MORTONS GAP, Ky. — $109,020 was awarded to the City of Mortons Gap to provide clean drinking water and make system improvements from the Better Kentucky Plan’s $250 million Cleaner Water Program. The program is estimated to create approximately 3,800 jobs across the state.
The project includes the repair or replacement of outdated fittings, valves, fire hydrants, and water meters, and the addition of new supervisory control and data acquisition system (SCADA). A new line extension will also be installed along White City Road and Tirey Lane to bring clean water to six households for the first time.
The investment will help remedy habitual line breaks, which cause inadequate pressure, severe water loss, and costly repairs. New technology will help the city monitor water flow, quickly identify leaks and abnormal usage, and make quick adjustments to minimize outages.
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority (KIA), the program uses $250 million appropriated at the close of the 2021 General Assembly through a bipartisan agreement for clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky. The Pennyrile Area Development District submitted the funding requests for the project to the KIA.
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Funding for Road ResurfacingIn Hopkins County, Gov. Beshear also presented a ceremonial check from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) for $473,151, representing discretionary funding for much-needed resurfacing on portions of five county roads.
The discretionary funding is from the KYTC Department of Rural and Municipal Aid. It will be applied to projects to resurface portions of five local routes: Old Nortonville Road, Dockery Road, Hollis Lane, Old Price Road, and Frank Cox Road.
Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for City of NortonvilleThe Governor presented a ceremonial check representing a grant approved earlier this year for the City Nortonville to fund improvements for its park and soccer complex. The city will use $125,100 to replace fencing around the majority of the City Park and upgrade the concession stand and restroom facility. They will also use funds for earthwork and drainage improvements, to pave the parking area and add LED lighting, new bleachers, trash receptacles, and signage.
About the Cleaner Water ProgramA total of $16,668,090 million has been awarded to grantees to fund transformative projects since the call for projects was announced June 1. Water Resource coordinators, representing Kentucky’s 15 Area Development Districts (ADD) and Area Water Management Councils, Utilities are still invited to submit project profiles through the Water Resource Information System (WRIS) portal to indicate interest in funding from the Cleaner Water Program. Eligible government agencies, such as city-owned water or sewer utilities, water commissions, water and sewer districts and counties, may collaborate with a coordinator and council to submit a project. There are 713 public drinking water and wastewater utilities in Kentucky.
Cleaner Water Program funding is allocated in three ways:
- $150 million based on each county’s proportion of the state’s population, with the exception of Jefferson County’s share, which is discounted by 50% based on its high per capita allocation from the federal act. A list of the allocations by county can be found here.
- $50 million is available for utilities to provide drinking water services to unserved, rural customers or to utilities under a federal consent decree. The KIA shall consider social, economic and environmental benefits in determining the allocations.
- $49.9 million is available to supplement a project grant for a project with a cost in excess of a county’s allocation amount and other available grant sources. The social, economic and environmental benefits shall be considered in determining project allocations. KIA will receive $75,000 to administer the grant program.
The application process will be ongoing through Nov. 19, 2021, and KIA will make awards continuously throughout the year. All grant awardees must obligate the funds by Dec. 31, 2024.
The American Society of Civil Engineers in 2019 projected that Kentucky faces nearly $14.5 billion in water/wastewater infrastructure needs over the next 20 years, including over $8.2 billion in drinking water upgrades and $6.2 billion in sewer system improvements.
Information about the Cleaner Water Program, as well as grants for broadband expansion, school facility upgrades and vocational education center renovations, can be found at governor.ky.gov/BetterKy.
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