MOREHEAD, Ky. – Today, at the Morehead Police Department, Gov. Andy Beshear presented more than $1 million to support cleaner water and local nonprofits in Rowan County.

“As a dad, I want to make sure that when any parent in Kentucky turns on their faucet, they know that water is safe to give their kids,” Gov. Beshear said. “I also want to make sure we’re supporting the local nonprofits across the state that make such a difference in their communities. That’s exactly what we’re doing in Morehead today.”

“With these funds, Morehead is going to move an important infrastructure project forward and uplift our nonprofits,” said Morehead Mayor Laura White-Brown. “We thank Gov. Beshear for coming to our city, and we’ll keep working toward a better future for everyone here.”

“Today, we celebrated a lot of good news for Rowan County,” said Rowan County Judge/Executive Harry Clark. “The funding announced today is helping us bolster our infrastructure and support some amazing organizations. Thanks to Gov. Beshear for stopping by, and thanks to all the people who have worked to make today possible.”

Cleaner Water Program
Gov. Beshear also announced the commitment of $815,585 in funding to the Morehead Utility Plant Board (MUPB) from the Cleaner Water Program. The funds will upgrade the water distribution system.

“The MUPB is committed to protecting public health and the safety of our customers and residents,” said Holly McGrath Rosas, general manager of the MUPB. “MUPB is truly grateful in all efforts made assisting us in keeping our customers protected.”

Funded by the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and administered by the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, $500 million has been appropriated since 2021 through a bipartisan agreement with the General Assembly to provide clean drinking water and wastewater grants to fund projects across Kentucky. The 2022 funding will be allocated 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. As projects progress, the utilities will be reimbursed by Cleaner Water Program funds.

Nonprofit Assistance Fund
The Governor awarded a total of $202,926 to five nonprofits in Rowan County. The awards come from the Nonprofit Assistance Fund, which is helping organizations across Kentucky recover from the effects of the pandemic. The funding comes from ARPA, and Gov. Beshear supported the allocation of funds by the 2022 General Assembly. This funding will provide one-time direct relief payments to support the mission and long-term sustainability of each eligible nonprofit. The awards include:

    $100,000 to Frontier Housing;
    $80,743 to Domestic Violence Emergency Services (DOVES) of Gateway;
    $12,503 to the Salvation Army of Rowan County;
    $9,381 to Christian Social Services; and
    $299 to Gateway Children’s Advocacy Center.

“These funds are such a blessing. People in our community are in need of additional food and require assistance with disconnect notices to keep their electric services going,” said Christian Social Services Director Beverly Gilliam. “The Team Kentucky Nonprofit Assistance Funds will go a long way to help the many deserving people who could use some extra help.”

“This award allowed Frontier to continue our foreclosure prevention work,” said Frontier Housing President and CEO Tom Manning-Beavin. “We connected individuals to resources at the state level so they could avoid eviction and foreclosure. In addition, this seed money helped us invest in connecting people in communities impacted by flooding. We expanded our services to areas we wouldn’t have been able to serve, such as Martin and Floyd counties.”

“Our state has experienced some tragic events over the last year and a half with both the Western Kentucky tornadoes and the Eastern Kentucky floods,” said Sen. Stephen West of Paris. “In addition to recovery from natural disasters, non-profit organizations assist in helping with day-to-day needs of so many residents across our commonwealth. Thanks to the General Assembly, money was prioritized in this year’s budget to help refill the coffers so they can continue to provide assistance to those Kentucky residents who need it.”

“It is crucial to support funding for programs that will help improve the lives of those in Rowan County,” said Rep. Richard White of Morehead. “Every person deserves access to safe and clean water, and today’s announcement will help ensure every person has clean drinking water. I am proud to be a part of a legislature that prioritizes the health and safety of all Kentuckians, and I look forward to how all of the funding announced today will improve both health outcomes, increase access to affordable housing, and much more.”

Ribbon-cutting
Also on Monday, Gov. Beshear attended the ribbon-cutting for Raven Cares in Morehead. Raven Cares is a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing and wrap-around services for individuals fighting substance-abuse disorders.

“Cutting this ribbon at Raven Cares, right here in Morehead, shows our commitment to helping more Kentuckians overcome addiction, so they can go on to live full, healthy lives,” the Governor said.