Sept. 20, 2024

Transportation cabinet reviewing applications for new county road programs

With less than a month to go before the application deadline, this week Commissioner for Rural and Municipal Aid Bobbi Jo Lewis provided legislators with an update of the state’s new County Priority Projects Program (CPPP).

Lewis told members of the Interim Joint Committee on Transportation and the Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation that only 30 counties and cities have applied for CPPP funding so far. The deadline to submit applications is Oct. 15. 

County road funding struggles to keep pace with inflation

Road funding in Kentucky is failing to keep up with rising costs, leaving counties unable to maintain critical infrastructure. Despite efforts to stabilize funding through legislative measures, inflation and shifts in fuel consumption are eroding the purchasing power of county road aid, putting the future of county roads and bridges at risk.

Getting back to our grass roots: KACo Listening Tour provides opportunities to hear from members

We love getting out of the office and into our counties.  

Every year, after the intensity of the legislative session subsides, KACo Executive Director Jim Henderson and the KACo advocacy team travel across the state, meeting with county officials to hear directly about issues affecting their communities. Using the area development district offices as a central meeting location, the KACo Listening Tour makes 15 stops spanning the Commonwealth. 

Solid waste infrastructure for recycling grants available for counties

A new round of funding for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) Grants for Communities program is now available for counties to pursue.



EPA considers counties, cities, towns, parishes and similar units of governments that have executive and legislative functions to be political subdivisions of states and territories. Read the Eligible Applicants section of the SWIFR for Communities Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

NACo guidance for counties on AI

The advent of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) worldwide presents unique opportunities and challenges for county governments. The NACo Artificial Intelligence Exploratory Committee has released recommendations and a toolkit for county leaders.

Opioid Symposium to be held Oct. 21-22

The 2024 Kentucky Opioid Symposium brings together people from across the Commonwealth working to eradicate the opioid crisis for two days full of information on best practices in recovery, prevention and treatment, grant writing workshops, networking and inspiration. 

Counties in the News: Week of Sept. 16, 2024

Counties in the News highlights stories and developments about Kentucky's counties. From county government initiatives to economic progress and community events, here's a roundup of counties making headlines this week.

This week's featured counties: Logan, Kenton, Christian, Calloway, Daviess, Fayette, Pulaski, Breckinridge, Trimble, Scott, Butler and Warren.

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This week in pictures

During this week's National Recovery Month event held at the state Capitol, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that Calloway, Daviess, Fayette and Pulaski counties have been certified as Recovery Ready Communities. The state has now certified a total of 18 counties for establishing services to residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction in three different categories: prevention, treatment and recovery support.

At the recent Barren River Area Development District 56th Annual Meeting, former Allen County Judge/Executive Johnny Hobdy was awarded the 2024 William H. Natcher Award. The award was created in 1994 to honor individuals with distinguished service in government. Warren County Attorney Amy Chandler, a 2013 recipient of the same award, helped with the presentation.

McCracken County Deputy Patrick Crown was honored by Quilts of Valor (Nashville Chapter) for assisting the organization in August with changing a tire on I-24 while members were traveling through to a quilt convention. They were touched by his compassion and professionalism and wanted to recognize him for his help that day as well as his service to our country in the U.S Army. 

Boone County Clerk Justin Crigler attended the annual Boone County Senior Picnic and spent the day chatting with attendees.

In McLean County, firefighter volunteers, ambulance personnel and farmers practice grain bin rescue training at Myer Creek Park.

Harlan County Clerk Ashley Sullivan and Deputy David Vance (pictured) register new voters at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College Harlan Campus.

Kenton County, the Northern Kentucky Port Authority, Blue North, and community members celebrated the start of construction on SparkHaus, a one-stop shop for entrepreneurs.

Johnson County Judge/Executive Mark McKenzie issued a proclamation designating Sept.16-20 as Adult Literacy Week in Johnson County, acknowledging the vital role of adult education programs in our community. Attending the signing is Tammy Castle, director of adult education at Big Sandy Community and Technical College. 

The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office hosted the 2024 Citizen Academy. Participants will spend seven weeks learning about the sheriff's office duties, law enforcement and the criminal justice system. 

Oldham County District 6 Magistrate Stephanie Hawkins, right, attended an Operation Parent event supported by county opioid abatement funds. She is pictured here with KACo's Lauren Carr.

In July, the Wolfe County Search and Rescue Team led a search for hiker Scott Hern, who survived in the Red River Gorge for 14 days, including 12 days without food or water. This was one of the most dramatic rescues in the team’s 20-year history. The team announced the launch of a podcast called The Rescue of Scott Hern: Part 1 to discuss this amazing rescue.

Perry County officials celebrated a ribbon cutting for a new Go Time store. Moe’s Southwest Grill, located inside the Go Time building, will open on Oct. 4.