Alongside leaders from Mayfield, Hopkins County and Breathitt County, Governor Andy Beshear announced Wednesday morning the new arrival of $123 million from the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) — to be used for the continued efforts against the natural disasters of 2021.
Per the agreement, Beshear noted 80% of the $123 million — or $98.4 million — will go to four counties impacted the most by those 2021 events: Graves, Warren, Hopkins and Breathitt.
The remaining 20% will be available for counties either directly or indirectly impacted and federally declared for disaster relief during these times, and locally include: Caldwell, Christian, Fulton, Hickman, Logan, Lyon, Marshall, Muhlenberg and Ohio counties.
On May 1, the state will begin accepting applications from profits, non-profits, cities, counties and other governmental entities for this recovery program, which will anchor the construction of homes, rental property and multi-family rental property.
On June 1, the state will then begin accepting applications for the repair and rebuild of public infrastructure, including roads, buildings and more homes.
Beshear said there is no imminent deadline for these applications, but the need “remains great” for Kentuckians. Estimates indicate more than 600 new homes could come from this federal funding.
Beshear credited Senator Mitch McConnell’s efforts to help secure these dollars at the federal level, and called disaster recovery “non-partisan.”
While these funds unlock soon, Beshear further noted that assistance for 2022’s disasters could soon be on the way — particularly for Eastern Kentucky, which endured a 100-year flood requiring the helicopter evacuation of more than 1,600 souls.
More than 80 Kentuckians perished in the December 2021 tornadoes, many of them from the News Edge listening area.
Jack Whitfield, judge-executive for Hopkins County, said homes continue to go up thanks to a number of initiatives, many of them non-profit.
Mayfield Mayor Kathy O’Nan said several downtown businesses have opted to remain and rebuild.
Applications for this funding will soon be available through non-profit housing partners and local housing authorities.
