Eastern Kentucky receives $22 million in federal grants

Governor Andy Beshear and Congressman Hal Rogers have announced more than $22 million in federal funding to support various sectors in Eastern Kentucky. The investment aims to bolster healthcare, emergency services, infrastructure, energy, education, tourism, and economic development in the region.

The funding is provided through the Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization (AMLER) program, which was established by Rogers in 2016. Since its inception, the program has directed over $1.3 billion in federal funds toward revitalization, with more than $280 million awarded to 120 projects within Kentucky.

Specific allocations include more than $4 million for the Leslie County Fiscal Court to install approximately 35,000 linear feet of gas line for business support, and $3.5 million for the City of London Convention and Tourism Commission in Laurel County to complete infrastructure for the Wilderness Road Event Center. Additional funding of $2.9 million was designated for Johnson County.