Discretionary transportation grant targeted to improve 70-acre industrial site outside Lawrenceburg

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky – Governor Andy Beshear, who has strategically used discretionary transportation funding to promote job-creating economic development across Kentucky, on Aug 3rd, presented an award of $375,000 that will help Anderson County improve a prime industrial site.

On June 2, the Governor announced $2.8 million in transportation awards, including this one for Anderson County. In Lawrenceburg on Aug 3rd, Gov. Beshear also discussed high-speed internet access, as Anderson County was a major beneficiary of an investment announced earlier this summer.

“Economic development helps make a better Kentucky, but it depends on good transportation infrastructure,” Gov. Beshear said. “It can make the difference in a community’s ability to attract new business and industry. I am happy to be able to support this initiative by Anderson County and the City of Lawrenceburg.”

Anderson County, in partnership with the City of Lawrenceburg, applied for the funding to improve the roadway near an entrance to a 70-acre tract near U.S. Highway 127 and make it more accessible for a new economic development project. The funding award is from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Department of Rural and Municipal Aid.

Planned improvements to the roadway include constructing a right-turn lane, extending an existing left-turn lane and cutting through a median to create a direct entrance to the site. The project also includes grade work, stone, paving and striping.

The Governor said this funding commitment has already paid off, even though work on the project is still ongoing. In April, after hearing local officials’ willingness to apply for this funding, Summit Polymers Inc. (SPI), a designer and manufacturer of automotive interior components, moved forward with plans to construct a $37.5 million manufacturing facility on the site near U.S. 127, creating 218 full-time jobs.

“This funding will enable us to make the infrastructure improvements we need to develop a first-rate industrial site,” Anderson County Judge/Executive Orbrey Gritton III said. “I am so excited to partner with SPI and bring this wonderful opportunity to Anderson County. The investment SPI is making in our community is tremendous. This is a huge victory for Lawrenceburg, Anderson County and the state of Kentucky.”

“The City of Lawrenceburg greatly appreciates Gov. Beshear's leadership in helping us provide turning lanes off of U.S. 127 to our newest industry. These turning lanes were instrumental in getting Summit Polymers to locate to Anderson County. This will create over 200 well-paying jobs,” Lawrenceburg City Engineer Monty Rhody said. “This project is another great example of how the city, county, Economic Development Authority and state can work together to help Anderson County grow.”

High-Speed Internet Grant for Charter Communications
On June 20, the Beshear administration announced a historic investment of more than $89.1 million in grant funding to bring high-speed internet access to unserved areas of the commonwealth.

As part of the Governor’s Better Internet Program, 12 internet service providers and local governments will receive awards benefitting more than 34,000 unserved Kentucky families and businesses in 35 counties.

Charter Communications received 18 grant awards totaling $49,980,694. The overall project investment is $118,808,035 including required matching funds. This investment will expand access to high-speed internet to 18,553 currently unserved households and businesses located in Anderson, Bourbon, Boyle, Carroll, Henry, Jefferson, Jessamine, Lincoln, Madison, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties.

“I am thrilled to see many hundreds of households in Anderson County on the verge of getting a reliable internet,” Senator Adrienne Southworth of Lawrenceburg said. “Working with private industry, we will soon see a day we have only dreamed of for years.”

“Broadband access has become an essential utility for our citizens,” Rep. James Tipton of Taylorsville said. “Just as electricity and water transformed our state in the past, providing improved broadband access to unserved and underserved areas will greatly benefit the people of Anderson County. I applaud the cooperation between Anderson County and Spectrum in applying for and receiving these grant funds.”