[ad_1]
This past January, Gov. Andy Beshear Arrived in Ashland to announce $4.1 million in funding for infrastructure improvements. On Monday, August 15th he returned to the region to present five more awards totaling more than $3.9 million to Boyd County.
The first award of 1.38 million that the Kentucky governor presented went to The Highland Museum and Discovery Center located on Winchester Avenue.
“Today we get to announce more than 1.3 million for the Highland Museum and Discovery Center,” he said, “This project I got to see first hand” —- “They are gonna renovate a historic building downtown to create a State of the arts center for children, they are also adding history and art galleries, Beshear said. He knows it will be real special to children and families in the region.
Kim Jenkins, Executive Director of Highland Museum and Discovery Center smiled from ear to ear while bragging about the project.
“What a tremendous occasion for all of us,” Jenkins said, “It’s going to be an amazing thing”.
The second award of 1.32 million that was announced went to Ashland Community and Technical College. Beshear said the funds will be used to create a Health Science Simulation Training Laboratory.
“It sounds very high tech,” he said, It would ‘benefit the health sciences program’ and serve as a ‘training facility for current employees of Kings Daughter Medical Center’.
Larry Ferguson, President of Ashland community and Technical College said im so grateful for this investment in our college, specifically in our community. It allows the opportunity to have a state of the ark world class simulation lab for all of our allied Health programs. “You may not know it,” Ferguson said, “but we produce more nurses” then any other entity in the tri-state.
The third award of $750K that was officially announced Monday afternoon went to Kentucky Product Development Initiative
Amanda Clark, External Affairs Manager of Kentucky Power Company was thankful for multiple people helping to make the grant possible.
“Having this property back in the hands of EastPark is a true testament to what Ashland regionalism looks like,” she said, “If It wasn’t for the five county judges, EastPark Board, KPDI, Kentucky State legislatures and the Governor, we would not be here”.
The fourth award of $436,794 that was announced will be used to help fund road resurfacing of Daniels Fork road.
Beshear said, “These funds help make sure our roads are safe and smooth for our families as you drive to work — or your kids to school — or to church.”
Judge executive Eric Chaney of Boyd County said, “It affects two counties — this will go from Boyd County to Greenup County,” he said, “it is definitely a good thing”.
The fifth award of 20K that was presented by the governor will be going to the city of Ashland for a single day event to allow Ashland citizens to remove hazardous waste from their homes.
Matt Perkins, Mayor of Ashland said every year the city tries to set up a cooperative day with Boyd county to get rid of hazardous household waste.
“It’s a small amount of money, but it’s a huge impact on our environment,” Perkins said, “we are excited to see this happening”.
Gov. Beshear expressed gratitude to the museum for hosting the event and said he believed Ashland will continue to grow and prosper.
“I want to thank Highland Museum and Discovery Center for hosting us, I got to start coming here when my dad was governor. Investing back then in a very special facility where my family and I marked many important occasions, so lets thank them for hosting us today.”
He continues, “We have had a lot but we have been there for each other, showing us our very best Kentucky values and golden rule — let me tell you — It is that goodness that’s going to attract so many opportunities to this region,” he said.
“I sense a community here and the willingness to get big things done,” Beshear said, “that’s why families keep choosing Boyd County and that’s why major companies are going to be choosing you all too”.
Beshear told the Independent that there will be positive results from the grants that were issued
[ad_2]
Source link
