal funding to 103 tourism and destination marketing organizations in 88 Kentucky counties.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling nearly $35 billion in announced investments, creating roughly 59,800 jobs. This is the highest investment figure secured during the tenure of any governor in the commonwealth’s history and $14 billion more than the next highest total.
For more information on the Tourism Development Incentive Program, please visit Tourism Development Incentive Program.
For the latest Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet updates, follow the cabinet on Facebook, X, Instagram or LinkedIn. To learn more about tourism and arts in Kentucky, visit tah.ky.gov.
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Gov. Beshear Secures Another Record-Breaking Year for Economic Growth
Governor keeps welcoming more businesses to our New Kentucky Home
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 19, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear is wrapping up 2024 by celebrating the fourth best year in state history for economic investment with 170 private sector new-location and expansion announcements that total more than $6.9 billion in new investments bringing 9,425 new full-time jobs.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has overseen the largest private sector dollar investment secured during the tenure of any governor in the state’s history, at $35 billion, and the total is more than $14 billion greater than the next highest total. He has announced more than 1,150 private sector new-location and expansion projects since the start of his administration and more than 59,800 full-time jobs. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three consecutive years for the first time. The Governor has now secured three of the top four years for private sector investment in the commonwealth’s history.
“We are not looking at the same Kentucky anymore – we’re welcoming new businesses, visitors and families to our New Kentucky Home. Our economy is booming, and our people are living good lives,” Gov. Beshear said. “Next year we’re going to keep focusing on the issues that matter to Kentucky families, like having a good job, safe and reliable infrastructure – like roads and bridges – access to a high-quality education and health care and feeling safe in their communities. We can keep doing good things for our people by setting politics aside, working together and using common sense to find common ground.”
In 2024, Gov. Beshear announced these economic growth achievements:
- The third-largest jobs announcement of his administration with Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing coming to Shelby County. This company will build an innovative, state-of-the-art industrial battery production facility. This project is creating 1,572 skilled, high-tech jobs and helping Kentucky lead into the industrial electrification space. This is also the largest project in Shelby County history.
- The largest dollar investment of the entire year with Toyota investing another $922 million to build an advanced paint facility at its plant in Georgetown.
- The opening of the largest economic development project in West Louisville in over 20 years. Stellar Snacks, a maker of gourmet pretzel snacks, has made a $137 million investment bringing 350 full-time jobs to West Louisville. In total, the Governor has celebrated 1,000 new jobs in West Louisville in the past seven months.
- The largest jobs announcement in more than two decades in Christian County with Kitchen Food Co. creating 925 full-time jobs with a $69 million investment.
- The opening of a center that will train Kentuckians for new jobs at the BlueOval SK Battery Park, which is creating 5,000 new jobs. The park in Glendale contains the two largest battery plants in the world.
- Kentucky continues to be the EV battery production capital of the United States with $11.7 billion invested and 10,280 full-time jobs announced in EV battery-related economic development projects.
- Announced New Kentucky Home, a strategic initiative to further drive economic investment, attract and retain talent and increase tourism across the commonwealth.
- Approved approximately $75 million in state support to prepare sites for new businesses and job growth. To date these sites have generated over $400 million in total investments.
- Kentucky broke its all-time record for exports, with more than $40 billion in products shipped.
- Site Selection magazine released its 2023 Governor’s Cup rankings, placing Kentucky third nationally in economic projects per capita and first in the South Central region. Kentucky has placed in the top 3 nationally and atop the South Central region in the per capita rankings each year of the administration.
- Announced 2023 marked a new record year for Kentucky tourism, with $13.8 billion generated in economic impact and 95,222 jobs, as tourism remains a key piece of the commonwealth’s booming economy.
- For the second year in a row, Kentucky recorded its best year for growth of its signature bourbon and spirits industry in 2023, with $9 billion in annual impact. More than 23,100 people are employed in the industry, and it boasts an annual payroll of $2.2 billion.
The most recent positive news occurred last Thursday when the Governor announced nearly $1.2 billion in new investments and more than 1,100 new jobs across the commonwealth.
This year, Gov. Beshear also secured these milestones:
- Announced that overdose deaths decreased for the second year in a row, with 2023 marking a nearly 10% decrease compared with the previous year.
- Recorded the three lowest recidivism rates in over a decade. The 2023 Crime in Kentucky report published by the Kentucky State Police indicates crime rates have remained stable with a decline in homicide, burglary, robbery, sex offenses and kidnapping. For the last three years, homicide rates have declined.
- Launched a new website to provide Kentuckians overcoming addiction or leaving incarceration with resources that can help them find a job, get an education and support their continued recovery.
- Announced that Kentucky leads the nation in the number of residential drug and alcohol treatment beds per capita.
- Announced a historic expansion of law enforcement basic training in Western Kentucky with a new training facility opening in Madisonville.
- Signed an executive order establishing the Governor’s Council of Second Chance Employers, comprised of 15 business and community leaders.
- Only Kentucky Governor to secure upgrades from all three credit rating agencies, which strengthens pensions and helps save taxpayers money when it comes to financing roads, bridges and schools.
- Worked with the General Assembly to secure over $400 million to support water and sewer upgrades, workforce initiatives, housing and public safety and road improvements across at least 74 counties.
