Leitchfield, Ky – On Feb 20th, Governor Andy Beshear presented $10.4 million in Grayson County to support career and technical education, tourism marketing and 11 local nonprofits.

“My administration will always put education first, and that includes helping our students discover technical fields where they can get hands-on experience, serve others and find great jobs that can support a family,” Gov. Beshear said. “That’s why we’re awarding $10 million to support career and technical education here in Grayson County, and we’re also providing funding to promote tourism and help local nonprofits.”

Career and Technical Education
Gov. Beshear presented $10 million to Grayson County Public Schools to support career and technical education (CTE) at the Grayson County Technology Center. The funding will support a major renovation of the entire existing facility, including interior renovations; reconfiguration of program spaces; accessibility upgrades; new plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems; new finishes, equipment, doors, hardware and windows; the construction of a new administration office; a machine tool lab and classroom, two allied health labs, a marketing lab, a business lab and a computer lab.

“We are so appreciative of the Governor and our legislature recognizing the vital importance that CTE classes and hands-on training provide for the future of our county and of the commonwealth,” Grayson County Public Schools Superintendent Doug Robinson said. “We are excited for this opportunity and the doors it will open for our students, for our staff and for our community. Great things are happening right here and right now at the Grayson County Technology Center. This funding will help us take our programs, our training, our facilities and our equipment to the next level. Special thanks go out to our legislators for their always-diligent efforts on behalf of our kids, our schools and the future of our community. It’s a big day for Grayson County.”

“We invested each dollar with an eye toward how it will make life better for the people we serve,” said Rep. Samara Heavrin of Leitchfield. “Funding to repair and replace aging and inadequate water infrastructure and local tourism when we know it drives our local economy were common sense decisions that will provide immediate results. The legacy of this vocational school will go on for generations as students realize they can build a life with the skills they learn there.”

Tourism Marketing Funding
Gov. Beshear awarded $75,580 to the Grayson County Tourism Commission and $25,193 to the City of Leitchfield Tourism and Convention Commission to support travel marketing and promotion.

“The additional funding support received through the Kentucky Department of Tourism will immensely help in our efforts to boost tourism in the area,” said Ilsa Johnson, executive director of the Leitchfield Tourism and Convention Commission. “Leitchfield Tourism can utilize this funding to participate in advertising campaigns that we would not normally be able to and reach markets that we have been unable to reach in the past. The decline brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic left most of us in the industry feeling unsure of the future. We want to thank Gov. Beshear, everyone at the Tourism Cabinet and our local legislators for remembering the importance of tourism on the economy and investing in our future.”

“The Grayson County Tourism Commission would like to thank Gov. Beshear and the Kentucky Tourism Cabinet for remembering Kentucky’s tourism industry, especially Grayson County, for this ARPA funding,” said Tiffany Decker, executive director of the Grayson County Tourism Commission. “This money allows us to do things we didn’t have funding for in the past. We want Grayson County to be a tourist destination everyone loves to visit, and this funding will make that possible.”

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

Nonprofit Assistance Fund Awards
The Governor also presented 11 awards totaling $392,992.51 from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which is helping organizations across Kentucky recover from the effects of the pandemic. The funding comes from federal ARPA dollars, and Gov. Beshear supported the allocation by the 2022 General Assembly. This fund will provide one-time direct relief payments to support the mission and long-term sustainability of each eligible nonprofit. Gov. Beshear presented:

• $80,399 for the Grayson County Alliance
• $60,346.87 for St. Anthony’s Parish of Peonia, Kentucky
• $55,814.46 for St. Paul’s Parish of St. Paul, Kentucky
• $45,640.30 for St. Joseph’s Parish of Leitchfield, Kentucky
• $44,465.20 for St. Augustine’s Parish of Grayson Springs, Kentucky
• $36,581.11 for St. Benedict’s Parish of Wax, Kentucky
• $24,709.55 for St. Elizabeth’s Parish of Clarkson, Kentucky
• $22,902.00 for Tri-County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
• $19,320.00 for the Grayson County Ministerial Association (GCMA)
• $2,099.43 for The Salvation Army, Grayson County
• $714.59 for Friends of Rough River Lake Inc.

Nonprofit Leader Quotes
“The Salvation Army expresses our gratitude to the Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Fund and Gov. Beshear. These funds will allow us to continue ‘Doing the Most Good’ in Grayson County, where people come to us in times of need. We thank the Governor for consistently thinking of and meeting the needs of our neighbors,” said area commander Capt. Jimmy Parrish.

“The Nonprofit Assistance Award will ensure that our program continues to recruit and train Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers to advocate on behalf of children who have experienced abuse or neglect,” said Lori Aldridge, executive director of Tri-County CASA.

“The grant will be used to continue our financial assistance program in 2023 and beyond,” said GCMA Secretary Tracy Dennison. “This is a needs-based program rather than the typical income-based, meaning those who receive assistance must have had an emergency that has caused the need for assistance. There are no restrictions on the type of assistance we provide, as every situation is different. For some it could help with rent, utilities, prescriptions, medical bills or car repairs and gas vouchers to ensure they are able to get to work. GCMA strives to empower our families to be self-sufficient by completing an assessment and budget to ensure they can pay their bills ongoing, and that way we know we are not setting them up for failure in the future.”

“The Friends of Rough River Lake will use this money to fund our 2023 Grayson & Breckinridge County Scholarship Fund,” President Charlie Corbett said. “This is our 15th anniversary funding events, infrastructure and programs to benefit our lake area residents and tourists.”

“These funds will be used to elevate our programs and facility as we further our mission to feed our community, teach life skills and empower family stability,” said Debbie Childress, executive director of the Grayson County Alliance.