Gov. Beshear Announces Grant Funding for Environmental Remediation in Martin and Shelby Counties
Two communities receive $125,000 for brownfield cleanup projects
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 26, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear awarded $250,000 to clean up brownfield properties that are abandoned or underutilized due to environmental contamination. The grant funds come through the Cleaner Commonwealth Fund (CCF), administered through the Kentucky Brownfield Program, which supports communities in re-establishing old factories, former gas stations and other properties for reuse.
“These funds are going directly to communities to help clean up abandoned properties, once thought to be unusable, and to breathe new life into underserved areas,” Gov. Beshear said. “We’ve seen this program revitalize communities, bring tourism and economic development opportunities to our towns, and restore historic properties.”
Two eligible entities were selected to receive $125,000 each for remediation of asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint.
Those receiving funding are:
- Martin County Fiscal Court – $125,000 Grant funding will be used to remediate the former Grassy School located in Inez, Kentucky, of known contamination including asbestos and lead-based paint.
- Shelby County Fiscal Court – $125,000 Grant funding will be used to remediate the former Shelbyville jail and jailer’s residence of known contamination including asbestos and lead-based paint.
Rebecca Goodman, secretary of the Energy and Environment Cabinet, which administers the Brownfields Program statewide, said the revitalization of vacant properties benefits more than just the communities where they reside.
“We are honored to work with Martin and Shelby fiscal courts to help restore these abandoned, bighted buildings and to find exciting, new purposes that will ultimately benefit the community and our commonwealth,” Secretary Goodman said.
To help facilitate redevelopment of these properties, the state’s Brownfield Program provides a full spectrum of resources and services to local officials, nonprofit groups, property owners, private developers, and other stakeholders. These services not only help overcome redevelopment barriers, they help ensure environmental justice for underserved communities.
More information can be found at https://eec.ky.gov/Environmental-Protection/brownfields/Pages/default.aspx.
