LOUISVILLE, KY (AUGUST 17, 2020) Governor Andy Beshear and the Department for Local Government (DLG) announced a $6 million federal award from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA), to Kentucky’s fifteen Area Development Districts (ADDs) specifically for resiliency planning.
This award is a direct result of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic (CARES) Security Act which authorized EDA to allocate federal dollars to all Economic Development Districts (EDDs), like KIPDA, across the nation. DLG and the ADDS worked collaboratively through their long-standing Partnership Planning program to carefully and strategically apply for these funds. As a result of this innovative partnership, these dollars will directly pass through to our local governments, in the form of resiliency planning services.
Each ADD has submitted a plan to the DLG for the federal allocation and KIPDA will receive $392,000 to be utilized over the next two years specifically for pandemic related resiliency planning. The plans include providing the following Kentucky’s local communities:
- Fund regional disaster economic recovery coordinators for a two-year period;
- Develop a disaster resiliency economic plan focused on pandemic recovery and resiliency;
- Improve short- and long-term economic development plans and coordination;
- Provide technical assistance and capacity building for local governments and businesses impacted by COVID-19; and
- Offer organizational support for COVID-19 responses.
Additionally, this partnership is a win for the state, as it allows over $125,000 to remain at DLG for administrative purposes.
KIPDA is excited for the opportunity to utilize this funding over the next two years to continue the mission of improving the quality of life for the citizens of our region.
The full press release is below.