First Lady Britainy Beshear, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman Invite Kentuckians To Shop & Share Saturday
While stocking up for Super Bowl parties, Kentuckians can purchase
items for domestic violence survivors at select grocery stores
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 3, 2025) – Today, at the Kroger store in west Frankfort, First Lady Britainy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman invited Team Kentucky to Shop & Share this Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to help support survivors of domestic violence.
A list of most-needed items in each region can be found at ZeroV.org/ShopandShare.
“When we Shop & Share, we can come together to help Kentuckians who are going through one of the most difficult moments of their lives, including kids who may have had to leave everything behind except the clothes on their back,” Mrs. Beshear said. “If you don’t feel safe at home, please know that you are not to blame, and you deserve to be protected. Our regional domestic violence shelters are here for you, and because of events like this one, they’ll have the resources to help.”
“As a former teacher and as a mom, I know that when kids and families don’t feel safe, nothing else matters,” Lt. Gov. Coleman said. “Through Shop & Share, we can make sure Kentucky’s domestic violence shelters have the supplies they need to help survivors rebuild their lives – from the very first night they arrive, to the day they are able to walk back out those doors and build their new home.”
Each year, the First Lady partners with ZeroV to host this one-day donation drive on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. While Kentuckians shop for their game-day party food at select Kroger, Food City, IGA, Walmart, Save A Lot, Super Dollar and regional grocery stores, they can also purchase items to share with survivors.
The annual Shop & Share drive will provide critical supplies for the commonwealth’s state-designated regional domestic violence shelter programs. Volunteers will be on-site with lists of what items are most needed in each region.
Since former First Lady Jane Beshear established Shop & Share in 2008, the event has raised more than $5 million in monetary and in-kind donations and has made a positive impact in the lives of thousands of survivors. Last year, the event raised $371,893 in monetary and in-kind donations.
ZeroV is the statewide coalition against intimate partner violence. Its 15 member programs serve survivors of intimate partner violence and their children in all 120 Kentucky counties. Donations from Shop & Share offset pantry expenses and increase the program’s capacity to provide services to survivors.
ZeroV CEO Angela Yannelli says Shop & Share donations help meet survivors’ basic needs, so they can focus on healing and building their futures: “ZeroV’s member programs serve hundreds of survivors in Kentucky every year. In fiscal year 2024 alone, our 15 domestic violence member programs provided shelter services to nearly 1,700 survivors and over 1,100 children. Shop & Share helps our programs ensure that the survivors they serve have the things they need so they can focus on healing and creating safe futures for themselves and their children. Items we often take for granted, such as diapers, personal care items and food, are truly life-changing to survivors of intimate partner violence. Now more than ever, we need to show love and give support to those who are experiencing physical and emotional abuse at the hands of the person they believed would be there to take care of them.”
She added, “We are so grateful to First Lady Britainy Beshear and Kroger for making Shop & Share possible each year. And we are thankful to all the volunteers and shoppers across the state who support their local domestic violence programs through Shop & Share. Together, through simple acts of service and generosity, we are changing the lives of our fellow Kentuckians for the better.”
Jessica Sharp, corporate affairs manager at The Kroger Co., said the company was proud to partner with the First Lady and ZeroV once again for Shop & Share: “We are deeply honored to once again welcome volunteers and donations into our stores in support of Shop & Share. It is important to Kroger to support our community by bringing this need to light and acting upon these essential needs when it matters most.”
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Gov. Beshear Provides Team Kentucky Update
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 6, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear provided an update on economic development and Louisville’s Bourbon & Beyond festival; new legislation and fiscal notes; the latest winner of the #NewKYHome giveaway; an award to repair local bridges; addiction recovery efforts; cleaner water; improving outdoor spaces; and Super Bowl safety. Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, joined the Governor to provide updates on the Healthy Kentucky Home initiative and enrollment in the state’s health care exchange, kynect. The Governor also announced volunteers for the annual Shop & Share event as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars.
Economic Development
Gov. Beshear announced seven innovative Kentucky companies will receive nearly $750,000 in state matching grants to support high-paying jobs and further grow the state’s technology sector.
“This program allows us to invest in the resources that these startup tech companies need to succeed and create high-wage jobs for Kentuckians across the state,” the Governor said. “I am thrilled to see what the future holds for these companies as they continue to thrive here in the commonwealth.”
A full list of award recipients can be found here.
Tax Legislation and Fiscal Notes
The Governor said his administration is sharing information with the public about proposed legislation during this General Assembly session via a 2025 Facts & Fiscal Notes webpage. The Governor is taking this action to make sure Kentuckians know how much it costs to implement legislation being considered by lawmakers.
And today, Gov. Beshear announced the signing of House Bill 1, which provides another income tax cut for Kentuckian.
“I signed this bill this morning because our economy is booming. We’ve broken every record for private sector investment, for new jobs and for new wages, but I know that right now things cost too much for our families,” the Governor said. “I promised you that I would fight for all Kentuckians, that I wouldn’t play politics and I would do what’s best for our families. That’s why I signed HB 1.”
