Home » $700,000 presented to support ‘Lettuce Grow’ project

$700,000 presented to support ‘Lettuce Grow’ project

MANCHESTER, Ky. — Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, in partnership with U.S. Congressman Hal Rogers, presented $700,000 to Volunteers of America (VOA) Mid-States from the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization, or AMLER, program to support the Lettuce Grow project.

Lettuce Grow is an innovative and collaborative partnership in Clay County between VOA, AppHarvest, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) and the City of Manchester, designed using AppHarvest’s high-tech container farms to provide education, workforce training and career opportunities in the heart of Appalachia. To learn more, see VOA’s full release.

 “Lettuce Grow and the Downtown Manchester Economic Development Project are both going to encourage investment in this region, create jobs, boost tourism and support our environment,” Lt. Gov. Coleman said.

Senate President Robert Stivers, Eastern Kentucky University President Dr. David McFaddin, AppHarvest founder and CEO Jonathan Webb, SOAR executive director Colby Hall and local officials joined Lt. Gov. Coleman, Karen Kelly, district director for Congressman Rogers, and VOA Mid-States president and CEO Jennifer Hancock for the announcement.

In Manchester, Lt. Gov. Coleman presented nearly $210,000 in Kentucky Transportation Cabinet funds for road resurfacing on Curry Branch Road ($104,125) and Sester Hollow Road ($23,800) in Clay County, as well as Swindling Hollow Road ($81,656) in Jackson County.

Lt. Gov. Coleman also said Gov. Andy Beshear had recommended the Appalachian Regional Commission approve $977,754 for support the Downtown Manchester Economic Development project, a collaboration among VOA, AdventHealth Manchester and other community-based, Clay County organizations.

Jamie Couch, associate vice president of AdventHealth Manchester, joined the Lieutenant Governor and Hancock for the announcement.

“Over the past two years, we have seen just how critical reliable, high-speed internet access is to keep Kentuckians connected to work, school, health care, friends and family, and this is especially true for those living in our rural communities,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are grateful for innovative partnerships like this one between Laurel County and Kinetic by Windstream, which will position local residents and businesses to seize future opportunities for success.”

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