Gathered in what will eventually be the Christian County High School Tigers cafeteria, Governor Andy Beshear and major leaders of Christian County embraced the future of Hopkinsville and the Pennyrile Thursday afternoon — announcing more than $9 million in grant funding allotted in several directions.
This includes:
+ $7 million to the Christian County Public Schools during fiscal year 2024-25, for the construction of athletics fields attached to the new consolidation.
It follows the $10 million in state budget funding that was provided in 2021.
Beshear lauded local legislators Whitney Westerfield, Walker Thomas, Myron Dossett and Jason Petrie as critical voices for the budgetary process, before passing along a big check to 10 students who will be among the school’s first graduates.
CCPS Board Chair Tom Bell said current construction at Fort Campbell and Lovers Lane is at 33% of a three-year project, with a campus design first scripted several years ago.
It also includes:
+ More than $1.2 million to Pennyrile Rural Electric Cooperative, and matching funds, to connect for the first time more than 270 homes and businesses to high-speed internet services in Christian County.
PRECC President & CEO Alan Gates, along with Beshear, agreed that south western Kentucky remains “ahead of the curve” in providing fiber to the public.
+ More than $450,000 for the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library, in order to increase handicap accessibility and meet ADA requirements. And this will involve the removal of architectural barriers, as well as a renovation of both the first and second floor restrooms to be accessible, and the installation of a larger elevator
+ More than $400,000 from the Federal Transit Administration, headed to the Pennyrile Allied Community Services for the construction of a new administrative and maintenance facility in Hopkinsville.
Beshear said it will serve as a facility for bus drop-off and pick-up, as well as a maintenance garage capable of training drivers in Caldwell, Christian, Crittenden, Hopkins, Livingston, Logan, Lyon, Muhlenberg, Todd and Trigg.
+ And more than $38,000 for cybersecurity funding from the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security, which will modernize Christian County’s ability to address those risks and threats.
Specifically, Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight and Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam were among several dignitaries who played critical roles in procuring PACS and cybersecurity support.
Beshear closed his visit with a tour of the school’s growing property, before heading to Dawson Springs for the unveiling of more completed Habitat For Humanity homes — which were needed following the devastating December 10, 2021, tornadoes.
