Lexington, Frankfort residents feted; Governor uses podium to provide updates

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – After more than 15 months of fighting the pandemic and more than 250 news conferences, Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled Thursday what he labeled his Team Kentucky update, offering praise and updates while answering questions from the media on a variety of topics.

Thursday’s briefing included tributes to two area residents, Milo Golding of Lexington and Sean Sullivan, of Frankfort.

Golding, a student at Lexington Christian Academy, won the national Doodle for Google competition this week.

The Governor hosted a celebration for Milo with Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton on Monday at City Hall. Milo was awarded a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology package for his school.

Milo’s art, titled “Finding Hope,” was inspired by the words of his late father and stood above thousands of submissions from across the country. Milo said, “Regardless of life’s hardships and uncertainties, hope is always there. It’s our job to find that hope in order to move forward.”

“Milo and his work left me feeling inspired, and I know it will have the same impact on others. He’s a remarkable kid and we in Kentucky are so proud of what he accomplished,” the Governor said.

Sullivan is the only American competing in the European Firefit Championship this week. Sean is an Air Force Veteran and served on the Frankfort Fire Department for 20 years. In May, the Governor met Sean and officially named him a Kentucky Colonel.

“We are proud of him,” Gov. Beshear said. “Kentucky, let’s join together and cheer Sean on during this week’s major event.”

Beshear highlighted Kentucky’s private-sector new-location and expansion announcements from the first half of 2021, which show an economy ramping up for post-pandemic growth.

In 2021, companies have announced more than $2 billion in new investments expected to create over 4,000 full-time jobs with an average incentivized hourly wage of $23.15 before benefits. Economic growth in Kentucky is outpacing last year’s figures, with several key industries playing a pivotal role in building back the state’s economy. To learn more, see the full release.

Beshear also announced that MAB Fabrication Inc., which manufactures awnings and steel structures for greenhouses, garden centers and big-box stores, will locate a new production operation in Walton, creating 24 full-time jobs for Kentucky residents in the coming months with a $6.9 million investment. To learn more, see the full release.

BETTER KENTUCKY PLAN

Meanwhile, what he offered an update on what he labeled the Better Kentucky Plan, which allocates $1.3 billion in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

Since launching the call for projects on June 1, the Cleaner Water Program has received 141 requests for funding representing 46 counties and totaling more than $343 million, with funding announcements expected this summer.

The Kentucky Schools Facilities Construction Commission selected 13 schools for Better Schools program funding and is awaiting additional guidance from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to determine how and when funding will be allocated.

The Governor also mentioned that the Better Internet Program is finalizing a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit input from potential broadband providers. The RFI is expected to be finalized by the end of June, with proposals from providers accepted sometime in July. To learn more about the Better Kentucky Plan, click here.

VACCINE INCENTIVES

Kentucky’s Shot at a Million sweepstakes is an incentive for Kentuckians to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Three winners, drawn on three separate occasions, will each win $1 million. For Kentuckians age 12-17, who are ineligible for the money drawing, there are 15 chances to win a full scholarship, including room-and-board, tuition and books, to any public Kentucky college, university, trade or technical school.

To date, 414,584 Kentuckians have registered for a chance at $1 million and 23,080 Kentucky youth have registered for the chance to win a full scholarship.

The winners of the first drawing will be announced on Friday, July 2. Learn more and sign up for your Shot at a Million at shotatamillion.ky.gov.

The governor also said the Troubadour Concert Series is hosting COVID-Free Concerts at the historic Cardome in Georgetown, happening every week now through June 29.

The fully vaccinated qualify for a free ticket to any or all of the COVID-Free concerts at Cardome. The unvaccinated — anyone age 12 and up — can get vaccinated for free at the concert.

The vaccines are being administered by Wild Health, which has partnered with the Beshear administration throughout the pandemic to administer thousands of COVID-19 tests and vaccinations. For more information visit, covidfreeconcert.com.

EVICTION RELIEF

Gov. Beshear said Thursday that, while the federal eviction moratorium is ending June 30, Kentucky’s Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund (HHERF) is open until Sept. 30, 2022 and has about $200 million left to assist Kentuckians with up to 15 months of rent and utilities. To date, Team Kentucky has helped Kentuckians with more than 5,500 rent and utility payments totaling more than $20.3 million in assistance. Just last week, the Kentucky Housing Corporation, an important partner in administering the HHERF, paid out more than $2 million from the fund to Kentuckians in need, which is up 15% from the week before.

Kentuckians can submit an application at teamkyhherf.ky.gov if they live outside of Lexington or Louisville. To apply in Fayette County, visit covid19renterhelp.org. To apply in Jefferson County, visit stopmyeviction.org.

Updates are scheduled to be held every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT. Journalists are invited to attend and ask questions and Kentuckians can watch live on the Governor’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. The weekly updates will include topics that Kentucky families want to hear about, like education, health care and job growth. The Governor will also highlight Kentuckians who are working to build a better commonwealth.