#NewKYHome Giveaway
The Governor announced the latest winner of the #NewKYHome giveaway, which is providing a free, two-night stay at a Kentucky State Park for sharing positive photos about the commonwealth.
Today’s winner was Joshua Hodge, who shared an amazing photo of Pine Mountain State Resort Park.
Those wishing for a chance at the giveaway should post positive photos to social media along with the #NewKYHome hashtag. One winner will be drawn monthly through April.
Repairing Local Bridges
The Governor announced $10.2 million in awards for 23 bridge-repair projects in 18 counties and the city of Winchester.
“Our families worry every day about the safety of our roads and bridges, and about how long it takes them to get where they need to go,” Gov. Beshear said. “This work means that our families will no longer have to detour to get to their homes, schools, health care centers, churches or to get groceries and medicines.”
Winchester Mayor JoEllen Reed, LaRue County Judge/Executive Blake Durrett and Hickman County Judge/Executive Kenny Wilson provided video testimonies about the projects in their areas. Other bridge-repair projects will be conducted in Ballard, Barren, Calloway, Campbell, Clay, Graves, Grayson, Johnson, Lyon, Marion, McCracken, Menifee, Nelson, Ohio, Washington and Wolfe counties. A full list of awarded projects can be found here.
Working with the General Assembly, the Governor secured $50 million for local bridge work over two years.
This year’s applications for Phase 2 are being taken now, with final Phase 3 to take place March through May. To apply, city and county officials can contact their local Kentucky Transportation Cabinet district office.
Addiction Recovery
Gov. Beshear provided an update on the state’s partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky to provide addiction recovery services to underserved populations.
“By reaching underserved individuals in need, we are working to address any overdose disparities,” the Governor said.
Among recent awardees, which have received grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000, are Appalshop in Whitesburg, which will use the money to combat the stigma of asking for help, and the Bluegrass Harm Reduction Alliance, which will expand its Narcan distribution and training program.
Cleaner Water
As part of his efforts to bring cleaner water to communities across the commonwealth, the Governor highlighted the federal Low-Income Household Water Assistance program.
“I believe access to clean drinking water is a basic human right,” Gov. Beshear said. “That is why I was proud to announce that Kentucky was the first state to get federal funds to Kentuckians struggling to pay their water bills.”
The Governor said the funding has allowed Kentucky to serve more than 38,900 households in just seven months. The funding restored over 2,120 water connections, prevented over 23,300 disconnections and secured rate reductions for more than 19,320 households.
Kentuckians in need of assistance can visit the kynect resources page for more information.
Improving Outdoor Spaces
Today, Gov. Beshear announced his recommendation of projects to receive funding from the federal Land & Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the Recreational Trails Program (RTP).
From the LWCF, Gov. Beshear is recommending 50 projects be sent to the National Park Service (NPS) for review and approval. In total, the projects would bring $7.2 million in funding to improve parks and outdoor spaces across Kentucky. This is a record amount of recommended funding during Gov. Beshear’s administration.
Gov. Beshear is also recommending 8 projects be sent to the Federal Highway Administration to receive funding from the RTP. If all projects are approved, $1.4 million will come to Kentucky to improve trails across the commonwealth.
Kentucky has an excellent approval record for both the LWCF and RTP.
All projects will be reviewed individually at the federal level before funding is released. Selection of these projects at the state level is the first step in getting funding released. Kentucky’s Department for Local Government administers both programs.
Super Bowl Safety
Ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, Gov. Beshear asked fans to play it safe this weekend.
“On Sunday, the Kentucky State Police will be hitting the road to ensure everyone gets to and from their gameday celebrations safely by suiting up for Operation C.A.R.E., which stands for Crash Awareness Reduction Effort,” the Governor said.
Troopers will be looking for speeding as well as impaired or distracted driving.
“Let’s all do our part to be safe but also protect other drivers on the road,” Gov. Beshear said.
Team Kentucky All-Stars
The Governor named all the volunteers for the annual Shop & Share event as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Stars. This year’s event is on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at participating Kroger stores, with purchased items going to help survivors of domestic violence.
“You’re going to see people as you walk into these stores who can hand you a list of needed items and will be there to collect them at the end,” said Gov. Beshear. “This is what Team Kentucky is all about.”
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Gov. Beshear: 7 Kentucky Companies Awarded Nearly $750,000 To Support Tech and High-Wage Job Growth
SBIR/STTR program supports technology development in the commonwealth
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 6, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that seven innovative Kentucky companies will receive nearly $750,000 in state matching grants to support high-paying jobs and further grow the state’s technology sector.
The $749,964 in grants are part of the commonwealth’s nationally recognized Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) matching funds program. The funds will match, in part, $4.69 million in federal grants the businesses will collectively receive.
“Creating an economy that remains successful in the future starts with the initiatives we are taking today that will ensure Kentucky remains competitive in the innovation and technology sectors,” said Gov. Beshear. “This program allows us to invest in the resources that these startup tech companies need to succeed and create high-wage jobs for Kentuckians across the state. I am thrilled to see what the future holds for these companies as they continue to thrive here in the commonwealth.”