- Awarded $300 million in state funding to 18 internet service providers to connect 80,229 homes and businesses to high-speed internet in 65 counties. The largest internet investment announced this year was a $20.4 million project to connect 3,574 homes and business in Henderson and Daviess counites.
- Secured more than $2 billion in federal, state and private funding to connect every home and business in Kentucky to affordable, reliable high-speed internet.
- Announced a $73 million federal loan to propel Kentucky as a national leader in small scale hydroelectric plants using abandoned lock and dam structures on the Kentucky River.
- Secured a $116.3 million grant to speed the completion of the Mountain Parkway Expansion. The funding unlocked a $150 million allocation the Governor and lawmakers approved to build the Magoffin-Floyd segment. Each segment of the parkway is currently completed, under construction or under development.
- Awarded more than $1 billion in transportation construction contracts for the fourth year in a row for 500-plus road and bridge improvement projects, bringing the total of such investments to over $5 billion during the administration.
- Approved nearly $126 million in transportation grants during his administration that have benefited all of Kentucky’s 120 counties.
- Kentucky will receive nearly $70 million in federal funding to add up to 50 new fast-charging stations for electric vehicles along parkways and interstates.
- Signed a bill into law, which among other things, took the important step of moving up the timeline for medical cannabis business licensing from Jan. 1, 2025, to July 2024. Last week, the Governor concluded the process for the medical cannabis business licenses lottery. Team Kentucky remains focused on building this emerging industry the right way.
- Cut the ribbon on the new Norton Healthcare West Louisville Hospital – the first in this community in more than 150 years.
- Cut the ribbon on the UofL Health South Hospital in Bullitt County. The $78 million investment helped fill the gap for quality health care of Kentucky’s 10th most populous county. The Governor also joined in the final beam placement of UofL’s west tower. The $186 million expansion will bring over 300 news jobs and increase health care access for Louisville and the surrounding region.
- More than 21,500 Kentuckians have now earned their GED after the Governor waived the GED testing fee in 2020.
- Welcomed Dolly Parton to the Bluegrass State to celebrate Kentucky’s statewide expansion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which now provides all Kentucky children access to one free book per month from birth to age 5. Thanks to local program partners, more than 6 million free books have been delivered to preschool-age children in every ZIP code in Kentucky. Currently, 48% of eligible Kentucky children are signed up. To sign up, visit ImaginationLibrary.com.
This year the Governor has also continued supporting the recovery and rebuilding efforts in Western Kentucky following the devastating tornadoes in 2021 and in Eastern Kentucky after the severe flooding in 2022.
Progress has been made on the seven high-ground communities that will bring hundreds of new homes to Eastern Kentucky. Infrastructure and roadwork continue at the sites, and new homeowners are moving into homes at two of the high-ground locations. In the two years since the floods, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has also approved about $84 million to acquire hundreds of properties in flood-prone areas in Breathitt, Floyd, Knott, Letcher and Perry counties.
In the west, the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund raised over $52 million to pay for funeral expenses, aid survivors and build up to 300 homes in the area. The first homes were complete just six months after the storms, and nonprofit builders have continued building since then.
Thanks to support for the relief fund, over 220 new homes have been built or had significant repairs completed in eight counties. In October, the Governor helped break ground on a new city hall and police station in the city of Mayfield. On Sept. 23, the city of Mayfield broke ground on a new fire station. The projects are supported by West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies funds. Gov. Beshear marked the three-year anniversary of the tornadoes by remembering the lives lost and by handing over keys to homes built by nonprofit partners, the Hope Initiative and Habitat for Humanity.
In June, Gov. Beshear, along with the Kentucky Housing Corporation (KHC), announced more than $223 million to build 953 affordable rental units in communities impacted by the 2021 tornadoes. This is the largest housing announcement in the history of Kentucky’s Department for Local Government (DLG) as well as in the history of KHC. The funding will support 11 projects across Christian, Graves, Hopkins and Warren counties. Funding comes from KHC as well as the Disaster Recovery program, administered by the DLG.
This year, Gov. Beshear also joined the commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, Dr. Steven Stack, state and local officials, and several Kentucky families to mark the fourth anniversary since the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the state, with the Governor declaring it “A Day of Compassion” in the commonwealth.
The Governor also declared Juneteenth – a day that commemorates African Americans’ many contributions and long struggle for freedom, justice and equality – as a state Executive Branch holiday to give thanks in the commonwealth. The same day, he also signed an executive order that expands protections in state hiring and employment by prohibiting discrimination based on “traits historically associated with race, including but not limited to natural hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locs and twists.”
The Governor remains thankful to all of Kentucky’s first responders and servicemembers who continue to serve the commonwealth and country. This year more than 700 Kentucky National Guard soldiers returned home from oversees missions.
Over the past year, the Governor has continued to host his regular Team Kentucky Update news conferences to provide crucial information to the media and Kentuckians.
In his second-term “Forward, Together” inaugural address, delivered Dec. 12, 2023, on the steps of the state Capitol, the Governor pledged to keep working to create a better life and more opportunity for current and future generations of Kentuckians. He committed to push division aside and work with others to make Kentucky both an economic and moral leader in the United States.
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