FRANKFORT, KY - On Feb. 13, 2025, Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman provided an update on economic development, education funding, recidivism and reentry programs, federal funding freeze litigation, Agriculture Education Week, a new career and education website, Brigadier General Charles Young and the 57th annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast. The Governor also named Yared Nuguse, a distance runner from Louisville, as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star.

Economic Development
Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky once again set an all-time record for products shipped globally, with $47.7 billion in exports in 2024. The commonwealth broke the record set in 2023 with an 18.7% increase over the previous year.

The Governor highlighted that over 4,200 Kentuckians will receive skills training thanks to $2.1 million in support provided through the Bluegrass State Skills Corp., which oversees programs attached to the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development that help private-sector businesses establish industry-specific training initiatives.

Gov. Beshear recapped continued momentum of the commonwealth’s site development efforts as he announced a new Build-Ready location in Owen County, positioning the area for future economic success and job creation.

Since the beginning of his administration, Gov. Beshear has announced more than 1,100 private-sector new-location and expansion projects totaling over $35 billion in announced investments, creating more than 60,000 jobs.

Education Funding
Following concerns from the Kentucky Department of Education that school districts would need to adjust their budgets to manage a multimillion-dollar funding short fall, Team Kentucky has been working to find a solution. Working with State Budget Director and Executive Cabinet Secretary John Hicks and Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher, the Governor was able to authorize an increase of the fiscal year 2024-2025 SEEK General Fund appropriation to address the shortfall.

SEEK funding is a formula-based model that helps determine how much funding each public school receives based on each district’s student makeup. A shortfall occurred due to a spike in student enrollment, as well as more students with special needs.

The budget bill permits the Commissioner of Education to request an increase in this appropriation if the required expenditures exceed the initial estimates, and for the Governor to approve it if the state has the funds to support it.

“It would not be right for our schools to face tough cuts in the middle of the school year,” said Gov. Beshear. “We are excited to remove this pending burden from our public schools.”

“On behalf of Kentucky’s public schools, we express our sincere appreciation to Governor Beshear,” said Commissioner Fletcher. “The Governor’s decision to increase the SEEK appropriation to meet the required payments is a significant development for our public schools and cannot be overstated. Congratulations to our public schools. This is a great day for educators, and for those who matter most – our students.”

Record Low Recidivism Rate
Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky has secured another low recidivism rate. Nearly 70% of people released from state custody over the past two years have not been re-incarcerated.  

To further reduce recidivism, Gov. Beshear also announced today that his administration is partnering with Ashland Community and Technical College to offer a new online Associate of Arts degree for inmates at Little Sandy Correctional Complex who have at least 12 months left to serve or to become eligible for parole. The Governor also announced that each of Kentucky’s 14 state prisons have established its own reentry center. The centers operate inside the prisons and deliver focused life-skills training designed to prepare inmates for success upon release.

“As Governor, but also as a dad, one of my top priorities is making sure our families are safe. To do that, we must ensure that those who have committed a crime and paid their debt to society are released with the tools necessary to succeed,” said Gov. Beshear. “Success means becoming a role model for their children and a contributing member of their community. By preparing these Kentuckians for success, we reduce crime, save tax dollars and heal broken families.”

Federal Funding Freeze Litigation
Today, Gov. Beshear announced that the Office of the Governor has joined litigation to stop the federal funding freeze. This morning state attorneys general filed the amended complaint and added the Governor’s office as a plaintiff. The freeze has affected Medicaid, the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Abandoned Mined Lands program and more. While the freeze has been blocked by a federal judge, this action was needed to ensure Kentucky receives all the funding already allocated to the state.

“Without Medicaid, our rural hospitals would shut down and so many health care workers would lose their jobs,” said Gov. Beshear. “And the Appalachian Regional Commission is vital to creating jobs and providing better health care and infrastructure in Appalachia. I want to make it clear I would have taken this action against any president, regardless of party, if they tried to stop these really important funds.”