The seven Kentucky-based businesses awarded matching funds are using technology to advance multiple fields, from health care and cybersecurity technology to ride-sharing improvements for individuals with disabilities. Recipient companies include:
3P Technologies Inc. (Louisville)
3P Technologies is developing a technology to use cow colostrum exosomes for targeted delivery of healthy compounds to the brain in order to mitigate neuroinflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease. The use of the exosomes for delivery of drugs is an innovative concept pioneered in their lab.
Covert Defenses LLC (Lexington)
Covert Defenses developed the Covert Cognizance technology, which enables zero-downtime operation of industrial control systems even if compromised by cyberattacks with insider assistance. The technology finds dual-use applications in oil & gas pipelines, manufacturing, microgrids, etc., as well as drones, tactical assault kits and software-defined radio.
WiLO Networks Inc. (Lexington)
WiLO Networks Inc. is a senior development company centered around the development and deployment of a cutting-edge sensor network platform designed to operate with exceptionally low power consumption. The proposed research aims to tackle the challenge of maintaining continuous, reliable sensor communication in environments where power resources are limited or costly to replace.
VRTogether (Louisville)
VRTogether is developing Virtual PARTNER (Provide, Activate, Restore, Track, iNspire, Educate, Rehabilitate), a noninvasive, nonpharmacological VR application designed to address gaps in delirium management and prevention while minimizing staff burden. The overall goal with Virtual PARTNER is to deliver a clinically validated and regulatory-compliant delirium intervention that transitions with ICU patients from hospital bed to at-home recovery.
Wild Dog Physics LLC (Louisville)
Health care disparities in the United States result in large segments of the population without access to radiation therapy. Wild Dog Physics proposes to design and test a new-generation quality assurance device that addresses these unmet medical needs. When successful, this important innovation will help to bring accurate, state-of-the-art radiation therapy treatments to patients who might otherwise not receive them.
New Global Systems for Intelligent Transportation Management Corp. (Paducah)
New Global Systems is developing a platform to meet the challenges of ride sharing with individuals in rural locations and individuals with disabilities. The platform and unique algorithm will create real-time tracking, route optimization and dynamic pricing to ensure trips are cost efficient, reliable and accessible.
PCC Hydrogen Inc. (Louisville)
PCC Hydrogen (PCCH2) has developed a patented process to produce hydrogen from ethanol with net negative carbon dioxide. The project will fund the scale-up of the company’s core reactor, an integral component of its hydrogen production process. In concert with PCCH2’s SBIR Phase II grant and building on the considerable progress supported by Kentucky’s matching award, the company is developing commercial hydrogen ecosystems fueled by hydrogen from PCCH2’s distributed hydrogen production plants.
Kentucky’s SBIR/STTR program, overseen by KY Innovation, provides critical nondilutive capital for promising early-stage tech companies by matching all or part of federal SBIR/STTR awards received by Kentucky-based businesses or companies committed to relocating to the state.
“The matching funds award is an important complement to federal funding that is largely limited to technical development activities,” said Tim Fogarty, founder of PPC Hydrogen Inc. “To achieve commercial success, customer engagement and business development is required. Funding for those commercial development activities can be difficult to come by. Thanks to the matching funds award, companies like ours can undertake the necessary business development activities to accelerate commercial adoption and increase the likelihood of success.”
To date, Kentucky SBIR/STTR-awarded companies have leveraged the state’s matching program to receive $4.78 in federal or private capital for every $1 in state funds. These businesses also have created more than 766 well-paying jobs, 88% of which have annual salaries over $50,000. Match recipients have 235 patents and generated more than $108 million in sales and licensing revenue. Kentucky has made 337 match awards to 153 unique companies since the program’s inception, leveraging $166.76 million in federal funding coming into the state.
“Kentucky’s SBIR matching funds program was the first of its kind in the nation and continues to set us apart as a state committed to fostering high-tech, high-impact innovation,” said David Brock, interim executive director of KY Innovation. “This was one of the most competitive funding rounds in quite some time, which is a testament to both the awardees and the overall quantity and quality of promising technology-based companies across our state. We congratulate all of them and look forward to their success and growth in Kentucky.”
More information on Kentucky’s SBIR/STTR matching funds program and awarded companies awarded is available at kyinnovation.com/sbir.
The SBIR/STTR-awarded companies investment and job creation build on the best five-year period for economic growth in state history.
Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 60,000 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.
The robust job creation has been accompanied by rising wages across the commonwealth. Since 2022, the average incentivized hourly wage has topped $26 in three 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; and Shelbyville Battery Manufacturing’s $712 million investment creating 1,572 jobs in Shelby 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.
Kentucky also secured rating increases from major credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service.
Last 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 in November, the Governor announced a new initiative, called New Kentucky Home, to increase economic investment, attain and attract talent, and increase tourism across the state.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
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