Gov. Beshear announces funding for Butler County project, local addition to African-American Heritage Trail

FRANKFORT, Ky. – During his Team Kentucky update, Governor Andy Beshear announced a couple of things that will interest South Central Kentuckians.

First, 13 different counties in the state have been approved to receive Kentucky Product Development Initiative, or KPDI, funds.

Butler County will gain an access roadway, which has been proposed within the Morgantown Industrial Park. The project is set to cost $360,000 to complete.

While the general assembly didn’t pass the proposed $70 million site development amount, Beshear says he’ll continue to look for ways to help.

“Over a third of Kentucky’s counties have had the largest ever investment in their history since I became governor… and part of it is this program. We’ll do the best we can with that $50 million, but that 20 million is leaving jobs on the table for the future investment that we could have brought here,” he says.

Beshear also announced an additional ten new stops on the African-American Heritage Trail in Kentucky, including the South Union Shaker Village in Logan County.

The site holds a lot of history regarding the Shakers and their time in South Central Kentucky, and Beshear says it’s a great way to celebrate America’s 250th this year.

“With these additions, we are now more than 60 sites on the trail, I encourage everybody to take the time and visit. America 250 is going to be a great opportunity to remember our history, especially the aspects that have been overlooked for far too long,” he says.

If you’re interested in stopping by, they are located at 896 Shaker Museum Road in Auburn.