Gov. Beshear: Better Kentucky Plan directing $127 million to fund much needed school construction projects

HAZARD, Ky. (WYMT) - Governor Andy Beshear announced on Wednesday that $127 million dollars from the Better Kentucky Plan will be donated to local school districts to fund construction and renovations on schools in need.

“This is and always will be an education first administration, and this funding gives us a unique opportunity to renovate and replace some of our schools, making them a safer and better learning environment for our children and our educators,” said Gov. Beshear. “This will inject tens of millions of dollars into our schools as we work to build a better Kentucky for people in every corner of the commonwealth.”

The following schools will be assisted through the Better Kentucky Plan:

Bonnieville Elementary School, Inez Elementary School, Duff-Allen Central Elementary School, Cannonsburg Elementary School, Grandview Elementary School, Mayfield High School, Jackson County Middle School, Dry Ridge Elementary School, Breckinridge County Middle School, Bath County Middle School, Cumberland County Elementary School, Phillip Sharp Middle School, East Carter High School.

The Better Kentucky Plan will direct $1.3 billion to improving schools, creating 14,500 jobs , delivering clean drinking water, cleaning sewage, and expanding broadband internet access. Governor Beshear and lawmakers reached an agreement to invest federal relief funds in infrastructure.

The Kentucky School Facilities Construction Commission voted to make an offer of assistance to 13 school projects around the state. The school districts will receive the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The ARPA funds will be designated as gap funding, which would require the state education commissioner and local school board to approve all offers.

Governor Beshear announced that local utilities could begin submitting projects for the Cleaner Water Program, a branch of the Better Kentucky Plan.

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