Local communities receive grant funding

FRANKLIN, Ky. – Gov. Matt Bevin joined Department of Local Government Commissioner Sandra Dunahoo at the annual Governor’s Local Issues Conference to announce over $5 million in grant funding for Kentucky communities.

Two of the grants were awarded to Simpson and Butler counties.

A $1 million Community Development Block Grant was awarded to Simpson County, on behalf of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority, to expand water and wastewater infrastructure.

“This grant is very exciting because not only will it serve this company, … it will open up additional land for development just because of the utilities that are coming to this property,” said Dennis Griffin, director of the Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority.

The county plans to use the money to run sewage and water lines to a hemp business opening on Steel Road.

“It’s good to have a company like XYZ come in, because they will be utilizing local farmers for growing the hemp, not only will they be creating… jobs at the processing facility, but also it will bring additional revenue to our local farmers,” Griffin said.

In Butler County, more than $68,000 was awarded in an Energy and Efficiency and Conservation grant to implement lighting upgrades to the county courthouse.

This grant will allow Butler County to reduce its energy consumption at the courthouse.

“It’s going to really benefit us because we are going to be able to put lighting in all three levels of the courthouse not only that, the saving that we will accumulate over the next several years, just from these lights, is going to amount to about 35% savings on our electric bills,” Butler County Judge-Executive Tim Flener said.