Agriculture Education Week
Lt. Gov. Coleman joined the Team Kentucky Update to announce that March 17-21 will be the inaugural statewide Agriculture Education Week in Kentucky. The initiative is a collaboration between the Lieutenant Governor, Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell and Commissioner of Education Robbie Fletcher.

“Agriculture and education are the ties that bind in every community across Kentucky,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “Kentucky’s public schools are the largest employer in almost every county. And agriculture is the most crucial industry, not just in Kentucky, but throughout the world. Together, we agree that supporting public education and our agriculture community is imperative to Kentucky’s future.”

Agriculture Education Week will equip educators with ready-to-use lessons and foster community involvement to create hands-on learning opportunities on the diverse world of agriculture for students. For more information on Agriculture Education Week, visit kyagr.com/AgEdWeek.

New Career and Education Website
Lt. Gov. Coleman also announced the launch of a new website, Futuriti.org. This new platform provides region-specific data about numerous career paths and education options.

“There are many unconnected online education and career resources in Kentucky, but there has never been a way to connect the dots for our citizens to help them on their paths to a sustainable career,” said Lt. Gov. Coleman. “This is a groundbreaking website that will provide a new level of access to education and career opportunities for all Kentuckians.” 

The newly launched website features:

• Job descriptions and wages for more than 700 careers;
• Highlights of in-demand careers; 
• Cost, completion and debt information on all public and private universities, community colleges and technical schools;
• A listing of the majors offered at Kentucky public and private universities;
• All career pathways offered at each Kentucky high school and technical center; and
• High-demand jobs in each region of Kentucky.

The website is a collaboration between the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education, Kentucky Center for Statistics and the Kentucky Department of Education. Feedback was gathered from over 1,000 Kentuckians, including students, educators and workforce professionals.

Brigadier General Charles Young
As part of Black History Month, Gov. Beshear highlighted the story of Charles Young, whom the Governor posthumously promoted to Brigadier General five years ago, in February 2020.

Charles Young was born to enslaved parents in Mason County, Kentucky, in 1864. He would go on to become the third African American graduate of West Point, a civil rights leader, a Buffalo Soldier, national park superintendent, military attaché, academic, professor, mentor, commander, intellectual and an inspiration.

At the time of Young’s retirement, Colonel was the highest rank achieved by any African American officer in the Army. But five years ago, the Gov. Beshear promoted him to the honorary rank of Brigadier General. In 2021, the Governor wrote to President Joe Biden encouraging him to promote Young within the U.S. Army, and the President obliged.

“We can all be proud that the first African American General in the history of the U.S. Army came from Kentucky,” said Gov. Beshear. “We will continue working to ensure everyone knows his name and has the opportunity to learn what he accomplished.”

57th Annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast
Gov. Beshear invited Kentuckians to the 57th annual Governor’s Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, March 11th, at 7:30 a.m., at the William Exum Center at Kentucky State University. Doors open at 7 a.m.

This annual celebration recognizes Kentuckians living their faith through service to others. The breakfast will include music from the Franklin County High School Choristers and a conversation with former University of Kentucky Wildcat and current New York Giants wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson. Reserve a table or RSVP at governor.ky.gov/prayerbreakfast. Individual tickets are only available at the door but attendees are encouraged to RSVP.

Team Kentucky All-Star
The Governor named Yared Nuguse, a distance runner from Louisville, as this week’s Team Kentucky All-Star. Last Saturday, during the final competition of the Millrose Games in New York City, Nuguse set a new indoor mile world record of 3 minutes, 46.63 seconds.

The win marked his third straight Wanamaker Mile first place title and the first time an American has held an indoor or outdoor mile world record on the track since the 1980s.

“Congratulations, Yared. I know this success couldn’t be possible without years of hard work and personal determination,” said Gov. Beshear. “Thank you for representing Kentucky on the world stage. We’re so proud of you and we can’t wait to see what you do next.”